Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 2002 Owners need some info

[massdiesel]

Ok guys this could be a huge post but if you dont wanna spend a month reading will make it short. 2002 2500 shortbed 4x4 has the new style front end with no vaccuum disconnect. It's one month old and has spent 3 weeks of it at a dealer. The issue first is a vibration that was fixed with a driveshaft and a rearend at 200 miles. Second it has a resonating vibration starts at 65mph and up can feel it in the floor and thru the chassis. Will not give you a hint of anything til exactly 65mph and up. Will do it til you bury speedo. Dodge has replaced the front diff carrier,gears, drive shafts,wheelbearings. They brought in the chrylser reps that fix only problemed trucks and at the end has come to a conclusion of being a charistic of the new style front end without the vacuum assit. Now remove front drive shaft 90% gone. They say will have to wait til chrysler has a fix in the future but if i go out of warranty it goes on my own nickel. If anyone has this situation and has it resolved or dealing with it please call me at my shop would be interested in talking with ya. I have driven a few trucks but wasnt sure what they had weather it had the new style or old style diff. Like the rep says wait til all the trucks have them next year **** is gonna hit the fan. but at the money spent on the truck i dont wanna live with it becomes very annoying. Thanks for any help









scott

Massdiesl Performance

508 528 6127

8 am til 10 p. m. est

 

[fox]

I have a 02 4x4 that does not have the vacuum disconnect. It is also a 2500 , it does not have a vibration or shake/ rumble or anything . It has been to 115mph also.

This shows the dealers are not good at diagnosing things.

I had my truck in for a cruise control problem, Which was obviously an electrical problem. They said it was the vacuum canister and changed it. No fix, then they said it was the engine control computer. I took it home ( they had to order the computer ) And I found the problem- a bad wire.

BUT, now they get to fix the paint on the fender because they spilled battery acid on it removing the batter to get to the canister.

I thought they trained thier tech's!!! My mistake.

fox

 

[1tuffram]

I have NONE of the problems you mention on my 2002 with the new style front disconnect. Think Fox was right about them not being able to diagnose the problem correctly. Maybe you need to push for a new front axle :-{}



I wonder if the problem persists when in 4WD, just something to go HMMMM about.

 

[Chace TX]

None of the same problems here.

I drove dad's 2002 w/o c. a. d. yesterday. There is a tiny bit of steering wander or slack, and the wheel is turned slightly off center when going straight. But, I got it up to 95 or so and there is not vibration or shutter. Even 45mph in 4wd gives no vibration or shake.



Also, on the vacuum canister problem. It is my understanding that the cruise is all electronic on the 2001 and up trucks. Would it still have a vacuum canister? I have never had a cruise problem with any of my Dodge's, so I have no first hand experience.

 

[slavallee]

Not sure

Not sure if I have a vaccum assist or not on mine. What exactly would I be looking for to tell the difference. What is this new style front end? Do you mean the new body style? If so I didn't think the new body was available on 2500 and 3500 yet.

Pardon me for all the questions but I want to know what exactly you mean.

 

[Chace TX]

It is a change on the front differential.

There used to be a vaccum module operated a slip collar that connected the front driveshaft to the axle via the differential. It has been deleted on the 2002's and the front driveshaft spins all the time.

 

[Boost]

Mine is without the disconnect and I have no vibrations.



Rob

 

[TPilaske]

No vibrations on mine... .

 

[tarussell]

Do any of you guy's know when the C. A. D. system was dropped for 2002 ? I special ordered my truck in October of 2001 and it was built 12/05/01 and it has the C. A. D. system on it. Had I known DC was dropping the old style disconnect I would have waited until it was gone.



Is there any oiling difference in the transfercase due to the chain spinning all of the time? I would rather put up with a slight vibration than have the disconnect system.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

If you remove the front drive shafts and 90% of it is gone, it would have to be in the driveshaft itself, or in the transfer case. Is There a driveshaft shop somewhere near Norfolk you could have the shafts checked for balance? I'm sure the dealer just swapped them and didn't check for balance in the new set.

 

[BoirosR]

Should also consider gear ratio when comparing vibes / no vibes on these 2002's. I see it in some of the sigs. If MassDiesel is running 4. 10's, his driveshafts are going to spin faster than the 3. 54 guys.



I'd have to agree with Straight6, dealers are parts changers. Take that front DS to a GOOD driveline shop and have it high speed balanced. Could be a bad batch of them at Chrysler. Sucks on a new truck... .



Rick

97 2500 4x4

(At MassDiesels shop)

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

January 1, 2002 was when the CAD system was deleted from the 2500/3500 trucks. Mine was built 11/21/01. Glad to have the CAD. Having the ability to have two-wheel low is great when I want to creep with the trailer.

 

[stevek]

My brother has a '02 2500 4x4 made 06/02 and there is not a hint of any vibration at any speed. HIs front ends feels much tighter new than mine did in '99.

 

[cmckinney]

I have an 02' and just noticed that at 70mph I do feel the floor of the truck start to vibrate. I never noticed before b/c I usually don't drive over 70 mph. I'll talk with the dealer Monday about this and my front axle leak and trany leak.



-CM

 

[emjay]

Hmmmm. I assume the 2002 has adjustable front caster (coil spring front). Could it be the caster angle is out of whack, affecting the u-joint angle? Seems unlikely, but if they replaced all they said they did, there ain't much else. Also, does the front driveshaft have a CV joint on the T/C end? My 2000 has the front driveshaft pretty much in line with the pinion, and CV (double cardan) joint at the T/C.

 

[Huff N Puff]

If pulling the front drive shaft eliminates the vibration then its either the driveshaft or the yokes that it mounts to causing the shaft to turn in an eliptical spin causing the vibration.

 

[d90boy]

I'm with emjay on this one. For a CV style driveshaft to be properly in phase there can be no more than 3 degrees of u-joint angle at the differential. The more angle at the u-joint the more out of phase the drive shaft is thus the more it will vibrate. I would check the driveline angle at the u-joint and if it's over 3 degrees, bring this to the attention of the dealer. If it is in spec the have the driveshaft dynamically balanced at a Dana-Spicer authorized shop. I have no vibration in mine but I also don't like the idea of it spinning all the time. Warn premium locking hubs anyone?

 

[jlccc]

Originally posted by emjay

Hmmmm. I assume the 2002 has adjustable front caster (coil spring front).

I believe caster is NON-ADJUSTABLE on the 2002 trucks. I'm told it was adjustable on the 2001's though.

 

[tarussell]

Rboiros---Good point about the gear ratio. If this becomes a big problem and it is the driveshaft causing the vibration somebody, that knows how, should do a poll on what gear they have if experiencing a vibration.

FDNYMOPARGUY---Thanks for the info on the start date... I did not think about the convenience of the two-low trick,for me that is the only reason that I like the C. A. D. system. Too bad no one offers a manual hub kit for the trucks with A. B. S. on it.

 

[Oxjockey]

Welcome, Mr. Boiros!



My 2002 sounds like it's going to self destruct at 75-80MPH. It sounds like a tire is coming apart more than anything else, no vibrations to speak of.



Bryan