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

[navsnipe]

This video helped me understand driveshaft alignment and the nature of the TSB and shimming the axle/pinion angle.

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[ChiefQM]

This video helped me understand driveshaft alignment and the nature of the TSB and shimming the axle/pinion angle.

I suspect I will be doing this TSB myself. Thanks.

 

[krisrayner]

did i read it right?
they are rotating the rear end, not shimming the hanger bearing?

It’s easier to isolate an angle change to the rear u-joint that way. Dropping the support bearing might require a considerable change that will end up affecting all 3 u-joints and possibly inducing a different vibration.

 

[apotocki]

Ok. Help me better understand this. I think that I kinda did this TSB a couple months ago - indirectly.
When I installed my 2.5 inch front level I wasn’t really happy with the stance as the front appeared to be a tad higher than the rear.....sooooo, I bought (2) of the OEM 1/4 inch rear shims from my Dealer and then purchased new longer u bolts from my local spring shop as the OEM u bolt wasn’t long enough (at least imo). I installed them myself in about 1/2hr and this resulted in a 1/4 inch lift to the rear - isn’t this the same as the TSB? My truck did already have 2 shims on the drivers side and 1 on the passenger side as stock (Fords effort to even out the Ranger lean)
I do notice a bit of a take off vibration/studder....but....wondering what the Dealer would do once they saw my addition of the 1/4 inch shims.

 

[navsnipe]

The shims in the TSB are tapered shims which allow adjustment of the pinion shaft flange angle. If anything flat shims would just lift without angle change but the deflection of the driveshaft would increase. If you watch the video I linked the guy explains it pretty well. The Ranger has a two piece driveshaft. Think of it as two driveshafts. The problem with shimming the center bearing is it could create another source of vibration if the angle of the short part is upset.

 

[apotocki]

The shims in the TSB are tapered shims which allow adjustment of the pinion shaft flange angle. If anything flat shims would just lift without angle change but the deflection of the driveshaft would increase. If you watch the video I linked the guy explains it pretty well. The Ranger has a two piece driveshaft. Think of it as two driveshafts. The problem with shimming the center bearing is it could create another source of vibration if the angle of the short part is upset.

Got it - Thanks for the reply and, yea, I should have watched the video first!
Makes sense.
Hmmmmm.....still wonder if I’ll have any issue with the Dealer (2.5 front level and the added 1/4 inch shims in the rear) if I decide to take it in.

 

[navsnipe]

One way to find out is bring it in. Looks like the language of the TSB says to verify front and rear ride heights.

From what I've read over the past couple of days is allot of stock and lifted vehicles have this issue and axle shimming is a very common practice.

 

[ChiefQM]

After 6 days at the dealer, they finally gave me a call - only after I left a message asking for an update. Surprising me not all, they declined to do the work detailed in the TSB. The service adviser said that they took the measurements per the instructions and the difference between Angle A and 5.25 degrees and they came up with 5.4 degrees. As that is within the target specs of 5 to 6 degrees, they won't go any further. The service advisor agreed the issue addressed in the TSB existed, but that as far as they were concerned, it was operating as designed. He suggested I try another dealer (done that, no luck, but that was before the TSB came out. He said my only other recourse was to call Ford Customer Service. I tried that before and got nowhere. Any ideas on my next step? I have to cool down before I go get the truck from the dealer.

 

[navsnipe]

If you have an angle finder, compare the angle of both ends of the driveshaft flanges to see if they are equal or close. They are assuming the frame of the truck matches the angle of the flange at the far side of the centerbearing. That may not be true.

 

[ChiefQM]

I picked "Bucky" up at the service department and drove straight to the sales floor. The salesman who sold it to me 93 days ago wasn't there, which was probably a good thing. I found the sales manager and told him my tale of woe, stated that it appeared that the service department had no interest in trying to locate the problem or fix it and that we were very disappointed with the vehicle and the dealership. He empathized and called the shop manager up to see me. The shop manager admitted that it was a known problem to Ford, and ours was the worst he had ever experienced, but it apparently affects so few vehicles that Ford's position was to ignore the problem. He stated he would order the shim kit and have it installed to see if it would address the issue. Stay tuned.

