I'm not sure if it has always been there but I get a noticeable driveline vibration when I accelarate from a stop and maintain 30 mph. It is definitely something that can be duplicated easily. The vibration is especially felt when there is load, like a slight incline when I am trying to maintain 30 mph. I live in a hilly area with 30 mph zones, so I experience this almost every day. You go faster to 35 and its gone, go slower at 25 and its not there.

Any ideas on what can be the cause? I'm bone stock on the entire suspension arena.

I know I can drop it off to the dealer to get it fixed, but I'd like to be armed with some info before I do go to them.

 

Man, ChesterC, not sure what that would be. Is it something you noticed recently that did not happen before?

I'm sure some of the more technical guys can give you some ideas but I would definitely make an appt with the dealer.

p.s. don't forget to remind them not to wash it this time!!

 

I've noticed the same vibration in mine. I can duplicate it by braking down to 25 - 30 mph and then giving it some gas. Please post what you find out. I have a few mods I would have to change out b4 taking it into the dealer. Thanks

 

BillP,

I'm not really sure if it was there all along, since I "rarely" maintain 30 mph

I first blamed it on the rough roads where the construction is at, but later on, I also noticed it while crawling in Bay Area traffic at the above mentioned speed.

I can always duplicate it on the same spot, same road, and same speed. My instinct tells me loose u-joints, driveshaft lost its balance or loose tranny mounts.

The daily beater is in sick bay(again ), that's why I'm driving the HD to work. So it'll have to wait till the beater is healthy before I take the HD to the dealer.

Tbutler, I'll keep you posted on what I find.

 

Paging N2TRUX!

Are the symptoms that I described the same ones you describe as "vibration on take-off"?

 

I not sure, but I remember reading somewhere that when you lower the back of your vehicl it changes the angle on the drive shaft. I also know this does not happen all the time. If this is the case you need to change the angle of the drive shaft with some shims.

 

chesterc,

I don't have any vibration at those speeds when on incline. I would definitely have a dealer check it out, but before doing that I would make sure it is not rough road surface that creates trouble. Find an uphill street (that should not be a problem finding in San Francisco, right? ) with fresh smooth even surface and experiment.

On similar subject, some people that lowered their rear found vibration because angle was changed and they had to adjust shims. It won't hurt if you look for thread with this subject.

Good luck!

ZoranC

 

Your driveshaft may slowly be vibrating from your exstension housing.

This may help.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ight=extension

 

Thanks guys for all the responses.

As I stated before, my suspension is stock that's why I thought that the shims do not really affect me since mine is not lowered.

ZoranC,
It's not hard to find an inclined street What's is hard is trying find a street that's actually moving at 30 mph. Lol.
I already have a few streets that I am planning to test the truck and find out if road surface comes into play.

LowRiderHD2000,
Thanks for the info. It's harmonic that during that time that post was started my 2001 XLT 4x2 was acting up with the same problem. Basically, they replaced my entire rear-end to fix my problem. It took 4 dealer visits and close to 3 weeks of without my truck before they finally replaced the entire rear-end.

From the thread:
ISSUE
A driveline vibration and/or a transmission fluid leak from the extension housing seal area may occur on some vehicles. This may be caused by the extension housing bushing or seal walking/spinning out due to excess driveshaft flexing during extended high speed operation.

With all my long trips from SFO to Hillsboro, Oregon I do remember seeing fluid all over the differential housing after an extended high speed run.

I'll post the results of my experiment.

 

I had my problem from a quick trip from Banff to Calgary. It was fully covered under warrenty and is reconized by Ford as a problem. From what I'm told it's not a recall issue because they don't know how to fix it properly yet. Plus we shouldn't be going that fast anyways.

 

You mean it is tough to find one you will be moving only 30 on?

For me that would not be a problem, with my sleeping pattern problems I would just hop in a truck at 2am when noone is around. That's exactly what I did when I just got it: Hoped in at 2am and took it up and down freeways that I know like my pocket checking behavior in all situations I am experienced with. Those were the times when I did have supercharger whine

Good luck!

ZoranC

 

LowRiderHD2000,

The part that you quoted was with my old 2001 XLT Screw. There's a stretch by the border of CA and OR before Ashland that the limit is 80 mph!

 

ZoranC,

I think I'll wait when the sun is up, besides the cops around here might think I'm drunk or something doing some stop and go at 2AM

Going home today, on a new paved side street it did not vibrate when I tried to duplicate . Oh well, more lab tests tomorrow.

 

Ok.. I got the vibration fixed.

Woke up this morning and check the psi on all my tires to make sure it's not the tires themselves. They were all ok.

Took it to a slight incline smooth pavement, maintain 30 mph no vibration.

Took it to a slight incline relatively rough pavement, maintain 30 mph, vibration comes on at 28 mph and stays all the way to 32 mph.

Inspected the rims, what I find is that in the rear right tire wheel weight was cut in half. In other words, part of the weight is still there and a portion of it is gone.

Took the truck to Discount Tire for a new wheel weight. It took them 4 tries to have it perfectly balanced.
Repeat lab test.
No more vibration.

Whew... I'm so glad it wasn't anything serious.

 

glad to hear everythings back to normal chester. I would have been really worried too if it was my truck, so i know you were anxious about finding what was the cause of it