2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Still Shakin’

[Dave M]

You guys running the PSC steering gears, I have a question. I am going to order one soon and need to know if you are running the sg-841M or the sg-841MX. The "X" box says that it has very low steering effort. If you are just using the regular variable ratio box, can you turn the wheels while at rest. I have a large winch bumper on the front and 35X12. 50 tires on 17" wheels.

I asked PSC the diff was betwen the two (about 2 yr ago) when I bought mine and they said to get the SG-841M which is what I got. I'll have to see how it feels turning at rest. I think its hard at rest and easy while rolling but I'll verify and post back.



Edit: I also have a heavy Ranch Hand front bumper but no winch and normal sized tires (235R8516E Michlin LTX)

 

[wilsonsh]

My second opinion...

Alright B, got my second opinion today on the tires being out of round. Had a "name brand" shop dismount and check all 4 rims and tires for ANY balance, true, or any other issues related to my problem. They found one rim with a crack in the bead surface but this does not contribute to my vibration problems and no bends or other truing issues were found... so vibrating rim is out. They remounted all tires and balanced and found a couple tires out of round but not "significant by their standards but this significance will depend on the tire manufacturer's warranty. " They also checked all joints and wheel bearings for play and found none. The mechanic, his manager and I talked alot about the vibrations and we all concluded that this MUST be a tire issue. I must also add that this piece of mind did not come cheap but I felt it was necessary to eliminate all possibilities other than the tires... plus I REALLY thought they would find a rim issue.



I drove it a while after they remounted everything and the bounce was quite a bit more pronounced now at the stated speeds so I'll be contacting the dealer I purchased the tires from recently to discuss a warranty claim. It will have to wait for now... I'm going out of town on Friday and won't be able to get it to the shop until next Friday.



Hope this helps!

 

[BEnglish]

This weekend I added a 3rd gen track bar bracket and a 2003 adjustable track bar from Solid Steel.

When I got the old one off (it’s only about 3 months old) the ball joint moved freely in and out about 3 tenths of an inch!

Any way I got this upgrade to go with the PSC box and stabilizer that haven’t arrived yet.

With just the bar I could tell a difference but the shake was still there. I hope when my box gets here it will fix it completely. I will let yall know.

 

[wilsonsh]

Still brainstorming.

I know most of the people here can find the shake when it's on stands and you didn't... ever think it's caster shimmy? I wouldn't know of a way for sure to tell if it was... unless you saw it while the wife was driving.



Thanks for the updates!

 

[BEnglish]

I know most of the people here can find the shake when it's on stands and you didn't... ever think it's caster shimmy? I wouldn't know of a way for sure to tell if it was... unless you saw it while the wife was driving.



Thanks for the updates!

I didn’t see it while the wife was driving and I didn’t see it up on stands. I have had a good alignment (shop that specializes in HD trucks) so I don’t think it’s that. I live close to PSC and I am driving over there day after tomorrow and getting my box and sector shaft brace. I will put them on and know by Friday; however I am going wheelin’ in Arkansas (Superlift Park) so I might not be able to update y’all till Monday.

Ben

 

[95REDRAM]

My experience over the years since purchasing my truck new in 95. First set of tires (Goodyear Wranglers) rode better than any vehicle I've ever owned. That's about all they did was ride good as they wore out at just over 20K miles and not from lack of maintenance or driving habits. Also, one of them was damaged from hitting a pot hole. It was such a hard hit I had the tire dismounted and visibly checked with no damage evident but it came apart some time later. Tire store guy just summed it up as Goodyear junk, I agree.



I started feeling the described vibration from the rear of the truck on the second set of tires (BF Goodrich mud-terrains). It was so bad I put on new tires before the BF Goodrichs were anywhere near worn out. That's something I just normally would not do but it was really bad. Several sets of tires later (now running 19. 5 Rickson rims) I have concluded it is a tire/road/suspension issue. Perhaps that is not the only issue but I do believe it is a big part of it.



Conclusion 1 -- One fact about these trucks is the suspension is about as bad as you can get for a washboard road. I've learned to slow to a crawl when approaching a washboard section of dirt road. With that in mind I have experimented a little on paved roads when experiencing the vibration. I have found the vibration comes and goes a lot depending on the road I am traveling. Older, heavily traveled interstates are about the worst. Quite often I have been in the right lane (which of course is the most heavily traveled) experiencing the vibration, move to the left lane and it will decrease dramatically or go away completely. There are sections of I-95 in NC and SC that I can hardly run the speed limit (65-70) in the right lane. This happens on stretches of road that appear to be in good condition with no visible difference between the two lanes. I know from years of driving that this is experienced in nearly all vehicles to some degree but not to the extent felt in these trucks. I have concluded that if the road could be examined closely it would be found that the pavement is slightly washboarded where the vibration is felt the most.



Conclusion 2 -- Tires make a big difference. I have found that the vibration gets noticeably worse as the tires wear. I now have my tires checked for proper balance when they are at about 1/2 tread left. Every set (Goodyear, Michelin, BF Goodrich, etc. ) has been out of balance at that point and the re-balance helps with the vibration. Again, from years of driving experience I have seen the same thing on other vehicles but not to the extent felt on my Ram.



Final conclusion -- I believe that something about the rear suspension on these trucks makes them very sensitive to washboarded road surfaces and tires that aren't perfect. Of course things like a worn U-joint or suspension part will make it worse just as it would on any vehicle. But, I believe the root cause lies somewhere in the design of the rear suspension.



Your comments and thoughts on this are welcome. I know there have been people who changed from springs to an air-ride type suspension on these trucks. I wonder if they experience the same condition after the upgrade? I hope together we can find the solution as I plan to keep my truck many more years and would love to solve this problem.

