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

[Ranger Fanatic11]

Hi Chris,

My only recommendation is to have the Dealer perform the TSB measurement and install shims if it is determined the driveline is not in spec.

Folks have shimmed the center bearing on their own and some had success. This is a likely symptom of a two piece driveline.

Wish I could be of more help but it seems the problem is two fold, Start Up Shudder and a more continuous vibration which could be related to driveline and/or tire balance. The dealer has diagnostic ability via some NVH measurement tools that they can apply to the vehicle diagnostics. Let the dealer try to determine what is what...many folks have the TSB performed and it results in no help as they have another problem..

Just because you have a vibration does not mean this TSB applies which is the pitfall of many owners, particularly after suspension Mods.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Thanks for the advice Phil!! I'm considering on just living with it and hope it gets better. I hate to be messing with it and make it worse. What are the odds this issue could lead to major problems down the line if it doesn't get corrected and what's the odds this is all normal behavior?? Thanks for any and all advice!!

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[P. A. Schilke]

Thanks for the advice Phil!! I'm considering on just living with it and hope it gets better. I hate to be messing with it and make it worse. What are the odds this issue could lead to major problems down the line if it doesn't get corrected and what's the odds this is all normal behavior?? Thanks for any and all advice!!

Hi Chris,

There is little impact if start up shudder...other driveline vibrations might impact durability but you have to realize a couple things. Start up shudder is a very brief vibration that goes away in about a second or two. A steady state vibration that is noticable might have impact on some components, but depends on the excitation source. Wheel/tire or driveline imbalance. Wheel/Tire...likely minimal...driveline...dealer should diagnose. Covered before in many posts of mine...we need to know the frequency of this vibration as well as duration. This will help determine the orders which means if the vibration is 3.73 times the wheel/tire...then it indicates driveline. If wheel/tire it might be in the 5 to 6 hz range...indication wheel tire. Ovality of the tire... poorly machined wheel or both...
Too complex to just shoot from the hip...

Welcome to my world at Ford...trying to diagnose the root cause of NVH, where the poor customer has a hard time communication his/her problem.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Ranger Fanatic11]

Hi Chris,

There is little impact if start up shudder...other driveline vibrations might impact durability but you have to realize a couple things. Start up shudder is a very brief vibration that goes away in about a second or two. A steady state vibration that is noticable might have impact on some components, but depends on the excitation source. Wheel/tire or driveline imbalance. Wheel/Tire...likely minimal...driveline...dealer should diagnose. Covered before in many posts of mine...we need to know the frequency of this vibration as well as duration. This will help determine the orders which means if the vibration is 3.73 times the wheel/tire...then it indicates driveline. If wheel/tire it might be in the 5 to 6 hz range...indication wheel tire. Ovality of the tire... poorly machined wheel or both...
Too complex to just shoot from the hip...

Welcome to my world at Ford...trying to diagnose the root cause of NVH, where the poor customer has a hard time communication his/her problem.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

The vibration occurs from stop position and lasts only a couple of second then at all highway speeds it's smooth as silk. I have all tires at 30-32 psi. The brief vibration feels like it's just behind the front seat. I've been reading a lot of posts on this subject in here and it baffles me on how so many people have the same issues going back to the 2019 model. I paid 40 grand for this vehicle and it seems like Ford would have an answer after 2-3 years of the same issue.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

The vibration occurs from stop position and lasts only a couple of second then at all highway speeds it's smooth as silk. I have all tires at 30-32 psi. The brief vibration feels like it's just behind the front seat. I've been reading a lot of posts on this subject in here and it baffles me on how so many people have the same issues going back to the 2019 model. I paid 40 grand for this vehicle and it seems like Ford would have an answer after 2-3 years of the same issue.

Hi Chris,

This is why the TSB Exists.... some vehicle are sensitive to start up shudder while ones Like my Ranger are silky smooth... Have the dealer get the TSB done... It is very hard to get 100% of the vehicles without any problems....Tolerance stack ups can bite a vehicle. Let the dealer try to fix it. If you have a simple plate for the install on a vehicle that has a hole in it...this hole will vary in location to an extent... It is called tolerance as the hole is at a distance Plus or Minus a minuscule amount, but the hole is not in the perfect locaton...so look at the parts....there are several points where this tolerance stack can adversely affect the vehicle. Two piece drivelines are prone to this and it was a corporate decision the go this route... I do not necessarily agree, but a single piece driveshaft would be huge diameter if the program decided to go that way and I could not be steel as the length is far too long...

