Problem with 2014 Ford E450 Chassis

Tripalot wrote:
We did shift the wine and beer supply to a different location though!

Ha!

OldRadios wrote:
Get a weight on all four sets of wheels. See what the difference is between drivers and passengers side. Sounds like the max weight might be over the limit on one side. Tough to do on a E450 chassis with a short box though. Make sure you check it with the Toad attached.

While at the FMCA Rally in Perry, Ga. last March we had the M.H. weighed with toad attached, full fuel, full water tank, empty grey & black and loaded with the usual stuff as we were traveling home after being in Florida for the winter. All weights were within specs and this information was provided to Ford. Although within specs. the rear passenger side was a little heavier than the driver's side. Not much can be done to change that as the main storage compartments are in that rear corner - also fridge is on that side but more in the middle.
We did shift the wine and beer supply to a different location though!

Get a weight on all four sets of wheels. See what the difference is between drivers and passengers side. Sounds like the max weight might be over the limit on one side. Tough to do on a E450 chassis with a short box though. Make sure you check it with the Toad attached.

Thanks for the feedback!

You're hearing an unusual sound and it is an unusual problem. Please keep us informed on exactly what the technicians found was making the noise - just in case any of the rest of us ever here the same sound coming from our rigs.

Just wanted to give an update on the grinding noise we have been hearing. With the excellent help of our local Ford dealer and Ford of Canada, we think we have found the source of the problem but not the fix - as of yet.

The noise is coming from the rear suspension on the passenger side. It can be controlled by adjusting the pressure in the air bags, i.e. 40 lbs. psi on drivers side and 80 psi on passenger side. RV dealer is going to get his chance to remedy this.

Some suggested putting an additive in the differential. Ford experts said this would not make any difference and they did a check to see if by chance we had "limited slip" and we do not.

We did find that by driving in tight circles - 2 wheels nearly off the ground - that the noise can be duplicated and techs can hear what the problem is. So, we are making progress!

Newer Ford pickups have electronic locking differential. Not sure about the 2014 E450 but my 2011 F250 has it.
In mine when I pull the knob for 4x4lo-hi,2x4 it locks the rear differential. This disengages automatically at a certain speed but at low speed it is there and it's really bad if trying to turn on a non-slippery surface.

The explanation given by pnichols is exactly the situation we had with our '99 Chinook, E350. I wasn't sure that simple a solution (adding a bit of some kind of special Ford differential lubricant) would work, but it did.

I believe that the E450 chassis can be ordered with a limited slip differential and I think this option is even standard in Ford's ambulance package for the E450. In slippery or soft conditions this type of differential provides improved traction.

Perhaps your E450 B+ is very special in that it might have this type of differential option in it. (I wish mine did!)

If for some reason your B+ has this type of differential, then the clutch plates in this differential can make a grinding sound in turns. My GMC pickup has this type of differential and occassionally makes these sounds. However, it's very important that a special rear differential lubricant be used in limited slip differentials so as to keep these clutch slippage sounds at a minimum and to keep the clutch plates from damage.

You might want to check to see if your E450's differential is limited slip. It's a great option if it's not defective and has the proper lubricant in it. My pickup has over 150,000 miles on it with no differential problems other than the occasional grinding sound in turns. I feel it's additional traction when in two wheel drive and coming up our steep driveway in pouring down rain.

x2! I remember that happening with us. We have the Dicor brand "wheel simulators" and one of ours was making noise. It was what I'd call a "tinny" sound and the trick is that it's a noise that occurs with wheel rotation. Looking at a wheel, how massive it is, you wouldn't think it can flex. It flexes differently than the simulator/wheel cover/hubcap.

Maybe I should ask... Do you know/have instructions how to remove the covers? Ours needed a tool, which might not have actually worked but didn't come with the used coach, so we bought a socket that we can drive with a ratchet.

If you have full size hubcaps on your unit,I would try taking them off and run the RV without them and see if the noise goes away...Just a guess!!!