2014 F350 Vibration

Dave H M wrote:

720Deere wrote:
This topic has been beaten to death on this and many other forums. It has been a problem on the Superduty trucks ever since there was a Superduty. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time with the shims. Most people find that changing the angle will fix the problem loaded but then it shows up empty. Airbags help, in fact it is nearly non-existent on my 2011 F350 towing a fifth wheel with a pin weight of over 3,100 lbs with approximately 50 psi in the Firestone airbags. If your rear suspension settles 3" or more under load, airbags may be a good option for you. Some will suggest Timbrens, but that system gives you no flexibility to adjust ride height which is what ultimately fixes your issue. The only fool proof fix would be traction bars to prevent axle wrap from changing the pinion angle which is what is causing your problem.

I just lived with the problem on my 06 and never added airbags. The truck had 88,000 miles when I traded it on the 2011 and never had a problem with u-joints or the pinion bearing and that truck did a lot of heavy towing. Other than the fact that it is annoying and makes you feel that something is wrong with the truck, I haven't found it to be harmful to the truck. If the problem persisted beyond takeoff, I would be more concerned.

Agreed. I went thru lots of gyrations chasing that shudder in my F250.

After all the pfarting around, air bags were the simple solution. take the squat out and it would not shudder.

And not to mention that you'll not need to adjust your headlights back and forth for towing or not.

720Deere wrote:
This topic has been beaten to death on this and many other forums. It has been a problem on the Superduty trucks ever since there was a Superduty. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time with the shims. Most people find that changing the angle will fix the problem loaded but then it shows up empty. Airbags help, in fact it is nearly non-existent on my 2011 F350 towing a fifth wheel with a pin weight of over 3,100 lbs with approximately 50 psi in the Firestone airbags. If your rear suspension settles 3" or more under load, airbags may be a good option for you. Some will suggest Timbrens, but that system gives you no flexibility to adjust ride height which is what ultimately fixes your issue. The only fool proof fix would be traction bars to prevent axle wrap from changing the pinion angle which is what is causing your problem.

I just lived with the problem on my 06 and never added airbags. The truck had 88,000 miles when I traded it on the 2011 and never had a problem with u-joints or the pinion bearing and that truck did a lot of heavy towing. Other than the fact that it is annoying and makes you feel that something is wrong with the truck, I haven't found it to be harmful to the truck. If the problem persisted beyond takeoff, I would be more concerned.

Agreed. I went thru lots of gyrations chasing that shudder in my F250.

After all the pfarting around, air bags were the simple solution. take the squat out and it would not shudder.

Had same problem with 2011 gmc 3500. Dealer replaced all of the drive line, Bought me air bags, Did not do any thing.Swapped for a 2012 ford 450. With camper on had a slight shudder. Put on timbrens. It went away.

Had a '91 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4,ex cab w/ a 454 and did the same thing. Dealer was stumped at the time, but they got in touch w/ GM to find out what was wrong. Fix was to re-do the drive shafts and if memory serves me right, 2 different ones were utilized and carrier bearings/mounts were in new locations as well. Took care of problem.

Read just the other day (on TL forum I believe) that Ford "lightened" up the spring rates so now they squat more than previous super dudes.

I traded a 2008 2500 Chevy Long box on a 2014 350 Long box Ford and I didn't have this problem with the Chevy and I'm pulling the same trailer. Doesn't seem like I should need to buy airbags or upgrade to a CV-joint driveshaft on a truck that should handle pulling a fiver. This truck had a sticker of over $64,000.

Skip the shims. Either add airbags to keep the rear end level when towing, or upgrade to a CV-joint driveshaft.

Yup it's called launch shudder and the dealer was correct, but I wouldn't shim it as you might very well have it happen when your driving empty. As said bags will most likely help you with that much squat. Mine has a pretty big rake empty and it squats 4-5" to level hitched up. If your not gentle on launch you'll get that washboard type feeling on launch.
Not sure if you have a 2 piece shaft, but there companies who make after market single shafts which also correct the problem, ~$800 IIRC.

Lots of trucks do it, and the dealer correctly described the reason. Google "launch shudder", you'll read for hours.

This topic has been beaten to death on this and many other forums. It has been a problem on the Superduty trucks ever since there was a Superduty. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time with the shims. Most people find that changing the angle will fix the problem loaded but then it shows up empty. Airbags help, in fact it is nearly non-existent on my 2011 F350 towing a fifth wheel with a pin weight of over 3,100 lbs with approximately 50 psi in the Firestone airbags. If your rear suspension settles 3" or more under load, airbags may be a good option for you. Some will suggest Timbrens, but that system gives you no flexibility to adjust ride height which is what ultimately fixes your issue. The only fool proof fix would be traction bars to prevent axle wrap from changing the pinion angle which is what is causing your problem.

I just lived with the problem on my 06 and never added airbags. The truck had 88,000 miles when I traded it on the 2011 and never had a problem with u-joints or the pinion bearing and that truck did a lot of heavy towing. Other than the fact that it is annoying and makes you feel that something is wrong with the truck, I haven't found it to be harmful to the truck. If the problem persisted beyond takeoff, I would be more concerned.