Vibration at take off

[fusseli]

I've got the shimmy from take off also, it's always in first gear. Reminds me of a slipping or chattering abused clutch in an old stick shift. I'd believe it's the two piece drive shaft, and part of the Ranger charm. Offroading benefits from the clearance advantage of the drive shaft design.

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[Danny Ramirez]

I don’t mind the vibrations. I just wanted to know that it was common and that my truck doesn’t have an issue. Maybe Ford will come out with a fix for it.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I don’t mind the vibrations. I just wanted to know that it was common and that my truck doesn’t have an issue. Maybe Ford will come out with a fix for it.

Hi Danny,

No worries!

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

 

[Danny Ramirez]

Just finished a 400 mile trip in the ranger... 4 hours of the trip were spent driving through LA in stop-and-go traffic during rush hour.. this is where the vibrations are VERY noticeable, since I was only able to accelerate to about 10-15mph each time before braking again to a stop.

Not super disturbing to me, but enough for a passenger to ask what was wrong with my new truck. I hope Ford is looking into a fix for this ..

 

[Chris C.]

I have the same vibration issue, and it does bother me on a $40,000 truck. I also feel like it is worse around 10 mph, but it is there at all speeds. See my thread about bad ride. I am not at all happy, and ford is not willing to help. I am hoping it goes away, or ford recognizes the problem and comes up with a fix. Seriously guys (and girls), this sucks big time.

 

[Chief Malone]

i have the vibration at take off also, its in the dealer right now for this, the tech confirmed it in fact had a vibration and determined it needed a new drive shaft. i will pick it up on Monday and post if it is fixed or not.

 

[PNW_Ranger87]

I felt it immediately when test driving them. I feel like it'll be a TSB soon. I'm overly sensitive to things like that though.

 

[Texasota]

I felt it immediately when test driving them. I feel like it'll be a TSB soon. I'm overly sensitive to things like that though.

When I test drove a Ranger I noticed this vibration when accelerating briskly from a stop with my boat in tow. I don't recall it being present when driving without the boat. Is it a small percentage of the Rangers that are experiencing this vibration problem? Or are many/most of them experiencing this takeoff vibration? I'm planning on ordering a 2020 and I'm wondering if this is vibration is likely to be present. Phil mentioned earlier (https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/vibration-at-take-off.2092/page-2#post-62518) that this is a problem endemic with a two piece driveshaft design.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

When I test drove a Ranger I noticed this vibration when accelerating briskly from a stop with my boat in tow. I don't recall it being present when driving without the boat. Is it a small percentage of the Rangers that are experiencing this vibration problem? Or are many/most of them experiencing this takeoff vibration? I'm planning on ordering a 2020 and I'm wondering if this is vibration is likely to be present. Phil mentioned earlier (https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/vibration-at-take-off.2092/page-2#post-62518) that this is a problem endemic with a two piece driveshaft design.

Hi Al,

Yes...it is endemic of a two piece driveshaft design...The question is how severe is it? A noticable vibration that you notice vs. an objectionable vibration is key here. We have battled this vibration ever since I can remember with two piece driveshafts. One thing you can do is to have the vehicle on a level surface, parking brake set...is to loosen the center bearing bolts, bounce the front and rear of the vehicle. Tighten the bolts again...It may help... Also, check the phasing of the two shafts. All the u joints should be in the same plane. That is if the front shaft Joint is at 10 O'Clock, then the rear front and rear joint of the second shaft should also be at 10 O'Clock..

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

 

[Allenfrx]

Hi Al,

Yes...it is endemic of a two piece driveshaft design...The question is how severe is it? A noticable vibration that you notice vs. an objectionable vibration is key here. We have battled this vibration ever since I can remember with two piece driveshafts. One thing you can do is to have the vehicle on a level surface, parking brake set...is to loosen the center bearing bolts, bounce the front and rear of the vehicle. Tighten the bolts again...It may help... Also, check the phasing of the two shafts. All the u joints should be in the same plane. That is if the front shaft Joint is at 10 O'Clock, then the rear front and rear joint of the second shaft should also be at 10 O'Clock..

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

Hello Phil.

I believe I have this issue

It definitely feels like it's coming from directly under the seat.

It isn't just on take off it happens around 1700 to 2400rpms. It shakes the entire truck and feels like if it goes on long enough it might grenade the drive shaft and take the trans w it.

I can somewhat reduce it by driving in sport mode and using my thumb to force the highest gear down to keep the rpms above 2300ish and it certainly feels fun and sporty beibg driven like this.

Is there a possibility the 2 inch rough country leveling kit and KO 285/65/18 tires are exacerbating the symptons?

Lariat Fx4 w chrome pack.

What should I do?
1)Ignore it
2) Have dealer check drive shaft?
3) See if it continues after break in? (At 500 miles now)
4) Other options?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hello Phil.

I believe I have this issue

It definitely feels like it's coming from directly under the seat.

It isn't just on take off it happens around 1700 to 2400rpms. It shakes the entire truck and feels like if it goes on long enough it might grenade the drive shaft and take the trans w it.

I can somewhat reduce it by driving in sport mode and using my thumb to force the highest gear down to keep the rpms above 2300ish and it certainly feels fun and sporty beibg driven like this.

Is there a possibility the 2 inch rough country leveling kit and KO 285/65/18 tires are exacerbating the symptons?

Lariat Fx4 w chrome pack.

What should I do?
1)Ignore it
2) Have dealer check drive shaft?
3) See if it continues after break in? (At 500 miles now)
4) Other options?

Hi Allen,

What you are describing is more than start up shudder. Are you sure the driveshafts are in phase? If so then it likely is a balance issue with one or both of the driveshafts..If you inspect around the rear u joint to pinion flange and at the front u joint to center bearing, see if it appears that a balance weight has been thrown. Usually these weights are spot welded and you would see just the weld locations and the weight would be missing. Do the same for the front driveshaft. I recommend taking it to the dealer for a check out as you are in different gears to keep the revs up and that indicates it is not tire imbalance as the tires are at different rpms in different gears, but some folks do confuse tire balance with driveshaft balance...

There is a service trick that can be done too. Put two hose clamps around the rear driveshaft with both heads of the clamps side by side. Drive the vehicle. If worse, clock the pair around the shaft until you feel the imbalance is the lease. Then mark that spot and clock the heads of the clamps in opposite directions equal distance from the mark. Again evaluate. keep clocking in this same manor until the vibration is gone. If this equal clocking makes it worse, you need more weight and add another pair of hose clamps and repeat the equal distance from the mark clocking and see if that helps. I have used this trick before with pretty good results on shafts that clearly show a balance weight was thrown.

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

 

[Lukaranger]

I have the take off shudder also, by the time it hits 3rd gear it goes away.

 

[mikemac58]

Transmission. Normal. See my post.

I thought the same thing, sounds like an old VW bug.

 

[shred5]

So this is a normal thing and isn't not going to be fixed?
When I test drove the Ranger I never felt it. I guess I need to test drive it again. This is one of those things that once I feel it will always bug me. I did see a reviewer say something about it but thought it was just their review truck.
How bad is it? honestly? They all have it?

Well My wife told me to buy the Colorado because we needed the truck. The Ranger looked to be a ways out yet when we bought the Colorado and I was tired of waiting for the Ranger.
She said well if the Ranger comes out next year it gives you two years to see what happens with it and let them work out the bugs. We bought the Colorado thinking of getting rid of it before the manufactures warranty was up.

 

[tivct]

Well, it may be "normal" but it's not acceptable. Ford has pretty high NVH standards... find me another Ford product that vibrates like this. Hint... there aren't any.

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