Vibration issues and possible cure

[Powder Extreme]

It seems a lot of us are still having vibration issues. Mine is considerably better after upgrading tires but they're still there. I'm currently on a 3000 mile trip half of which is empty. And I've seen everything from butter smooth roads to ridiculous potholes. When the road is rough I noticed the truck vibrates constantly. On the butter smooth roads there is no vibration whatsoever except on the rare imperfections which will cause a few isolations of vibration it usually ends soon and then vibration free.

This tells me that it can't be Drive Line or Tire related or the vibration would never stop. I'm quite certain it's being transmitted through the suspension and we feel more on these new frames being as stiff as they are.

I just ordered a set of rubber torsion shackles and will install them in the coming week. Then I will be off again on another 2500 mile trip although I will be loaded most of the time pulling my fifth wheel. I will also get a chance to drive on my usual interstate around home see if I still notice the vibration.

Will report back once I get them installed wish me luck!

 

[Wingate]

Ive been looking at the Sulastic shackles. Not sure what I will do as of yet though. On one hand I dont mind putting the $500.00 into it to make it liveable, but on the other hand, my brand new 60K+ window stickered truck vibrates like a cheap motel bed. If RAM wants to invest the $$$ to see if they will work and warranty them with the truck, fine. Please give some good un-biased feedback on how much they help, maybe it will help me make my decision.
I am not at all excited about the truck anymore.

 

[LocoPilot750]

The Evic tells me to pump the rear tires up to 80 psi. On a hot day at 75+ MPH, the pressure then went to almost 90. I think some of the vibration is the tire ringing like a bell pumped up so tight. I had mine road force balanced at Firestone (free, they're Firestone tires). They had to break three of them down and reposition them on the wheel to smooth them out, then re-balance. They still vibrate just a little on the interstate, but I know they are perfectly balanced and the tires are true.

 

[Wingate]

The dealership has "road force" balanced the factory tires on two separate occasions within 200 miles of each other. They have installed a different set of tires (different manufacturer) and the vibration still exists. They then "road force" balanced the new tires and still no help. I am fairly confident at this point its not the tires.
I have never owned a vehicle that would be so sensitive to a balance issue with the tires. I have 5 other vehicles that I drive/maintain and none of them are road force balanced. Just a simple spin balance.
This is undoubtedly an issue with the design of the truck.

 

[JLandry]

This is undoubtedly an issue with the design of the truck.

I think it must be the color of your truck causing it.

John L.

 

[Task125]

I gave up trying to figure it out.

 

[Wingate]

I think it must be the color of your truck causing it.

John L.

hahah could be. I have actually forgot what color it is. I havent seen in in almost a month. If I ever get it back, it will be a new truck all over again!

 

[Wingate]

I gave up trying to figure it out.

What did you do with yours? still have it? dealer buy bacK?
Mine is bad enough that when its doing it, the drivers seat is shaking enough that my body shakes. If you put a bottle of water in the console, it shakes like crazy. The passenger seat back shakes as well.

 

[dward]

It looks like most of you have the 3500. Is the vibration issue a problem on the 2500 as well as 3500?

 

[Ram4Sam]

I think it must be the color of your truck causing it.

John L.

By golly John....you solved the mystery.:-laf

Sam

 

[Task125]

What did you do with yours? still have it? dealer buy bacK?
Mine is bad enough that when its doing it, the drivers seat is shaking enough that my body shakes. If you put a bottle of water in the console, it shakes like crazy. The passenger seat back shakes as well.

Dealer put new drive shaft,hub, then New Michelins. made it much better but still there.I think they are waiting to see if someone else can figure it out.

 

[KYOUNG]

Has anyone tried jacking up the truck and removing all wheels and spin it at highway speed to see if it is smooth Naked??????

I got a buddy had a brake drum that was off so much they had to weld 11x1/2 inch bar on it to get it balanced..

 

[MoparBob]

It seems a lot of us are still having vibration issues. Mine is considerably better after upgrading tires but they're still there. I'm currently on a 3000 mile trip half of which is empty. And I've seen everything from butter smooth roads to ridiculous potholes. When the road is rough I noticed the truck vibrates constantly. On the butter smooth roads there is no vibration whatsoever except on the rare imperfections which will cause a few isolations of vibration it usually ends soon and then vibration free.

This tells me that it can't be Drive Line or Tire related or the vibration would never stop. I'm quite certain it's being transmitted through the suspension and we feel more on these new frames being as stiff as they are.

I just ordered a set of rubber torsion shackles and will install them in the coming week. Then I will be off again on another 2500 mile trip although I will be loaded most of the time pulling my fifth wheel. I will also get a chance to drive on my usual interstate around home see if I still notice the vibration.

Will report back once I get them installed wish me luck!

Any updates?

 

[Powder Extreme]

The shackles are still sitting in the box, I haven't had time to install them at all this summer.
When I learned I need to take the bed loose and lift it, it turned a one man two hour job like I was expecting into a two man, all afternoon job.

Now my '14 has really started to vibrate, I'm going to take it in and have the tires road force balanced. With 10k on it now it is possible it's just the tires. Here's hoping!

 

[Wingate]

The shackles are still sitting in the box, I haven't had time to install them at all this summer.
When I learned I need to take the bed loose and lift it, it turned a one man two hour job like I was expecting into a two man, all afternoon job.

Now my '14 has really started to vibrate, I'm going to take it in and have the tires road force balanced. With 10k on it now it is possible it's just the tires. Here's hoping!

for what its worth.. they road force balanced my factory tires SEVERAL times. They would check out fine when being balanced, but put them on the truck and they would cause vibration.

 

[cerberusiam]

Take the rear drive shaft and flanged yoke in the rear diff off and store them for when you want to trade. Call Driveline Specilaties and order the correct length DS with common larger greasable ujoints and get either the AAM conversion yoke for straps or u bolts. That will cure most if not all the problem drive line vibrations. The flanged yoke on the rear diff is one the biggest issues with vibes and there almost no way to fix it but lose it.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Well FINALLY the Sulastics are being installed tomorrow. Been driving the 3/4 ton mainly back and forth to work (75 miles round trip) Took the 1 ton dually last week, holy crap I forgot how bad it vibrates! Obviously same roads and same conditions.

Will take it to work Thursday and give a report of how it feels. Next week I'm headed on a 3k roundtrip with the fiver, interested in seeing how it rides.

I'm considering throwing Bilsteins on it while they have it up in the air, but I really would like an "apples to apples" comparison with the Sulastics. Maybe I'll have them swap the front shocks while it's in the shop and just buy the rears to install this weekend...

 

[seafish]

Nice…I have a pair of Sulastics in the garage waiting for me to have time to put them on my 2005 truck.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions, thogu so far, all the feedback that I have read on them has been positive.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Well, on my truck at least, the shackle bolt is 18mm, the sulastic shackle is a slightly larger 3/4". Had to go buy new bolts and drill the factory hangers to match. Not sure if they will be done tonight or not.

 

[Newsa]

Well, on my truck at least, the shackle bolt is 18mm, the sulastic shackle is a slightly larger 3/4". Had to go buy new bolts and drill the factory hangers to match. Not sure if they will be done tonight or not.

What year & model. Thinking about this too.