Ford Owners - Question About What Appears to be a Drivetrain "Bump" or "Thump"

Hi Everyone -

I have a question regarding a situation with my new to me 2008 F250 Crew Cab (12K miles):

I see a number of posts on other sites referencing the "known" Ford issue of the thump or bump when starting and stopping. It appears that many attribute this to a lack of grease on the slip yoke. I get the sensation of something in the drivetrain still moving forward after the truck stops and something moving backward when starting from a complete stop. I first thought I had something rolling around in the bed (was the best way I could explain the sensation), but there was nothing there. I don't hear anything, just feel it.

The sensation I am experiencing seems like it matches the many of the symptoms outlined in the Ford's TSB 05-26-10 - slip yoke grease (or lack thereof).

I went to the dealer today and one of the technicians drove it with me in the truck. He acknowledged what I was experiencing (and even noted he has the same type of issue with his Ford Ranger). He said they would inspect, call the Ford Hotline if need be (and as he said - perhaps Ford will recommend replacing the driveshaft). The dealer informed me at the end of the day that according to Ford (and an Oasis report number 20937) that this sensation is perfectly normal. In other words, the TSB referenced above IS NOT my problem and besides, the TSB stops with model year 2006. They are claiming that it is "powertrain mechanical lash" and is found in some 2003-2010 F Series trucks (and other models too).

Has anyone with a 2008 or newer experienced this issue? If so, have you been able to get the dealer to do anything about it? I'm not happy and don't know if I should accept this response, or try another dealer or.......????

I appreciate the input.

-Jon

Years ago I owned a '96 Ford F150 4X4 and it had the same sympton you described. I never did find what it was. Must be a Ford thing.

I have the same on the 2004 that I have. It s normal condition what Ford tech line said.

I guess I am not the norm,,,, I have not experienced this "thump" with our truck. We have the manual transmission, so maybe it is a automatic thing??? We now have 21K miles on our truck, and we could not be happier. No problems with our 2006 PSD.
If I were you, I would check further. I would not accept their "this is normal" explanation.

Had that problem on my '76 F-350, turned out to be the driveshaft carrier bearing. Had a rubber shock mount that had deteriorated. It is only used on two piece shafts.

I have a 2008 F350 and have not had that problem, but got it out of storage this week and had a bad EGR valve.

Maybe it's the pinion angle at the rear axle. Put some weight in the bed and see if it goes away.

Thanks everyone for the input. I made an appointment at another dealer for Monday. I'll post an update after that.

Has to do with the Limited Slip diff. I had special grease applied once. It may need it again in the near future.

I know this is a old topic, had the same happen to my 2001 F350, Slip yoke needs greasing , clears it right up.
I think scottz installed a grease fitting on his.

JonC wrote:Hi Everyone -

I have a question regarding a situation with my new to me 2008 F250 Crew Cab (12K miles):

I see a number of posts on other sites referencing the "known" Ford issue of the thump or bump when starting and stopping. It appears that many attribute this to a lack of grease on the slip yoke. I get the sensation of something in the drivetrain still moving forward after the truck stops and something moving backward when starting from a complete stop. I first thought I had something rolling around in the bed (was the best way I could explain the sensation), but there was nothing there. I don't hear anything, just feel it.

The sensation I am experiencing seems like it matches the many of the symptoms outlined in the Ford's TSB 05-26-10 - slip yoke grease (or lack thereof).

I went to the dealer today and one of the technicians drove it with me in the truck. He acknowledged what I was experiencing (and even noted he has the same type of issue with his Ford Ranger). He said they would inspect, call the Ford Hotline if need be (and as he said - perhaps Ford will recommend replacing the driveshaft). The dealer informed me at the end of the day that according to Ford (and an Oasis report number 20937) that this sensation is perfectly normal. In other words, the TSB referenced above IS NOT my problem and besides, the TSB stops with model year 2006. They are claiming that it is "powertrain mechanical lash" and is found in some 2003-2010 F Series trucks (and other models too).

Has anyone with a 2008 or newer experienced this issue? If so, have you been able to get the dealer to do anything about it? I'm not happy and don't know if I should accept this response, or try another dealer or.......????

I appreciate the input.

-Jon

I have the same thing. Ford greased it once and that stopped it for a while. It is an occasional annoyance that I just ignore now. May need to go in again. Seems to be standard for limited slip axles on Fords.

Is the trannie auto of manual? Cuz a throw out bearing can do that.

TC

Ford just issued a Customer Satisfaction Program #11B23 they indicate that the reprogramming is for better fault detection. However my sister the service manger at our local ford dealer told me it is to improve the drive train issues, rough shifts, bumping etc. Had it done last week, It actually has improved my fuel mileage went from 14.6 to 16.8. Works for Me. Might want to check into this, it is good until March 31, 2012

I have a very early 2008 job 1 F350 and I have not experienced this issue (I've got the long wheel base, crew cab long bed)

Thanks for the replies. Here I sit more than a year since the original post, new drive shaft and still the same problem. It's an automatic if that makes a difference.

I had the original drive shaft greased last summer and it seemed to help, but didn't completely eliminate the thump/bump. Had the shaft replaced at a different dealer in March and after a week or so, was back to the way it was. Frustrating.

What you describe sounds like something that happened to me in a previous vehicle. Something went thump when I pulled into the driveway and stopped. That turned out to be a bad u-joint. The fact that it comes back after greasing the drive shaft and even replacing it could mean that something is bent out of shape a bit. Something isn't meshing right, and whatever you do, the problem will keep coming back.

Okay - that's the humble opinion of a girl. Might be something to look into.

Tater

My $0.02 worth,

In 1980 I was looking for a vehicle to drive up to Alaska. For some reason I thought my Lancia wasn't the best car to bring. While shopping I ran into a SUV kinda thing that did exactly that. I asked my brother in law about it, he was a VoTec auto teacher. He said, and I'm working from memory here, that it had to do with the axle using rubber mounts to the frame and them being deteriorated. As I recall it was something alongs the lines of the axle could shift slightly depending on whether you were braking or accelerating.

Dunno if it was, or is, true. I never could find a vehicle I liked so we drove the Lancia on up and used it for 5 or more years here before selling it.

BTW, my 05 F-250 every now and then, with 60K miles on it, might be making that noise, not sure yet.

I some times get the same type of feeling in my Chevy, and I have put it down to the sliding hitch moving very slightly back and forth when braking and accelerating.
Sean

Sean,

Every time I see that "And a shelf in the fridge for BEER", I think of the 12V DC cooler that sits just outside the door, plugged into a "power outlet" that I installed, full of...err...uhhh...carbonated adult beverages. Being lazy I don't want to waste time actually going in to get to the fridge. Besides it would cut down on my fishing time and it's getting close to that time!
www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.displayResults&COUNTLOCATIONID=40&SPECIESID=420&YEAR=2010

We park straight across the river from the Morgan's Landing Campground.

06 long beds have a frame vibration at about 45.

I had a 77 f150 and it always had a wump like sound a one rear wheel after a long trip and always after left turn. Tore rear compleatly apart put new everything back into it and it still did it so I just gave up and drove it. Never broke down in 265000 miles was still working good last I heard.

Portagie1968 wrote: 06 long beds have a frame vibration at about 45.

I have a 06 PSD and no vibrations at any speed. At least up to 90 mph, that is the fastest I have had it. 83 mph pulling the 5th wheel.

Need a long bed plus I think it has to be a CC. Sometimes I wish I had gotten a manual.