3.31 Gears Sluggish
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3.31 Gears Sluggish
I recently bought an 09 4WD 5.4 SC XLT w/ chrome package. I absolutely love the truck from every aspect. I traded my 07 F250 6.0. Truck dimensions are similar as old F250. Ride, room, interior are all much better than old F250. My only complaint: The truck I bought has the 3.31 gears and it seems that the 3.31 and 6 speed tranny do not compliment each other. Maybe I am still used to my old 3.73 gears but these 3.31 seems sluggish on low end and "hunt" constantly at highway speeds. I wish it would stay in 5th gear, then it would be perfect. Hopefully Ford will come out with a re-flash to help remedy the problem a bit.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,215
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From: Washington
If they don't you could always do a gear swap and get a set of 3.55 or 3.73. Congrats on the truck! Post some pics if you haven't already. Thanks for telling us that your 3.31 are sluggish or not adequete.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2008
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From: La Vergne, TN
man that sucks. i would probably just do a gear swap if you arent happy. i know my 82 F100 wasnt sluggish with 3.25 rear gears. and this flareside with a 5.8 and 3.55's is far from sluggish. it straight up flys. i would probably switch to 3.55's just because they are gonna help with the sluggish but still provide decent gas mileage.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: None of your business
I honestly don't think that a flash is going to do much. That's a pretty heavy truck with a relatively low powered engine that hasn't gotten a significant torque increase in 10 years.
I seriously think that Ford is doing customers a severe disservice by offering this truck with these really high ratios. Given peak torque in OD, your 09 is putting almost exactly 60ft/lbs less to the wheels than my 2000 and my truck is lighter than yours.
That 6 speed auto you have is going to have to work really hard to keep the engine in its powerband on the highway. I'm curious if you're having problems loaded or empty.
My 2000 with 3.55s and 350ft/lbs 869.
Your 09 with 3.31s and 365ft/lbs 809.
IMO the only gearing options should be 3.55 (which I would never recommend), 3.73, and 4.10.
Mike
I seriously think that Ford is doing customers a severe disservice by offering this truck with these really high ratios. Given peak torque in OD, your 09 is putting almost exactly 60ft/lbs less to the wheels than my 2000 and my truck is lighter than yours.
That 6 speed auto you have is going to have to work really hard to keep the engine in its powerband on the highway. I'm curious if you're having problems loaded or empty.
My 2000 with 3.55s and 350ft/lbs 869.
Your 09 with 3.31s and 365ft/lbs 809.
IMO the only gearing options should be 3.55 (which I would never recommend), 3.73, and 4.10.
Mike
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: None of your business
If you can get front and rear done for less than 1500, I'll be suprised. IMO if you do regear, go with 4.10s. At least it's a ratio not available from the factory.
Also IMO- Regearing is the only thing that will remedy your problem.
Mike
Also IMO- Regearing is the only thing that will remedy your problem.
Mike
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I am experiencing this unloaded. I pulled an ATV the other day and I could have sworn I was pulling 5,000 lbs. Why did I choose 3.31 gears? Well, I didn't think that they would be that bad considering I don't pull a whole lot other than my ATV every now and then. Plus I commute 40 miles/day and am hoping to get a bit better gas mileage (even though I am only averaging about 13 mpg right now with 1,000 miles). I just don't think this tranny fits well with the 3.31's. If I had a 4 speed or even a 5 speed, I don't think I would have this problem. I'm not ready to spend that much on a gear swap right now. I hope that I adjust and just get used to it after driving it a few months. I think it is something that I can live with, for now.
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With the way your motor is working and hunting around for gears because it's bogged down, I can guarantee you're getting worse gas mileage than if you had gone with either one of the other options. I went from 3.55 to 4.10 and my mileage went up an average of 2mpg everywhere.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Southern California
The problem isn't really the axle ratio, although 3.31 is not a very good choice for a truck. The problem is the '09 transmission 5th and 6th gears are both overdrive gears and 4th gear is underdrive. There is no direct drive gear. So no matter what the final drive ratio is, it's always going to hunt.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
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From: Pa
Yeah Fords at its crappy rear gear deal again. Its like everyone out their knows modulars prefer steeper gears but Ford.
A gear swap is probably going to cost at least 2 grand. Remember you don't have a solid front axle in the 150 so your going to have to pull the front diff and split the cases which will no doubt cost more than pulling axles and removing the diff cover on a solid axle truck.
In order to get 3.73s in an 09' 5.4l you have to get the max tow package which adds like over 2 grand to an XLT. What a shame.
2 ODs is a waste for towing IMO. One OD gear and 5 gears leading up to 1:1 would make the truck move good even with a rather tall 3.55.
A gear swap is probably going to cost at least 2 grand. Remember you don't have a solid front axle in the 150 so your going to have to pull the front diff and split the cases which will no doubt cost more than pulling axles and removing the diff cover on a solid axle truck.
In order to get 3.73s in an 09' 5.4l you have to get the max tow package which adds like over 2 grand to an XLT. What a shame.
2 ODs is a waste for towing IMO. One OD gear and 5 gears leading up to 1:1 would make the truck move good even with a rather tall 3.55.
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From: None of your business
Mike