TSB 20-2277 2019-2020 Ranger - Shudder/Vibration When Accelerating From A Stop

[jerardisflossin]

My suggestion to you is request to speak with the technician that is going to do the work. Have the TSB in hand and go step by step with him so both of you are on the same page.

I think there is a common misunderstanding of what the TSB says to do. The first time the TSB was done on my truck the tech set the pinion angle 0.3°. After taking it back they changed nothing so I went to another dealer who did it correctly. I have spoken with an independent driveline tech who said with this driveshaft design the pinion flange angle should match the angle of the flange at the output of the transfer case/transmission, that way they are one the same plane. Spicer's website has a more detailed measurement process for checking driveline angles.
https://spicerparts.com/calculators/driveline-operating-angle-calculator

You are correct that those flanges should match. Thats how u-joint style shafts should work. My only head scratching part on this is if this could change because of the phasing of the driveshaft. Since it is 15 degrees out of phase, I am wondering if that is why Ford is saying 5.2 degrees as that may cancel out some form of harmonics? My initial thought was to match my t-case flange of 3.1 degrees and told the manager such.

On that note, I got nowhere. They gave me the truck back and said all is fine and dandy. They immediately blamed how I measured the the angle and said I have to remove the clip on the u-joint and measure it using a "special ford tool" to sit in the u-joint pocket. When doing it this way, they get 6.0 degrees and it is within spec. Granted no picture was taken nor was I allowed to see how they measured it.

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[navsnipe]

You are correct that those flanges should match. Thats how u-joint style shafts should work. My only head scratching part on this is if this could change because of the phasing of the driveshaft. Since it is 15 degrees out of phase, I am wondering if that is why Ford is saying 5.2 degrees as that may cancel out some form of harmonics? My initial thought was to match my t-case flange of 3.1 degrees and told the manager such.

On that note, I got nowhere. They gave me the truck back and said all is fine and dandy. They immediately blamed how I measured the the angle and said I have to remove the clip on the u-joint and measure it using a "special ford tool" to sit in the u-joint pocket. When doing it this way, they get 6.0 degrees and it is within spec. Granted no picture was taken nor was I allowed to see how they measured it.

Their response is interesting since the angle gauge diagrammed in the TSB doesn't require sitting in the u-joint pocket. Measuring the pinion flange angle is what is needed.

Do you have the option of going to a different dealership? I had to do that.

 

[Quick]

The top picture is of the right side leaf springs and shim stack, the bottom is the left side. The lowest shim is the tapered shim just on top of the axle perch.

Is it just the camera angle or do you have two different shims under there? Also looks like there is an extra spacer on the left?

Something seems off...

Anyone have the shim part numbers? I have the same driveline shudder and I am not confident they can fix this without a hassle.

 

[Big Blue]

The top picture is of the right side leaf springs and shim stack, the bottom is the left side. The lowest shim is the tapered shim just on top of the axle perch.

Looks like they put the thicker shim in the left side like the TSB says but did not remove the extra shim as the TSB directs.

 

[navsnipe]

Looks like they put the thicker shim in the left side like the TSB says but did not remove the extra shim as the TSB directs.

The thicker flat shim was left in the left side to deal with the leveling of the truck. If they took it out the left to right side height deviation would exceed the spec.

 

[navsnipe]

Is it just the camera angle or do you have two different shims under there? Also looks like there is an extra spacer on the left?

Something seems off...

Anyone have the shim part numbers? I have the same driveline shudder and I am not confident they can fix this without a hassle.

There is only one tapered shim on each side. See my reply to the post above for the explaination.

 

[Quick]

There is only one tapered shim on each side. See my reply to the post above for the explaination.

I get that, but what's the additional spacer on the driver's side spring, just above the shim?

 

[Big Blue]

The thicker flat shim was left in the left side to deal with the leveling of the truck. If they took it out the left to right side height deviation would exceed the spec.

The TSB has the thicker tapered to compensate for that. It says to remove the original shim.

 

[Big Blue]

Another update. I reported in a previous post I was getting 7 degrees for the pinion angle. I realized I did not zero it on the frame and apparently my driveway is sloped about a degree. Side note: I totally have been measuring the angles of everything since purchasing a digital inclinometer, its fascinating lol. At any rate, this is the actual pinion angle I got. Driveshaft is at 7.4 degrees. I definitely think the tech put my shims in wrong but even then, if you remove the 2 degree shim that means they should of only used a 1 degree shim to get close to the 5.2 in the TSB. I explained this to my dealer and also explained that I do not think having a pinion angle matching the drive shaft is good for a u-joint style shaft (should match the t-case flange angle resulting in parallel offset). I also explained that this could explain the high speed vibes I have now and I'm concerned about long term bearing and seal wear. Typically that matching angle is reserved for double cordon/CV shafts. I could feel the eye rolls through the phone. Ive done a few axle setups on my jeep and all have been vibe free. I feel this shouldn't be such a battle and I've totally lost confidence in them. It goes in Monday (again) but their first response was to balance the tires.. again. Good times.

