Tonight on the CBS evening news they said there would be a recall on some 2021-2023 F-150s with something on those with tow packages. I didn't fully catch the specifics of the details. Does anyone else know anything about this?

 

A quick Google search should provide a lot of information about this latest recall. Seems there is a short term fix of sorts, letters to owners about how to deal with this should be in the mail very soon. Here's a link: 2024 Ford F-150 Recall

Hope this helps!

 

It's all over the other forums and in the news. Those of us that have 2021-2023 trucks with the Max Tow option have an axle exclusive to that feature which has a defective design. No other F-150s have that axle and are not subject to the recall. Ford's repair of the failure had been replacement of the failed axle but the replacements were subsequently failing as well. Ford now considers that an interim fix and is working on a permanent fix to be rolled out to all '21-'23 vehicles with that Max Tow feature.

 

Everyone says the 3/4 float is a defective design, but what exactly is the defect? Why are the axle bolts repeatedly breaking even after replacing them?
Is the bolt failing by shear or is it fatigue?
Is the axle tube in relation the the wheel hub flexing so that every rotation of the wheel side loads the bolt shoulder until it fatigue fails?
It is obviously not a simple as re spec a bolt that can handle more fatigue or bending stress or they would have done that by now.
If it does need "heavier axle tubes' ie a complete new axle, Ford may prefer a partial solution and just extend the warranty as most people do not actually work these trucks all the time.

Does anyone know what the actual engineering defect is. I know the bolt breaks!

 

Ford and NHTSA say it is a fatigue failure. No one knows the exact mechanism but there is a lot of speculation on the other forums. Here is recall info from NHTSA:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/202...3V896-5481.PDF

 

The recall information is good, the TSB would also help in anyone has that. In looking at the design, the axle shaft has a washer which the inner hub butts up against, and the failing bolt applies compression on the outer side of the hub so the splines do not take the torque. Is there a stack up tolerance issue where the hub is not properly sandwiched tightly between the axle washer(which should be a hardened shoulder) and the bolt? Does the washer flex (because it is not a strong as a shoulder? I would like to hear all the theories in a technical discussion.

It looks to me like the "bolt" takes almost the entire thrust load when accelerating as it is the clamp load of the "bolt" washer on the wheel hub that drives the wheel. The splines are mainly for alignment and some minor thrust. Also because both bolts are right hand thread, the passenger wheel bolt would try to loosen off causing lack of clamp load in which case the splines would take the loads until the splines fail.
One fix may be to tighten the bolt while applying forward drive load to the axle so there would be no play in the splines. The same way twin counter shaft gears are timed to stay equally loaded.
Also as far as design, most 3/4 floaters have a large nut threaded onto the axle(like a front wheel drive) not a skinny bolt threaded into the axle.

 

Hi all - I have a 21 Max Tow and with the nice weather and window open I heard the rattle sound around 5-20mph. I assume this is the broken bolt. Does anyone know if it's safe to drive until I can I get a hold of Ford?

 

take it to the nearest dealer, last notice all they could do is replace the bolt,as ford did not yet have a fix
GOOD LUCK

 

Interesting enough I was just scrolling through rockauto's website and noticed that dorman now offers a replacement axle shaft with a different design (axle end is extended and threaded for a large nut vs drilled and tapped for the bolt that is prone to shearing). Funny how the aftermarket has seemingly found a solution, yet ford is still searching for answers. Of course ford is probably looking at it from a "how do we fix this without replacing every axle shaft in a max tow" stand point.

 

113000 trucks 2021 to 2023 https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos...eakage-recall/

 

Here is the link directly from Ford to see what recall(s) are against your truck.

Ford Recalls | Ford Owner Support

My 2022 F150 initially had two recalls (wiper motor and brake cable rub). Both taken care of.

 

Just had a look at my truck for the first time since I bought it (my2021 purchased late Dec 2024) and sure enough the passenger's side bolt is sheared. Of course I waited till I was 500km away from home to look while we're at my familys cabin. Booked an appointment to take it in next week. I couldn't hear any noises, and have no idea for how long the bolt has been broken for. I wouldn't worry too much about driving it around, it's not like the wheel is going to fall off...I suppose worse case scenario is the axle shaft moving and no longer transferring power to the wheel.