Looks like you found a workaround already, but I just want to add here that adding friction blocks to urdf could be a little bit tricky. Here's an example that works for Atlas model:
In this example, the legacy way of using an extension block to add friction coefficients to a collision looks like this:
<gazebo reference="r_foot">
<mu1>1.5</mu1>
<mu2>1.5</mu2>
</gazebo>
Alternatively, since sdf3, recommended approach is to use the sdf block in extension, looks like this (see this comment in code):
<gazebo reference="r_foot">
<!-- using sdf block syntax directly in extension -->
<collision> <friction>
<ode>
<mu>1.5</mu>
<mu2>1.5</mu2>
</ode>
</friction>
</collision> </gazebo>
On the physics side, ultimately the effective friction coefficient used by the contact constraint is chosen as the minimum of the two coefficients from surfaces in contact (see this code for example). That should explain why reducing the ground friction coefficient worked for you.
Hope this helps.
John