Drive train slop!

[davidking]

I have owned to many trucks to list here but never had one with this much drive train slop! I bought a 2003 Reg cab 2500 4x4 SLT HO 6spd. It seems like is has several inches of slop! Is this normal ?? I'm new here so I hope this goes in the right place.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Welcome to the club!

Mine seems tight and solid. Are you getting any kind of clunking or other strange noises emanating from the nether regions?

 

[Dean Upson]

Mine is tight, best of the CTDs (3) I've had yet.



Dean

 

[davidking]

Thanks.

No other noises. When I let the clutch out I can hear and feel a bit of drive train play being taken up. Other wise the truck is great! I traded a 2002 2500 4x4 V10 on this one. The V10 was the most under powered truck I have ever owned. Including a 1995 V10 that pulled like a train!!

 

[ntenna]

Almost no noticable slop here either, best of 4 CTD's I've had. I can back the trailer in without hops or clunks. Granted, I don't have the transfer case on this latest truck.....



See if you can hook up with someone in your area with an 'O3 CTD or gasser 2500/3500 (or check some at your dealers) and see if there is shaft rotation with the emergency brake locked on.



If you see the same axle play (and there should be a little, but not a lot), then the transfer case may be the source of the slop. If so, time to get it looked at now.



Good luck!

 

[davidking]

Well I went out last night and crawled under the truck with the parking brake on and in N. The rear drive shaft turns about 3/4" and the front turns about 1". Today I had a buddy drive it, he owns a 2001 CDT HO 6spd 4x4. He says there is nothing to complain about and he would be happy to trade! Maybe I'm just crazy. Thanks for the help.

 

[Fireman]

David are you short shifting? Wind that baby up then shift. Mine feels that way if I shift too soon, wind 'er up to 2500 or more and everything is smooooooth.

Fireman

 

[Prairie Dog]

Can't be that your crazy, it always seems to help me...

 

[TBOB]

slop

check for SPRING WRAP UP. THE NEW SPRINGS ARE SOFTER FOR A BETTER RIDE. I HAD MINE AT THE DEALER TODAY AND WITH THE 5ER ON AND 5ER BRAKES LOCKED, I LET THE CLUTCH OUT, THE MECH SAID THE DIFF WENT UP ABOUT 2" AT THE U JOINT. MINE VIBRATES IN 1ST AND 2ND WITH 15K 5ER ON BOARD. TBOB

 

[davidking]

I have been running it up to 2500+ revs and it is very smooooth!! I guess I'm just not used to the 6spd yet. I have been reading on here about the diff fluid being low so I checked mine last night and it is below the fill plug about 3/4" and quite a bit of metal on the magnetic plug. I figure this is very normal? So I pulled the truck out this morning and seen that the drivers fender starting under the hood and working down about 3-5" is very thin of paint!!!! You can see right thru the black to the wight primer!! I went to the dealer and they said they will have it taken care of Monday. Sure hope the paint shop is ok!!! The dealer does not seen to care about the low fluid and said they would check it Monday.

 

[Fireman]

Yeah!, when you get used to it, that 6spd is sweet.



Fireman

 

[Dean Upson]

Yeah!, when you get used to it, that 6spd is sweet.

Amen, Fireman.



Dean

 

[davidking]

I also found a new noise. When in reverse I let the clutch out at idle the truck starts moving and I had to push the clutch back in quickly to wait for a car. When I did that the trans, transfer case?? made several sharp clanking noises! Loud. Tried it a few times and it does the same thing in first. Give it a try and let me know if it's just mine. THANKS.

 

[D808]

I just checked out the Ford 6. 0 PSD forum discussions. Those poor fellows have a lot more to complain about than a few noises. Like their trucks are either pulled off on the side of the road, or in the dealer's repair shop waiting for parts! How lucky we are only having gear noises to worry us. At least our trucks are still getting us down the road! If there is a better truck than my new 2003 CTD, I know it's being driven on streets of GOLD!!!

 

[timjones]

klang and bang

David,

A lot of the banging you are hearing are normal slop in the drive train. Think about it you at least 3 u-joints and a carrier and if 4x4 then 5 u-joints, So there will be a fair amount of play. Simple check, put parkbrake put trans in nuteral, climb under and grab the drive shafts. They should clock 3/4 to 1" back and forthe but little to no movement up and down. If they go up and then you have a problem.

 

[Prairie Dog]

David, mine does the same thing. Much of the noise comes from the Xfer case. I think it's normal for 4WD.

 

[TBOB]

CLANG BANG

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I HAD MY 3500 AT THE DEALER WITH 5ER IN TOW FOR 1ST 2ND VIBRATION. I SET THE 5ER BRAKES AND TRIED TO MOVE IT WHILE THE MECH WATCHED THE DIFF. HE SAID THE FRONT OF THE DIFF RAISED 2" AT THE U JOINT. THIS TELLS ME THE SPRINGS ARE WEAK. IE; START TO PULL AND QUICKLY RELEASE THE CLUTCH, THE SPRINGS UNWRAP. CHECK IT OUT. TBOB

 

[Fireman]

It's mostly the way we are loading the drive train. We have alot of power and some very low gears (1st & rev) so when we load it something must give. It wouldn't be hard to twist off a drive shaft or even an axle. We used to see this regularly on Fire trucks before we went to automatics. Heck, I've even seen the u-bolts broken and the whole rear axle rotated 180 degrees. Yep the yolk was facing the rear and the truck was resting on the tires. We are also getting some jerking and thumping when we shift to early and lug the engine. I like to wind "er up a little and then get back in the throttle gently when i shift.



Think smooth,

Fireman

 

[davidking]

Hey everyone, Thanks for the help. I do feel better that there is no problem. It really does feel like it could break something and it is totally stock. Thanks again.