Being one of the lucky ones who doesn't have the "shudder", but being a retired mechanical designer I curious about all this measuring of angles and why some have the shudder and some don't. I do do know dealing with the angles in a three universal joint setup like our drive shaft is an difficult problem. Normally you want the shafts parallel and the angles in and out equal and in opposite directions. Not possible with the setup we have. Seems to me they are only looking at the angle through the last universal joint and the transfer case outlet and the differential pinion. I would think the angles through the first universal and the second universal would also figure in to the equation. A measurement of the front drive shaft would give these numbers. I would hope the first universal angle would be fairly consistent, unless someone has shimmed their center bearing mounting. The angles through the last two universals are definitely affected by lift kits and the shimming of the rear axle. I'm assuming the phasing is to deal with the odd angles through the joints. Sorry for the long winded rant, I either have too much time on my hands or need to sleep better at night. Just have to wonder why some people have such an issue and others, like myself, have none at all.

 

[navsnipe]

The TSB has the thicker tapered to compensate for that. It says to remove the original shim.

I have read the TSB. The service advisor said they contacted Ford tech support and was told to leave the thick flat shim in on the left side when performing the TSB on my truck. Quite a number of Rangers sit lower on the left than the right, mine is one of them. Ford has a specified tolerance for that and if they removed the 6mm shim it would have made that difference greater than the maximum specified value and created a more noticeable lean. The shudder remains but it is much more subtle than it started out with. The service advisor informed me that Ford is aware of my issue but does not have a 100% fix currently.

 

[Big Blue]

I have read the TSB. The service advisor said they contacted Ford tech support and was told to leave the thick flat shim in on the left side when performing the TSB on my truck. Quite a number of Rangers sit lower on the left than the right, mine is one of them. Ford has a specified tolerance for that and if they removed the 6mm shim it would have made that difference greater than the maximum specified value and created a more noticeable lean. The shudder remains but it is much more subtle than it started out with. The service advisor informed me that Ford is aware of the issue but does not have a 100% fix currently.

Just stating what the TSB originally said in step 12, I believe. Thought they made the left side shims thicker to compensate for removing the shim. Maybe mine needs a thicker flat shim then. Mine does look a little lower on the left side. But, maybe I'd have the shudder then, think I'll leave it as is. ?

 

[navsnipe]

Just stating what the TSB originally said in step 12, I believe. Thought they made the left side shims thicker to compensate for removing the shim. Maybe mine needs a thicker flat shim then. Mine does look a little lower on the left side. But, maybe I'd have the shudder then, think I'll leave it as is. ?

I got to know that TSB really well and asked the same question myself when I went to get my truck. The first thing I did was crawl underneath it in the service parking lot. I went back in and asked what was up. The explanation was as I described in the previous post.

The first time the TSB was done at the original dealership was ridiculous, two tapered shims installed in opposing directions both on the right side, no tapered shim on the left. The tech and service manger insisted everything was correct. The shudder had been made much worse.

There is a separate thread about leaning Rangers and corrective shimming. It also had the specified tolerance but I don't remember what it was. If the lean doesn't bother you and you have no shudder, I agree with you, don't fix what's not broken.

 

[Ogden Dan]

I don't have anything positive to add to this thread as far as fixing this aggravating shudder, but I do need to vent. I have now owned my 2020 Ranger for over a year. I have had the TSB for the shudder done twice and the shudder is the same as before the TSB was done. Today I was a passenger in the truck while my wife drove (due to some wrist surgery I had two days ago). Everytime the truck shuddered as she took off from a stop just really pissed me off (my patience is a little unstable right now due to wrist pain). Because the shudder is not present 100% of the time (probably only there 99% of the time and in varying degrees of severity) I don't think Ford has any idea what the issue really is and therefore will not be fixing it soon. This shudder along with , erratic and jerky transmission shifts when cold, really lousy fitting leather seat covers, the wavy view through the windshield, cheaply made interior parts and several other little things with this truck make me sorry I purchased it. I came from an F-150 Lariat Supercab that was flawless (also my first F-150) to this aggravating pile of metal. I know I paid less for the Ranger than my F150, but feel what I paid should at least provide a ride that doesn't have my passengers asking, "What the hell is wrong with your truck?" as it shakes like a cheap vibrator as you pull away from a stop. Well, I feel a bit better now. Thanks for listening. I wish I would have researched this truck more thoroughly before putting the money out for it. I suggest that anyone considering a Ranger purchase should go to a dealer and take every Ranger that they have for an extended test drive. Everyone I have driven since my purchase has the annoying vibration/shudder. I sure hope the rest of you are more satisfied with your purchase than I am.

My feelings exactly. I filed a complaint with customer service after the first four or five attempts at one dealer did not fix the shudder at all. Their response to me was "take it to another dealer". I was really not in the mood to hear such a brain-dead answer. But, just to comply with their request, I did take it to a second dealer and...... surprise surprise, the shudder is still there. Ford obviously does not know what the hell is going with this issue, or the person within Ford that does know has not published a fix yet.
I guess I will call the customer service line back and find out what the next useless steps are.

 

[Quick]

My feelings exactly. I filed a complaint with customer service after the first four or five attempts at one dealer did not fix the shudder at all. Their response to me was "take it to another dealer". I was really not in the mood to hear such a brain-dead answer. But, just to comply with their request, I did take it to a second dealer and...... surprise surprise, the shudder is still there. Ford obviously does not know what the hell is going with this issue, or the person within Ford that does know has not published a fix yet.
I guess I will call the customer service line back and find out what the next useless steps are.

Or, more likely, the cost to actually fix it is greater than the cost of dealing with the complaints.

 

[Silverfox]

My truck actually seems to be getting better on its own. So yeah. Who knows what’s going on. I did read something about axle wind up. Seems plausible. Back in the day they used traction bars to remedy it. Although I still maintain it’s engine tuning or the torque converter.

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