[Tourneo]

Hidden in 'Highest Mileage Transits' thread is an interesting topic about cracked flexible connections on Transit drive shaft called a Giubo. These rubber joints are apparently showing cracks at low mileages often enough that replacements are out of stock. Some Transit owners report issues getting dealers to replace under warranty. This topic kind of hijacked the thread & IMO deserves its own thread.

One thing I didn't see reported was a case where the Giubo actually failed.

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/...scussion/7393-highest-mileage-transits-6.html

 

[PeterR]

Thanks for starting a new topic on this. Wish more folks did the same . . .

[edit -- digression ahead -- ] For everyone's information, here is a one-page overview of the way this forum is organized:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/forumindex.php

Instead of clicking on the link above, you could also go directly to that page by clicking on the grey text near the top left of this page ["Ford Transit USA Forum"].

In my personal opinion, this new topic "Giubo Cracking Hidden Topic" could also have been posted in the sub-forum "Engine and Technical Discussion -- Forum for discussion of the 2015 Ford Transit engines, transmissions, and drivetrains" instead of in the general topic "Ford Transit General Discussion" where Touneo posted it. In that specific sub-forum the Giubo discussion would have fit better, and made more sense, wouldn't it? [edit -- no criticism of Tourneo in this regard -- see next comment]

Unfortunately, seldom is this issue raised about posting in the best sub-forum for a new topic. Indeed, because this site is so lightly moderated, and because some posters resist most attempts to create order by using the (logical) outline of topics, new posts end up all over the place.

Apologies for attempting to clean things up, if this discussion sets off anyone's internal hair triggers . . . [edit -- again, no hijack or slam of Tourneo intended]


I will check my Giubo ASAP. Thanks again for the new topic.

Edit -- PS -- See this thread also:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/...12906-couple-small-problems-45-000-miles.html

And Whitedog's photo in post 20 there.

According to Wikipedia, "Giubo" is the correct spelling, which bears repeating IMO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giubo

 

[EddieZ]

Dang, I realized that I'd misspelled Giubo (as Guibo) on that other thread, after it was too late to edit. That thread includes background on the doo-hickey, including pronunciation... which I find interesting. It's spoken as joo-bo, named after a guy whose nationality I don't recall (Italian maybe?). I have to remember the spelling and pronunciation by recalling a Hungarian friend named Giulio, spelled in other languages as Julio.

 

[PeterR]

Whitedog's post last night on the other thread contained this interesting story:

http://newscentral.exsees.com/item/ce06abd28a6ce0581645cf05c8718841-93b351dbcf93aa79c5669ad1664b6eae

The story and photos, of the mass "carnage" [the author's word] from the chain of events after the initial failure, are startling!

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/215849-post94.html

Check your Giubo!

 

[hammerdown]

My wife had one fail on a 1986 MB 190e. Was at highway speed. It tripped the crash sensor in the middle of the car and deployed the ancient airbag right in her face. These things are a stupid idea IMO. What's wrong with a good old U-joint? My old Ford pick up has a greasable one.

 

[Tourneo]

Two points I was trying to address were; how the Guibo topic was Hidden & IF any Transit owners had a Guibo actually fail.

Regardless of the section a topic is posted in, if the title gives no clue such an interesting subtopic discussion will not be easy to find, hence me calling it Hidden.

Have heard about the failure of these rubber driveshaft joints in other/older vehicles, usually from oil leaks from tailshaft seals at high mileage. Actually saw a case where propshaft dropped off, stubbed the ground, folded up & punched the floor!

However was primarily concerned with Transit & seek to confirm if anyone has had a Giubo break? Would like to zero in on how bad the cracks are & how many miles they might go before self destructing.

 

[jonsobi]

I would think the 3.5 Eco owners should be most concerned. That 400 lbs ft of torque, esp if used as a play thing, or pulling a trailer, might give the Joo-bo a boo-bo? Disclaimer: no offense intended to the 3.7, with its joo-bo-gentle 260 lbs ft!0

 

[Tourneo]

If there's defective material and/or design I would think all Transit owners will eventually become equally concerned.

Whitedog reported his diesel already had cracked giubo.

