The dealer recommended driveshaft angles are hogwash.Further, you had to drop your carrier bearing to compensate for a poorly balanced shaft, Pocket. With the right balance you can get a lot more than those angles specified. Every truck actually is the same, the differences are in the shaft. Finally, the cheapest drop bracket kit is the one you make yourself, they are just a series of 1/4" shims.

 

Then why did Ford do research on the problem and post a fix in their tech service manuals?

How is my driveshaft not balanced? Before the lift, there was no drive off shudder. After the lift, the shudder was there. Same driveshaft, in fact the only thing that was changed after the lift was the actual ANGLE of the driveshaft. Shimming it down fixed the drive away shudder. I had no high speed vibrations before or after the lift either. Only from 0-10 MPH.

If your driveshaft is not balanced, you will get vibration with or without a lift, your driveshaft spins the same. You will also get vibration at higher speeds. In fact, with an unbalanced driveshaft, the faster it spins, the more vibration you would feel, so the faster you drive, the worse your vibration would get. The take off shudder is worse at low speed, and goes away above 10 MPH.

So let's look at before and after:
-No lift, no take off shudder
-New lift, all of a sudden take off shudder is there

Blame this on the fact that the driveshaft suddenly became unbalanced? or
Could be caused by the new angle of the driveshaft created from the lift?

All trucks have changes to suspension. Now they suddenly have poorly balanced driveshafts? I doubt it. Common factor here: driveshaft angle has changed.

See And, hey it worked for my truck too. Coincidence? I doubt it considering the number of threads in the past about someone adding a lift and suddenly having to deal with drive away shudder.

I'm only doing this because I was slammed in another thread previously for trying to help someone with the exact same problem immediately after they added a lift (same argument driveshaft angle vs. balance). At the time I had that problem myself, I almost went the wrong way with my truck adding track bars that I really don't need. I just don't want people spending money doing things that won't help them, when the easiest solution of shimming to the correct angle is also the cheapest one possible. BTW, shimming was $30, traction bars were quoted by one shop here at over $400 installed.

Now cwb, I would wholeheartedly agree with you if they were getting vibrations at higher speed, and/or if they had vibration before lifting. Unbalanced driveshafts can do that.

 

Thanks for the responses to the drive line shudder. I appreciate all the different responses. With my Truck im going to start with shimming the carrier, and trying different shim heights, If i dont succeed, im then going to drive shaft balance.

Im fairly new to this site. but have noticed their are some very knowledgeable people on here when it comes to problems with the Super Duty.

Keep Up the Good responses.

 

TSB 04-22-7

FORD: 1999-2005 F-Super Duty


ISSUE:
Some 1999-2005 Super Duty F-Series may exhibit excessive drive-away shudder or vibration, under moderate to heavy acceleration from a stop. This may be due to driveline angle.

ACTION:
Shim the center carrier bracket downward to correct the condition. Refer to the following Service Procedure.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

When shimming the center carrier bracket, a maximum of three (3) 1/4 inch shims may be used (EOTZ-4A209-A). When refastening the carrier bracket use bolt (56564-S2). A 7/16 x 14 grade 5 bolt may be substituted providing that it extends at least 3 threads past the nut. Use Motorcraft Threadlock 262 (TA-26), and torque bolts to 46 lb-ft (62 N-m).

NOTE: IF THE VEHICLE IS NORMALLY LOADED, ROAD TESTS WILL NEED TO BE PERFORMED WITH THE VEHICLE LOADED.



Before beginning the repair, road test the vehicle to gain a feel for the harshness of the shudder/vibration.
Install one (1) shim, (DO NOT use Threadlock on the bolts at this point), re-road test vehicle.
If condition is corrected, apply Threadlock and torque bolts as directed above. Return the vehicle to the customer.
If condition is not corrected, re-perform Step 2 (to a maximum of three (3) shims) and reevaluate vehicle.
NOTE: IF THE CONDITION IS STILL NOT CORRECTED AFTER INSTALLING A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) SHIMS, REFER TO WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION 205-00 FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS.




PART NUMBER PART NAME
EOTZ-4A209-A Shim
56564-S2 Bolt
TA-26 Motorcraft Threadlock 262


WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
042207A Road Test To Verify Concern, Install One Shim, And Road Test To Verify Repair (Includes Time To Raise Vehicle And Install Threadlock) 1.2 Hrs.
042207B Road Test To Verify Concern, Install One Shim, And Road Test To Verify Repair Condition Still Exists, Install A Second Shim And Road Test (Includes Time To Raise Vehicle And Install Threadlock) 1.7 Hrs.
042207C Road Test To Verify Concern, Install One Shim, And Road Test To Verify Repair, Install A Second Shim And Road Test Condition Still Exists, Install A Third Shim And Road Test (Includes Time To Raise Vehicle And Install Threadlock) 2.2 Hrs.

DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
4A209 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE: The information in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and equipment to do the job properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information that could assist in proper vehicle service. The procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury dealership to determine whether the Bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article. The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to supercede this information with updates. The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.

Copyright © 2004 Ford Motor Company

 

Yes, thanks for all the info. SLC10844, are you saying that I can go into the dealer and request carrier bearing shimming? Even with a leveling kit?

If not, where can I find these shims? Are there any forums or tech articles onthe procedure? What about a Chilton's or Haynes manual wiil that cover this?

Thanks to everyone!

 

I've had this shudder at accelerating heavily since I installed 2" blocks in "01 a week after I bought the truck. It never showed up under "normal" acceleration so it really didn't bother me. Now, I'll probably be buying an '06 and a prospective buyer might be turned off by the vibes. Doesn't sound like a big deal to add shims to stop vibes. Is there a rule of thumb to go by, or just start with 1/4" and work up?


also, are these shims tapered or just flat steel?

'01 250 PSD SC 8' box 4times4