 

[Jefff929]

95REDRAM, you have made some good points. I wonder what the effect of those little balls, crs is attacking me, that balance the inside of the tire moving down the road would be on the shake.

 

[DCreed]

jeff- centramatics?

 

[wilsonsh]

I have Centramatics installed in hopes of solving the vibe problem... no such luck. I do agree that it may be in the rear suspension. Sway bar or axle u-bolt mounts or something...

 

[Jefff929]

jeff- centramatics?

I'm thinking of Dyna Beads, there is another out there too.

 

[95REDRAM]

I have the beads but am waiting to purchase new tires (probably a month or two) before using them. I figure they should at least stop the issue of the tires being out-of-balance as they get older.

 

[BEnglish]

Well I have thrown another $1,150 at it with no luck. I am not a rich man and I cant afford this, I'm into this for well over three grand now and I am at my wits end.

I installed the 3rd gen TB bracket and the 2003 adjustable TB and the PSC steering box and brace, and it still shakes the same as before. It dose steer better though.

I don't know where to look next. I guess I will change the U-joints. Or the balancer. How do I hook up a light to check the timing mark?

Here is what else I have replaced:

-new hub bearing assembly pass front (other one is OK)

-new carrier bearing on rear DS

-new tires all around

-new Bilstine shocks all around

-had new tires balanced at least three times

-changed one rim

-new drag link

-alignment

-new lower control arm bushings

-new hub bearings in rear









do you think i should get a "98. 5-02 Dodge 24 Valve 5. 9L Cummins Fluidampr Harmonic Balancer from Fluidampr - $414"?

 

[Dave M]

This is a real tuff problem for you. I went thru some of the stuff you replaced chasing the death wobble. The last thing I did was replace the rotors because the rotors seemed to have progressively got worse by this time. Just a tap on the brake pedal at 40-50 mph would sent the front end into violent convulsions. After new rotors, grease up calipers and replace caliper pins, collors and rubber and new pads and now I'm death wobble free... . WAHOO. . since December.



Believe me it will be worth it when you get it fixed. You already have some great mods on your front end. My drives better than like new now. It's more fun to drive than our cars.



Every truck is different and you seem to have a real stubborn case.



Good Luck.

 

[Joe Mc]

Man you've thrown a great deal at this already. Is there anyone close to this member that can loan him a fluidampner to try and see if it helps? Could save him $400 and earn you a case of beer and new friend?

 

[BEnglish]

Man you've thrown a great deal at this already. Is there anyone close to this member that can loan him a fluidampner to try and see if it helps? Could save him $400 and earn you a case of beer and new friend?

case of tall boys

 

[95REDRAM]

I got to thinking today about the velvet ride shackles. I seem to remember good and bad comments about them. Anyone on this thread have any experience with them? Are they still available? Could this be the answer to our problem?

 

[DValentine]

I just picked up a 98 with 156k on it, a few weeks ago. I did notice a vibration and just today had the tires balanced. The vibration is still noticeable. I have watched the rear tires in the mirrors and it looks like the drivers rear that is bouncing. This happens at 43-45 mph. A good bump will set it off and it continues if there is something on the road surface to keep it bouncing... . like another pothole or expansion joint. Otherwise it will diminish slowed down by the shock. I did replace the shocks all around and it made a little difference. I haven't been on a good washboard road... but would imagine it would be bad.

Reading this post with interest.

Dave

 

[wilsonsh]

Well I have thrown another $1,150 at it with no luck. I am not a rich man and I cant afford this, I’m into this for well over three grand now and I am at my wits end.

I installed the 3rd gen TB bracket and the 2003 adjustable TB and the PSC steering box and brace, and it still shakes the same as before. It dose steer better though.

I don’t know where to look next. I guess I will change the U-joints. Or the balancer. How do I hook up a light to check the timing mark?

Here is what else I have replaced:

-new hub bearing assembly pass front (other one is OK)

-new carrier bearing on rear DS

-new tires all around

-new Bilstine shocks all around

-had new tires balanced at least three times

-changed one rim

-new drag link

-alignment

-new lower control arm bushings

-new hub bearings in rear









do you think i should get a "98. 5-02 Dodge 24 Valve 5. 9L Cummins Fluidampr Harmonic Balancer from Fluidampr - $414"?

Ben,

The fluidampr isn't a balancer, it's an engine vibration damper. There are "timing" marks on the stock damper that will tell you if the balancer is "in time" with the crankshaft. It's easier to see them from below. Joe-mc can explain this better if you need more info... he has one and loves it.

 

[wilsonsh]

out of round?

I just picked up a 98 with 156k on it, a few weeks ago. I did notice a vibration and just today had the tires balanced. The vibration is still noticeable. I have watched the rear tires in the mirrors and it looks like the drivers rear that is bouncing. This happens at 43-45 mph. A good bump will set it off and it continues if there is something on the road surface to keep it bouncing... . like another pothole or expansion joint. Otherwise it will diminish slowed down by the shock. I did replace the shocks all around and it made a little difference. I haven't been on a good washboard road... but would imagine it would be bad.



Reading this post with interest.



Dave

This sounds like a good case of an out of round tire.

 

[BEnglish]

Ben,

The fluidampr isn't a balancer, it's an engine vibration damper. There are "timing" marks on the stock damper that will tell you if the balancer is "in time" with the crankshaft. It's easier to see them from below. Joe-mc can explain this better if you need more info... he has one and loves it.

i meant where do i connect the timming light. i only know #1 spark plug wire

I will be replacing the rear DS u-joints and getting another alignment and maybe get the tires rounded if I can.