Rear Differential

[wkendwarr]

Wanted to see if anybody else is having this issue..I have a 2004 xlt and have a pronounced shuddering and chattering noise coming from my rear limited slip differential. took it in and was told by the tech that this is a known problem and Ford issued a Service pack for a replacement clutch pack for the diff...but if it is installed I would lose my limited slip capabilities.. contacted Ford and they told me "Live with it or with-out it, my choice"
Has anyone else had this issue... I am about to take it back in and have them replace the entire diff..

[yotermanic]

Our dealership replaced the entire assembly on all the explorers we had with limited slip related problems. The service pack sucks, a new pumpkin always works. Granted, it may be over-kill but we got tired of rebuilding and rebuilding and rebuilding and not getting anywhere. We haven't had any problems with the new diffs, though. Good luck with it.

[lleydon]

Originally Posted by wkendwarr

Wanted to see if anybody else is having this issue..I have a 2004 xlt and have a pronounced shuddering and chattering noise coming from my rear limited slip differential. took it in and was told by the tech that this is a known problem and Ford issued a Service pack for a replacement clutch pack for the diff...but if it is installed I would lose my limited slip capabilities.. contacted Ford and they told me "Live with it or with-out it, my choice"
Has anyone else had this issue... I am about to take it back in and have them replace the entire diff..

Wondering if I have the same issue. I have a 2003 xlt, when accelerating at low speeds making a moderately sharp turn i get a shuddering.

If this sounds similar to your issue, how much was the service pack? I am out of waranty by 4k miles.

[lleydon]

Originally Posted by yotermanic

Our dealership replaced the entire assembly on all the explorers we had with limited slip related problems. The service pack sucks, a new pumpkin always works. Granted, it may be over-kill but we got tired of rebuilding and rebuilding and rebuilding and not getting anywhere. We haven't had any problems with the new diffs, though. Good luck with it.

That may be what's wrong with my 2003 xlt that sudders when making a moderatly sharp turn and accerating. I am out of worranty, do you know how much the service pack or pumkin is ?

thanks

[steve11]

it may be worthwhile to drain the oil and change it. the rear end needs a synthetic gear lube, and needs 4-6 oz of special limit slip addative put in. i got 75-90 synthetic lube at AUTO ZONE and a 7 ounce tube of the FORD addative and put in my 2002.

[lleydon]

Thanks I'll Give that a try !!

[wkendwarr]

Mine was doing it when I was taking off from a stop making a left or righ hand turn...There was a pronounced shuddering and noice coming from the rear and my tires were starting to show pre-mature wear...They (Ford) finally replaced my pumpkin as well as one of the half-shafts in the rear...The unfortunate piece is that the new Pumpkin had the service pack installed in it... Mine was all covered under warrenty, so I can't help you on the costs...Ford Customer Service, placed a complaint on my behalf for the poor engineering design and Ford Engineering was going to look into it....

[acox]

i have 2004 ford explorer xlt. i just started hearing noise with my rear differential. i took it to the dealership numerous times last year for my 30,000 mile checkup and was not informed about this known issue. now i am over my warranty miles. they say that the limited slip rear differential towing package is causing this issue. if i was under warranty, they would replace it. i had the rear differential change and the additive added. what means do i have of getting this replaced by the dealer? why weren't we informed of this issue if it was a known problem?

[bumpinkicker04]

I have an 01. I was having a shuttering sound when turning. I added a bottle of posi additive to the diff and the problem disappeared. Mine has the towing package.