which dealer if its in South Florida maybe i will swing mine by too!

 

Week three. Still waiting on rear end to be delivered to dealer.

Ron

 

Can someone explain to me the theory of rotating the driveshaft 90 degrees or 180 degrees changing the balance of the shaft.
As I see it the only difference could be that for some reason the universal joint isn't being centered on the rear end. I didn't have the vibration until the ring and pinion was changed so that does indicate a driveshat issue. I mentioned to the dealer about rotating the driveshaft but they decided to do what the TSB said and install the dampner. Haven't had it installed yet so I might try rotating the shaft myself. I'm not disputing that this fix is working for some folks I just don't understand why. Rotating the driveshaft "shouldn't" change the balance of it..

 

L Sq...I can't answer your question directly, but when confronted with a vibrating reciprocating engine replacement on the P2Vs I flew in the Navy, one of the fixes was to rotate the prop hub in 90 degree increments. I've done the same thing with ceiling fans. I suppose it has something to do with matching all the rotational forces of multiple parts, in this case the driveshaft and other mechanicals attached at each end.

 

I spoke to my dealer yesterday about indexing the drive shaft and they told me that it wasn't part of the TSB and they were following what Ford instructed them to do. I don't understand why dealers are fooling around with drive shafts if it's not part of the TSB for the vibration issue. Seems to me that some dealers are not following the steps of the TSB.

Maybe there really isn't a permanent fix for this issue.

Ron

 

L Squared,

From what I understand the drive shaft can be re-indexed which would mean rotating the drive shaft until the vibration is gone and the other is re-balancing the drive shaft which the dealer can't do at their facilities. To re-balance a drive shaft would require a very specialized machine.

Ron

 

Rebalancing a drive shaft is no big deal. I agree with you that the dealer doesn’t have the equipment necessary to do this procedure, but some machine shop do. They simply spin the drive shaft in a lathe and add weight where needed to perfectly balance it.

 

jpdadeo,

Thanks for the clarification. I just repeated what the dealer told me yesterday.

Thanks, Ron

 

Well, I too have the vibration problem...starts as about 54 mph and stops at 62. Smooth as silk on either end. Took it to the dealership this morning and they just called and said they would be installing a dampener tomorrow. Has this worked for anyone? The service manager said that they haven't seen the problem in their shop yet, which I guess is possible since they aren't a real high-volume seller. I have an XLT, 5.4l, 3.55LS, 235 Hankooks. The vibration isn't terrible, but it's definitely noticeable and doesn't seem acceptable to me.

 

Posted this in another forum too

model: 2004 XLT
engine: 5.4L
tire brand and size: 17" General's
all special packages ( trailer tow,etc.): 3:55 Limited Slip, Trailer Tow, 7200# GVWR
wheelbase: 139"
bed size: 5.5'
cab (reg, s.s., s.c.): SuperCrew
manufacture date. 9/03
4x4 or 2x4: 4X4
anything you have done or added aftermarket: OEM Mud Flaps, OEM Bug Deflector, Rhino Liner, OEM Bed Extender
speeds when it occures, and if loaded or empty, towing or not.: Generally between 65-75 mph
anything else you feel may be pertinent. Mileage is at now 2300. Vibration is contained only to the steering wheel nibble

Ok, I figured I'd put im my 2 pennies....I do feel the nibble at speeds above 65 or so, and they are intermitent. This might sound a bit strange, but I feel that the nibble is associated somehow with the ambient temperature! In the morning when I go to work, after sitting all night in the cool air, there is minimal to almost NO nibble! BUT, if I get in the truck, after its been basking in the sun, the nibble is very pronounced! Could this be saying maybe in the expansion of some of the tight tolerance parts in the suspension/drivetrain/body may be the cause? It obviously has to be coming from the front end somewhere to be transmitted up to the steering...

 

Just received a call from the dealer. My rear end came in today for my truck. We will see if this fix's the vibration issue. Everything has been done according to the TSB except replace the rear end.

Here is what the dealer has done thus far:

Road balance tires
Install Ring & Pinion Shim Kit
Install Dampner
Replace driveshaft
Replace rear end - Yet to be done


Ron

 

I'm glad someone explained the rotation of the driveshaft, I had questions on that also. I took my truck to the dealer today for the Engineer to look at. He put his equipement on it and said it was the driveshaft. Now, I have already had 2 driveshafts put in it. He called and apparently they are making a new driveshaft since the last one I had special ordered for it. He said they are making it because of this issue. It is a different part number so I am hopeful this will fix the problem. The last one took a month to come in. I have been told it should be a couple of weeks. Now the money that is burning a hole in my pocket will have somewhere to go. Let the mods begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hopefully..........

 

Benb,

Are you positive that Ford is turning out a new drive shaft to resolve this issue? I would like to take this information back to my dealer.

I'm confused on this now. The engineer told my dealership to replace the rear end. If all it takes is a newly designed drive shaft then why isn't Ford recommending this to all dealers? Seems to me they are wasting money by swapping out rear ends in hopes of resolving this issue.

Ron

 

I am just going off what the dealer and the engineer told me. I have had all the steps to the TSB done. I have had the new rear end put in. As far as I know before an engineer will look at the truck all the steps of the TSB need to be done. As far as knowing if they are producing a new driveshaft for it I had already had one special ordered for it previously. I have a stack of service tickets and matched the part number for the first special ordered one to the one they ordered now. I'll keep you posted. The dealer said this is something new that they didn't know about before. Hope that helps.

 

I gave my dealer the information this morning to at least ask the question in regards to a new drive shaft model if the rear end replacement doesn't fix the vibration. BTW they already replaced my drive shaft with a new one. Don't know if the part numbers matched or not.

I'll keep you guys posted. They are replacing the rear end today.

Thanks, Ron