 

[Ranger Fanatic11]

Hi Chris,

This is why the TSB Exists.... some vehicle are sensitive to start up shudder while ones Like my Ranger are silky smooth... Have the dealer get the TSB done... It is very hard to get 100% of the vehicles without any problems....Tolerance stack ups can bite a vehicle. Let the dealer try to fix it. If you have a simple plate for the install on a vehicle that has a hole in it...this hole will vary in location to an extent... It is called tolerance as the hole is at a distance Plus or Minus a minuscule amount, but the hole is not in the perfect locaton...so look at the parts....there are several points where this tolerance stack can adversely affect the vehicle. Two piece drivelines are prone to this and it was a corporate decision the go this route... I do not necessarily agree, but a single piece driveshaft would be huge diameter if the program decided to go that way and I could not be steel as the length is far too long...

I actually go to the dealership tomorrow to get a bed cover put on. I will mention the TSB and I hope they know what I'm talking about and familiar with it after explaining. My luck they won't have a clue

 

[navsnipe]

I actually go to the dealership tomorrow to get a bed cover put on. I will mention the TSB and I hope they know what I'm talking about and familiar with it after explaining. My luck they won't have a clue

Grab the pdf of TSB-20-2277 at the beginning of this thread and print it out when you go to the dealer. I had to do that with mine. The TSB did not completely correct my shudder but it's much better, long story short.

 

[20lariat4x4]

Update:

Found a solution that fixed everything! Smooth everywhere, angles in spec, and even got rid of those occasional clunky shifts. I’ll post a picture of what I did in a minute.

 

[20lariat4x4]

Here’s what I did. I’d be willing to give detailed instructions to anyone who wants to do the same.

 

[navsnipe]

Here’s what I did. I’d be willing to give detailed instructions to anyone who wants to do the same.

I was just talking with my wife about the shudder with my Ranger and I see your remedy. The more I drive mine the more I think about moving on. Did you trade your Ranger on the Ram? I have been living with mine since September of last year.

 

[Rp930]

Good luck with that thing. I’ll keep the Ranger.

 

[navsnipe]

Good luck with that thing. I’ll keep the Ranger.

Does yours have the shudder?

 

[20lariat4x4]

I was just talking with my wife about the shudder with my Ranger and I see your remedy. The more I drive mine the more I think about moving on. Did you trade your Ranger on the Ram? I have been living with mine since September of last year.

I was planning on just living with it, but it just pissed me off every time I drove it. Plus the transmission was a little too clunky around town. Everything else about the truck was great.

I did trade for the Ram. Carvana offered 37,175 with my 5k miles on the Ranger. I paid 38,000 out the door for it new. So that got me looking around, and here I am.

My brother’s had 3 Ram Hemis and drove them all to ~300k before selling with only changing fuel pumps and adding oil (they all burn ~1 quart/10k miles once they’re over about 200k). He knows all their quirks. It’s bigger than I need, and definitely feels it compared to the ranger. But I love it. I feel better about the Hemi than I do a small turbo engine for longevity (keyword “feel”). It’s got the etorque mild hybrid system, auto stop/starts are completely imperceptible and it pushes it to 22 avg mpg if I really try, and it is a 4x4.

 

[navsnipe]

I was planning on just living with it, but it just pissed me off every time I drove it. Plus the transmission was a little too clunky around town. Everything else about the truck was great.

I did trade for the Ram. Carvana offered 37,175 with my 5k miles on the Ranger. I paid 38,000 out the door for it new. So that got me looking around, and here I am.

My brother’s had 3 Ram Hemis and drove them all to ~300k before selling with only changing fuel pumps and adding oil (they all burn ~1 quart/10k miles once they’re over about 200k). He knows all their quirks. It’s bigger than I need, and definitely feels it compared to the ranger. But I love it. I feel better about the Hemi than I do a small turbo engine for longevity (keyword “feel”). It’s got the etorque mild hybrid system, auto stop/starts are completely imperceptible and it pushes it to 22 avg mpg if I really try, and it is a 4x4.

I've gotten very tired of the shudder too. I've started checking out other trucks. I considered going to a shop that specializes in drivelines to get the damn thing fixed. As soon as the see it is a new truck completely stock they are hesitant to touch it.

 

[20lariat4x4]

I've gotten very tired of the shudder too. I've started checking out other trucks. I considered going to a shop that specializes in drivelines to get the damn thing fixed. As soon as the see it is a new truck completely stock they are hesitant to touch it.

Measure your operating angles. Follow the rules of no operating angle greater than 3, and adjacent operating angles less than 1 degree apart. I’m theory, that SHOULD provide the solution. I got mine close, see my previous post about needing to adjust the angle of the trans itself.

Or go shopping like I did and keep a warranty and peace of mind lol.

 

[20lariat4x4]

Measure your operating angles. Follow the rules of no operating angle greater than 3, and adjacent operating angles less than 1 degree apart. I’m theory, that SHOULD provide the solution. I got mine close, see my previous post about needing to adjust the angle of the trans itself.

Or go shopping like I did and keep a warranty and peace of mind lol.

Or… get a Ford tech to measure your operating angles and report to Ford Cust service. That was going to be my next move. A quantifiable proof that it’s out of spec so they’ll have to do something.

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