 

[ChiefQM]

If you have an angle finder, compare the angle of both ends of the driveshaft flanges to see if they are equal or close. They are assuming the frame of the truck matches the angle of the flange at the far side of the centerbearing. That may not be true.

I am going to get an angle finder this week, I am also going to make hidden marks on the leaf springs and shackle bolts to see if they did in fact do the work. I will photograph everything before I take it back in.

 

[navsnipe]

I just did the angle checking based on the TSB on my truck. I only have an analog angle gauge but my measurement comes in at about 4°. Using their calculation i need a 1.25° shim.

I would ask them to show you them taking the measurements.

I like your idea of the markings. A paint pen works well as they look allot like factory markings but you would know where they are.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I am going to get an angle finder this week, I am also going to make hidden marks on the leaf springs and shackle bolts to see if they did in fact do the work. I will photograph everything before I take it back in.

Hi Bill,

I read you post earlier and saw red directed at the dealership, but decided to ponder the situation in hopes of coming to a different conclusion, but I could not...So here it is. It is my opinion the dealership service department had no intention of taking the time to actually accurately measure the driveline angle and as such fabricated a within spec announcement. Then they billed Ford for the time that they did not really invest. I am pleased you stuck to your guns and involved the sales manager. To then say the service department will order a shim kit and install is also bunk as the kit comes with different shims of different angles to adjust the vehicle...How the F**k do they install the kit? They really need to do this in your presence to show that they really did the measurements, recorded them as delivered measurements. Calculated the shim required and installed the shim and verified the angles. Thank goodness you did not just go away. That said...you need another dealer for future work. This one sucks canal water in my opinion. Keep us posted to resolution, and file another formal issue with Ford Customer Care....Insist on elevation to a supervisor if you are given the run around. It is my opinion this dealer was trying to bilk Ford for service not rendered.

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

 

[navsnipe]

This really sucks that ChiefQM got that kind of response. I think we've all heard the lines; "they all do that", "we can't replicate the problem", "your VIN isn't covered under that TSB". To actually have them say the measurement is in spec and tell you this is one of the worst vibration cases they have seen really takes the cake. I would think a regional tech would have been brought in by now to find out what is going on.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I contacted the dealership service dpt where I bought mine and they tried to tell me that unless I had already brought the truck in for this prior to the TSB, they cannot address it without pre-approval from Ford... I informed them that is not what the TSB states but they tried to claim that the information I have is incorrect. So requesting to speak to the service manager was even more aggravating when he tried to tell me that the TSB didn't even apply to mine since it was a 2WD and this TSB is specifically for the FX4 models only.

My exchange with the service manager...

Me "You are looking at TSB 20-2277 correct?"
Him "Yes sir"
Me "OK.. So it states 2019-2020 Ranger correct?"
Him "Yes sir"
Me "Shudder/vibration when accelerating from a stop, correct?"
Him "Yes sir"
Me "So where does it state this is only for the FX4 models?"
Him "It states Some 2019-2020 Ranger vehicles may exhibit a shudder/vibration. That's referencing the FX4."
Me "So you're saying that the use of the term "some" in this TSB means FX4?"
Him "That is correct"
Me "...Really?... I'm just trying to clarify this here.. You're telling me that Ford, a multi-billion dollar company. One with an entire team devoted to ensuring that releases such as this are worded so that there is little to no opportunity to be misinterpreted would willingly and knowingly use an innocuous term such as "Some" to stand in place for FX4? Correct?"
Him "...Well um.. That's the information we have on it is this is only for the FX4's and your truck is only a 2wd so even if it has similar vibrations there is a different reason for that, such as an out of balance tire, suspension damage, modifications made, or simply coming from the road."
Me "...Well thank you for doing your part to build loyalty to the dealership and Ford, have a nice day."

So now I am waiting for the general manager to call me back about this. I don't plan on taking my truck back there as a result of this and may still contact Ford about it as well.

It never ceases to amaze me how dealership service departments seemingly go out of their way to push customers away. Clearly where there's enough vehicles with the same issue that the manufacturer releases a TSB on it, the service departments are not out anything as they will be reimbursed for the labor and parts, yet some such as this and what @ChiefQM have done go way out of their way to actively strive to refuse to honor the TSB's.

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