 

[Italia]

I had two Giubos fail a number of years ago in my Alfa Milano. Each time it was near the top of the rpm range, in first or second gear before shifting to the next gear. I heard/felt a thump and saw rubber bouncing behind the car in my rear view mirror (I had a good idea what it was, knowing the design of the car, but looked in the mirror to make sure I hadn't run over something). Fortunately the design was such that the driveshaft didn't let go, I was able to drive to the shop just keeping the revs down. Vibration could be felt as the car started from a stop and got up to speed, so I drove carefully and pretty slowly (the car has a rear transaxle, so the driveshaft is between the engine and gearbox). They lasted about 40-50k miles, so we then made them a routine maintenance item. The design looked similar to the Ford Giubo shown in the link posted earlier here. On my other Alfa, we have since converted to an "upgraded" Giubo which is actually a Mercedes part. It is much higher quality, with more supporting plates and higher density rubber. Probably doesn't absorb as much vibration due to the higher durometer rubber, but it won't fail as it is made for a much heavier car and larger loads than the Alfa will put through it. Hopefully Ford can come up with a similar higher-spec design for the Transit.
Photos of the Mercedes part attached. (this is not for the Transit, just an example of a better design)

 

[Allensanders]

I'm new here. It's awesome that this forum is here since there seems to be no information about the Transit outside of this forum (including the dealership).












Anyway, Im experiencing a severe vibration in my Transit (2015 15 passenger Wagon XLT Ecoboost 18000miles) between 50 and 60MPH. Its pretty loud, hard to talk over at times. I looked under the van and saw a cracked Giubo (Ford called it a coupling but whatever) exactly like the cracked one in the pictures I saw on this forum. So I take it in to my local Ford dealer. They tell me that the vibration is coming from the tires and that I need to buy new ones. They rotated the tires and said that the vibration moved from the back to the front. They said that they checked the balance of the drivelines. I drove it and the vibration is in the exact same spot under the first row of passenger seats. They refuse to do anything else about it. I asked about the crack and they tell me its fine. I know what a driveline vibration feels like and know what a tire vibration feels like, and this feels like a driveline (about 3-4 times faster than the tires are rotating). My question is: Does the Giubo vibrate before it fails? Maybe its a carrier? Its frustrating that I have a vehicle under warranty and have to troubleshoot it myself and am considering just buying the part and fixing it myself.

 

[Byron the Painter]

Anyway, Im experiencing a severe vibration in my Transit They refuse to do anything else about it.

Go to another dealer! Another option is take it to a transmission shop and have them inspect the driveline. Did the dealer give a reason for not replacing it even though it's CRACKED!!!

What does it cost to swap it out? I would probably go ahead and suck it up then call Ford Corporate to fight for reimbursement.

 

[Allensanders]

There is another dealer about an hour drive farther, I might try that. They just said that the drive line and components are in great condition. I didn't have time argue with them ( had tickets to StarWars) The parts dept told me that it cost around $90. I think ill get the back up in the air and take the tires off to see verify that it still vibrates. Don't know if they'll believe me though. They cant be that ignorant about this, not sure why they're giving me a hard time. This is far from the first time Ive had to go around with this dealer to get them to fix a car under warranty.

 

[Ftransit]

Fyi, we also had a vibration (@48k) our dealer tested it and said it was a torque converter problem, recommended transmission flush(@54k). This has seemed to fix but now after 27k more miles we are afraid it is returning. BTW, our giubo was cracking we just had to pay a $100 deductible to have it replaced...we noticed the cracks at 48k but pushed replacement to 81k.

 

[Ftransit]

Ford's standing behind there product in our opinion sucks.
Also the transmission supposedly does not require service until150k yet when we had it done had to pay full price because it's a 'basic maintenance item'. Again Ford sucks!

 

[Allensanders]

Yeah, we love the Transit, can't stand working with the Ford service department.

 

[wgc]

Allensanders- Try calling the Ford Customer Relationship Center (800-392-3673) and lodge a complaint against the dealer. See if that gets you anywhere. Between that and "They all do it" it's time for all of us to start raising **** with Ford.

 

[Allensanders]

Thanks I'll try that. Reading this and other forums I understand that bad service isn't isolated to just my dealer or even just a few dealers.

 

[Byron the Painter]

All you have to do is get lucky once.

 

[Whitedog]

Ford's standing behind there product in our opinion sucks.
Also the transmission supposedly does not require service until150k yet when we had it done had to pay full price because it's a 'basic maintenance item'. Again Ford sucks!

I'm easily confused and especially here. You only have 81,000 miles on your van but you had them service the transmission that isn't due until 150,000 miles? I don't understand why you did that so early. Then you are angry because you had to pay full price? I don't understand what your expectations there are.

Or maybe I am misunderstanding what happened or what "had 'it' done" refers to.

 

[Ftransit]

We had shuddering when the transmission began to shift on slight inclines from 6th to 5th.
Upset because transmission is not due for 1st service until 150k and they said flush at 52k was a standard maintenance item....which if I am not mistaken should not have been for another 100kmi