Rear "chatter"

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 28, 2005 | 11:52 AM

Medic911

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 81

Likes: 0

Rear "chatter"

Was at my local Ford dealer today..thinking of trading my 04 in on a 06. The sevice dept took my truck for a test drive.....brought it back.....and said there was a problem with the rear end and could be very expensive to fix....but obviously the could'nt be more specific without a teardown....Ive never noticed it.....but we went for a test drive....and sure enough if you come to a complete stop....lock the front wheels in either direction...and accelerate hard...(almost to the point of tire slippage)...you could feel a "shudder" in the rear end......but it only did it once..in about 10 attempts.
So...the dealership says this is a problem and could cost up to $5K to fix.....and priced my trade in value accordingly....WTF.???

My question (finally)...Has anyone else had this rear end shudder problem?
2004 exten/cab...FX4...3.73 LS.....42Kmiles.

Sorry so long, and thanks in advance!

Nov 28, 2005 | 12:23 PM

Beefford

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 195

Likes: 0

There is a TSB out for the rear end shutter. Not sure how works though if your warranty is up.

Nov 28, 2005 | 12:27 PM

Carnivore

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 476

Likes: 0

From: Virginia (Northern)

man, he obviously knew what to look for on the test drive.

Nov 28, 2005 | 12:41 PM

Medic911

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 81

Likes: 0

Carnivore: Thats what I was thinking...sounds like they ate a couple of repairs on trade ins...and wanted to CYA. Certainly not a procedure I would use to test drive a car.....UNLESS I was looking for a specific problem.

Nov 28, 2005 | 12:46 PM

Carnivore

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 476

Likes: 0

From: Virginia (Northern)

exactly..... Take it to another dealer, then another and another.. sooner or later one of them won't know about it....maybe.

Nov 28, 2005 | 07:27 PM

osbornk

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 2,511

Likes: 0

From: Marion, VA

I think you have clutch pack chatter. Ford has an additive for the rear to increase slippage. Someone else many months ago suggested a simple cure for the problem that may work. After adding the additive, he suggested going to an empty parking lot and making several figure eights to cause the clutches to slip and get the lubricant worked into the clutches.

Nov 28, 2005 | 09:32 PM

04chargreyfx4

5th Wheeling

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

$5k for bad clutch packs? Go to another dealer. They are only trying to give you less for your trade in. Mine in my 05 got replaced in about an hour or so while I waited. Same as you described, only chattered on tight turns.

Also, I traded in an 04 FX4 scab for an 05 Lariat screw. Ironically, the FX4 was in for a floor vibe during high speed coast down. I took the tech for a ride and had to take it up to 90mph to recreate the problem for them. ( mine was still in warranty though.. ) While they were fixing, I looked at the 05's just unloaded from the transport carrier, test drove one and went for it. They did not even care the car fax report had my insurance claim for the deer hit that replaced the front fender and left truck bed side. That's why you only get 24k for trade in and they put it on the lot for 30k.
Again, go to another dealer, some are really good to do business with.