ok, i have a 2000 F150 extended cab 5.4 with the off road package. the truck has developed a chadder in the rear end that only seems to do it when going into a turn off a dead stop (like making a left or a right off a stop sign).

my mechanic (who i totally trust and have been going to for years) told me he added an additive to the rear end (after opening it up and inspecting it) and it should quiet it down (no charge). He said , "let's hope it works."

he told me if it keeps up the next step would be a carrier somethin'-or-other. he told me the parts are kinda pricey.

now, i'm not going to get into what he told me it would cost but it was more than i want to spend at the moment. here are some questions;

• what is the carrier?
• i can live with the chadder...should i?
• should i wait till something breaks back there then get it fixed?
• can i do it myself?

again i know these guys wouldn't rip me off. i know them well and my father has been going there forever. they would even let me bring my own parts all the time. they'd probably talk me through doing it myself if i asked...lol

thanks in advance folks.

ray

 

The chatter is indeed from the clutches in your limited slip rear end. The carrier is the part that the ring gear bolts to, your axles slide into, and lets your rear wheels spin at different speeds The additive that your mechanic put in was friction modifier. That should take care of your problem, but if it doesn't, you have a few options. Probably the most costly would be to replace the old carrier with a new limited slip carrier. Another option would be to have your old carrier rebuilt and put new clutches in it. The other way to go is to put a non limited slip carrier in and never have this problem again. Depending on what you use your truck for would determine if the last option is a good one or not. You could do it yourself depending on your mechanical ability, but you will need some special tools like a dial indicator to get the gears lined up correctly. If you can live with the chatter, it is probably not going to cause any trouble other than heat and the clutches might lock up, making it so your wheels can not turn at different speeds. Hope this helps.

 

thanks for the great info. i guess i would ask, do i need the limited slip rear end? i use the truck for anything from pulling the ten foot pop-up with the dirt bike and gear in the bed up north for the weekend to hauling a bucket full of pea-stone home from the yard to the house for a job around the house. i use the four wheel drive when i need it. so, i don't know. do i need the limited slip? i guess the additive has quieted it down a bit as it doesn't do it as much (though it's only been a few days so time will tell). maybe i should just live with it (it's not that bad) and if something else breaks back there worry about it then. your thoughts? thanks again.

 

I checked your profile and saw that you are in Michigan. I believe that means that you get snow each winter. You will probably want to keep a LS rear end. A LS will apply power to the other wheel when one of them starts to spin.

 

yes, you are right. i do live in michigan and yes we get a lot of snow. i guess i'll be keeping the limited slip. good call.

 

it will get better in about a week of driving. you can also put a second tube of modifier in the gear lube. dont need a carrier.

 

i'll keep an eye on it, thanks. what do you mean, i don't need a carrier?

 

means you probably won't need to replace your carrier

 

ok, thanks for the info folks. i'll give it some time and see how it goes...

thanks again