Hello all. Im a n00b here and Im on my way to purchasing a '01 Screw. I really like the truck and all that good stuff that comes wiht ownership. I have one question.

What are the major flaws/complaints/problems wiht this truck??? Im mainly interested in the drivetrain, but any other bits of info are more than welcome!

Yall got a excellent forum wiht more information that I can shake a stick at. Hopefully here soon Ill be able to contribute back!

Thanks for the help!

 

I personally have had no "down sides" to the truck- a few comprimises here and there.. lower towing rates, not so great gas mileage- but other than that, the ups outwiegh the downs. Bottom line, I'd get another in a heart beat.
Oh yeah- one down side... after I got mine, My wife wants to drive it more that her Explorer! Enjoy and welcome!

 

I love my Screw as do most on this site but here are the weekest links to check for:

Shocks: If not already replaced, on a 2001 they will soon need to be.

lower ball joints wear fast on these trucks. check them out.

Many Owners of 97 - 2003 F150 trucks have received letters in the mail warning them of their tie-rod ends possibly failing at any time. look around on this site in the suspension forum and you'll see many threads about this problem. If the tie-rods are original and you are purchasing from a dealership get them to put on MOOG inner and outer tie-rod ends and an alignment. These are things that will not cost them much to do. If they counter offer to put on Ford Tie-rod ends and refuse to give you the MOOG, I would go puchase the MOOG myself and get the dealership to put them on.

Look for any sign of water that might have come in above the foot well on the passenger side. A few on this site had problems with that.

Take the truck for a test drive and try to notice if you get a slight bump feeling when taking off from a complete stop. And again when slowing down to a complete stop. That is the drive shaft that is moving up and down the spline. If the spline is not properly greased, there is some sticking and that is what causes that bump. Many here have learned to live with it. some don't have it at all. Simply greasing the spline with PTFE (Teflon) grease will probably cure it. (For a while)

I"m sure many here will add more things to the list but don't forget, one truck will (probably) not get all of the problems mentioned on this web site, but you most likely will get a few of them.

Good Luck and Welcome

Dpostman

 

dpostman,
I believe I may be experiencing the axle spline issue you discussed in your post. How would I go about greasing the axle spline? Do I have to remove the axle from my truck?

-Craig

 

s-crew03 - you and I have the same problem. I don't get to drive the Screw any more - the wife's 97 5.0 AWD Explorer has become my DD.

 

I had mine done 4 or 5 months ago at the service shop where I was getting some other stuff done. I had the tube of grease with me in the truck and when I ask them for pointers cause I was about to do it myself on the weekend, he suggested that I let them do it since it was only a 10 minut job especially that they had the truck up on the lift anyway. So I haven't had the pleasure of doing it myself

The parts in question is the Slip yoke and spline. These two parts are in between the driveshaft and transmission. Without enough lube, the slip yoke doesent slip on the spline properly and tends to stick, when enough tork is applied, then it positions itself all of a sudden and you get that "bump"


Dpostman

 

Thanks!

-Craig