Hi Jim,
Thanks Phil, I take it there is a way to lower the rear ride height w/o voiding warranty? At this point probably wouldn’t have to lower rear too much because the TSB adjusted angle to some extent. They also suggested putting in a Ford cust service complaint.
Depends what you mean by voiding your warranty. They have to prove that any modification you make to the vehicle caused the failure of whatever part they want to deny a warranty claim for. It’s the law and has been for a long time. Ford dealers do seem pretty clueless on this. They better wake up before putting a ton of Broncos out there and trying to “void” people’s warranties for lift kits and driving through puddles and such.
Hi Jim,
Thanks, yes the shudder is very transitory, right at start from dead stop. As I mentioned in a prior post, I had loaded my truck with 500+ weight a left for a week. While loaded no shudder at all. Once unloaded, came back so the resultant pinion angle from that lowered height was a sweet spot. Interestingly, that loaded bed for a week must have permanently deformed my springs because shudder was noticeably less than previously. I went to dealer with that info and they did TSB. It helped and now shudder is much less pronounced but I can only guess that it didn’t adjust angle enough. I saw that the lowered height had resolve the issue so there’s a fix… just gotta get there. Part of me wonders if I load the rear again with 1000 lbs and leave for a week, will it deform enough to lower height 1/2” ?. Might be wishful thinking because I would that’d be enough to plasticly deform but it happened once.
Phil, I am agreement about the shudder and and what is not shudder.
The Bronco has a completely different rear end design. No leaf springs. This is similar to the design that is floating around for the 6th generation Ranger. Dodge RAM 1500 has had this coil spring style rear end for a few years. Smooth and no axle wrap.
I know you have read most of the comments, probably including mine. My question is, what are the chances that there is a transmission fluid level issue in either the transmission or the torque converter? Ford has made it damned near impossible for owners to check the level in the transmission, and there is absolutely no way we can check the fill on the torque converter. My dealer is made it quite clear that they are monumentally disinterested in resolving any issues in my truck, which they claim is nothing more than a 'herky jerky 10 speed". The shop foreman ordered the TSB done, but when I checked, they did it wrong and all it did was change slightly the speed at which I felt the shudder upon accel from zero. When the shaking and bucking gets too far out of hand, I use sport mode and keep the RPMS above 1500, which I have also identified as the 'sweet spot' for the bucking. But I have noticed that I also have, on occasion, the same shaking at 70. It could be a tire imbalance. I am not a fan of Hankook tires, second set I have owned, and they have a high amount of road noise, but I believe I would feel an imbalance vibration at different speeds. With less than 19K miles, I am not ready to spend the money on a new set of tires, yet. Please let us know what you find as you work the problem.
I don't think Ford has identified the problem. If they have, it must not be cost effective to fix all of the trucks in the field that are experiencing the problem. I just keep my fingers crossed they will put a fix out before I get annoyed enough to get rid of mine. I believe your thought on fluid levels contributiing to the shudder/jerky shifting as my truck is so much better when it is warmed up.
Hi Opusnbill,
That's definitely my thought. I asked at the dealer and they said it's "normal" for the 10 spd. It has seemed to get better, though, so it may just be part of the "break-in" period. I'll give it until the first oil change and see if it goes away. I'm already halfway there. Slight improvement but not "gone". We'll see.
