Have a about 1200 miles on my 3.55 axle XLT. The 1st to 2nd shift varies from fairly smooth when cold to fairly rough, much like a muscle car with a shift kit when it is full warmed up and just driving "normal". Now if I get on it a bit its much better. The truck had 40 miles on it when I bought it. Should I disconnect the battery and have it re learn?

 

Disconnecting the battery wont do anything. Ford has designed the system to maintain the adaptive learning data with the battery disconnected. The dealer can reflash and clear the data, but so far that's your only method.

I've found the shift strategies to be awkward on my '11 FX4 5.0.

 

yeah I'm dealing with the same issues! Although this is my first ford and it has a six speed automatic tranny as to where my GM's only had a four! It is really wierd it almost feels like my tranny is about to fall apart.

 

This is the same issue that is on the 6 speed trans in the 2009 and 2010. The new 1 way clutch was suppose to address that, but obviously it doesn't. On my test drive in the 2011, the trans was also producing a lunging in the parking lot at that very low speed. A head whipper for sure. The 2010 doesn't have this problem but my previous 2008 Sport Trac did. This was fixed with a transmission update.

Here's the thread on it.

 

my 2011 truck will occasionally do a noticeable bump downshift from 2 to 1. but, it only seems to occur if i let up on the braking at the same time as the 2-1 downshift. otherwise i don't notice it.