2013 3500 2wd DW vibration

[TONeil]

Dealer rebuilt trans about 1k miles ago under extended warranty... now I've picked up what I feel is a driveline vibration starts at 65 mph almost every time... I've put new tires on it had two different tire shops balance them and no change... is it possible to install the 2 piece driveshaft out of phase... been told yes and been told there is a large spline on the shaft that will allow the shafts to go back together only one way... I need a definitive answer before I spend time pulling the drive shafts....any other suggestions would be appreciated...thx

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Usually, a vibration that happens only above a certain speed is not driveline, almost always tire related.
Have you had a road force balance done on the tires or just a normal balance?
Road force balancing would be the next thing to try, or maybe try moving the tires to a different position, front to back. I know with a dually it's more difficult with 4 rear tires.

 

[petersonj]

Can't say specifically about a 2013 truck, but many two-piece driveshafts can be phased in two or more positions. Look at the shaft with the slip yoke and compare with the photo. If it looks like the photo, it is in phase. Even if it is in phase, it could be 180 degrees out of phase from the original position, which could affect a OEM balanced driveshaft performance.

- John

 

[Ltngdrvr]

If it was a driveline phasing issue, it would vibrate all the time at all speeds.

 

[CBari]

I would have to say I would say tires and or rims. My 13 has had vibrations that starts at 68 and goes to about 74. It is like you have a vibrating massage chair. I put centermatics on it after dealer balanced multiple time and it made not difference. I have friend in the tire business and he and I road force balanced them and it helped but never eliminated it. The Centermatics helped greatly, but it is still there a little bit.

 

[NIsaacs]

Dealer rebuilt trans about 1k miles ago under extended warranty... now I've picked up what I feel is a driveline vibration starts at 65 mph almost every time...

It might be coincidence but I doubt it. Make sure everything is in order with the R&R. Check the center support bearing, drive shaft and rear transmission mount for anything out of order. Loose or missing bolts/nuts. I don't know about a '13 but Dodge/Ram has used spacers/shims under the center bearing mount in the past. Maybe they are missing?

I doubt the shaft is out of phase. On a transmission R&R there is no reason to separate them.

What is DW? When I saw the post I assumed death wobble. Did you mean DRW?

 

[C M McCormick]

Riddle me this. My 2018 long bed 2 wheel drive has the same thing. I've done the road force balance, run Centermatics and even ran a different set of wheels and tires. Still the same thing starting around 68-69mph. Does it more going up a hill under loud. But when I'm towing my 5th wheel with around 1,500lb hitch weight you don't feel it as much if any. I normally tow around 65-67mph but have checked it towing 72-75mph. I'm thinking pinion angle. I will be going in for my second oil change here shortly having a little over 10,000 miles on it now. Will see what the dealer can find..

Craig

 

[Ozymandias]

Riddle me this. My 2018 long bed 2 wheel drive has the same thing. I've done the road force balance, run Centermatics and even ran a different set of wheels and tires. Still the same thing starting around 68-69mph. Does it more going up a hill under loud. But when I'm towing my 5th wheel with around 1,500lb hitch weight you don't feel it as much if any. I normally tow around 65-67mph but have checked it towing 72-75mph. I'm thinking pinion angle. I will be going in for my second oil change here shortly having a little over 10,000 miles on it now. Will see what the dealer can find..

Craig

Sounds like driveline out of alignment, with the squat it corrects it.
Have the u-joint angles checked, loaded and unloaded.

 

[EDankievitch]

I’ve fought with a vibration on my 2013 2500 4x4 since day one. Roads in Ny are rough so vibration is tough to detect but take a long trip on smooth roads with a speed limit over 65 and it shows it ugly head. Flash forward as a last straw I sent the driveshaft out to get balanced. The shop couldn’t do it as the shaft is out of round and bent. Shop says they see a lot of bad driveshafts on Ram’s and Chevy’s. . Only fix is a new shaft properly assembled.

 

[C M McCormick]

Sounds like driveline out of alignment, with the squat it corrects it.
Have the u-joint angles checked, loaded and unloaded.

This is the angle when empty. Will have the 5th wheel on it in a couple weeks and will check it then.

 

[TONeil]

It was tires...did a road force balance and found 3 of 6 tires to be bad... replaced all tires and smooth as new... thanks tdr's