Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 40mph vibration...

[beaverbeliever]

I have a 99 4X4 quad cab automatic that has had an intermittent vibration or hop (feels like a tire out of round or out of balance) for the last 25k miles (the truck now has 49k). It has been into the shop under warranty for this and other problems several times, and each time they were certain that it was out- of- round tires. Even after I replaced the originals with bfg commercials they told me the new tires were out of round also. A local alignment shop spun all the wheels for me and showed me that I had a lot of side to side movement on the stock rims. So I picked up a brand new set of aluminum wheels and the hop didn't change. Just yesterday I Put a nice set of toyo 10plys under the truck and no change in the hop. So... ...



Now i'm convinced that I absolutely do not have a tire/wheel problem. My question is, should I expect to have this covered under warranty since it had been in several times while under warranty and misdiagnosed. I am now 13K out of warranty but didn't have the money to keep putting new tires on to prove them wrong.



Another thought, after going through my huge stack of shop invoices I noticed that the hop appeared sometime after I had my auto transmission replaced under warranty. Is it possible for the new transmission to cause a wobble or hop like i'm getting? This wobble happens between 30 and 40 mph and sometimes again at 60.



Sorry for the long wind. I am trying my hardest to like this truck but after alignment, brake pull, uneven front pad wear, vibration, and transmission problems it's getting tough.



I had thought about arbitration but was told that since I bought it used it might be difficult. Somebody traded this thing back in to the lot they bought it from with 18 thousand miles on it. Gee, I wonder why he did that ... .

 

[beaverbeliever]

anybody? I'm open to hear even the most ridiculous idea at this point.



I had the truck on the highway today and each time the truck would start to vibrate I put in in neutral and it didn't help so can I'm assuming it's not he transmission/t. converter.



Thanks in advance...

 

[Beast2B]

driveline?

Hi beaverbeliever,

You might want to have the driveshaft checked, possibly the dealer dented or bent it during transmission work, or the combination of the current driveshaft with the new trans may be out of whack. Also check the carrier bearing and the U-joints.

Hope this helps, I'm no mechanic but on my lifted trucks in the past a driveline vibration feels A LOT like a tire problem!

Good Luck

 

[kchristopher]

Could also be transmission mounts. I've never looked to see the style on the auto, but sometimes there gone and its hard to see. Shake it like a bear and see if you get movement.

 

[EShaw]

Good vibrations? doubt it

Check your driveline... ..... Take the driveshaft out and check spline, u-joints, carrier... ... ... . your problem is there... ..... it's triggered by a bump @ speed... ... with frequency vibration... ... . If you don't find your culprit at that point... ... ... keep after the rest of the driveline... ... ... cracked leaf spring... ..... buggered U-bolts... ... . BAD SHOCK... ... . cracked shock tower... ... .

Those 18,000 miles could have been all HE!! RIDE miles..... Driveline may have been compromised in some fashion that isn't obvious.

I hope you find this so you can enjoy your truck like so many of us do.

Eric

 

[MD500E]

My truck does the same thing! I have replaced tires, rims ect. with no help. I belive my problem started after my dealer replaced a leaking transfer case output seal. I have heard that the drive shafts are balanced and should be re-installed in the same splines. I am guessing that this is my problem. It also seems that my quad cab chassis has more flex than the older ones without the rear doors that open. Maby the drive shaft shaft shuddering gets the whole truck shuddering at certain frequencies. Just an idea!

 

[MCummings]

I say it's Driveshaft.



Most likely a messed up Carrier bearing, or the driveshaft reassembled wrong . or even a bent driveshaft.



I was at my local dealer couple months back. They were working on a 2500 Cummins QC, Shortbed 2wd. The were apperantly replacing the transmission,, They had this truck WAYY up on a lift. I could have easily walked underneath the truck (I'm about 6') They had the driveshaft still completely connected up to the rear axle. It was just HANGING off of the axle/U-joints,, NOTHING suporting it,, your truck could have experianced the same thing.



Just what I've seen and heard.



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[M Barnett]

I'd bet on the driveshaft also. When I removed mine, I marked it and put it back the same way it come out.

M Barnett

 

[RJ2]

I am having the same symptoms. Starts vibrating at 40 . Though it was tires and replaced them. Still doing it . Did you solve your problem?

 

[WebCrush]

I just put a 4" lift on my truck and get a vibration at 75mph, but it takes time to 'build' up to be noticeable. Almost sounds like driving across a very worn down rumble strip.

 

[Dheadington]

37-40 mph vibration

I had the same problem since truck was new until I had my new DTT transmission and torque converter installed now vibration went away. I happened at point where torque converter was about to go into lock up. After lock up it went away. I have noticed on othe posts that it seems to be mostly on 99's that have same problem.



Denny

 

[RJ2]

Found the problem, Put my old rear drums on and vibration dissapeared.

 

[Sparky10]

Same Shutter

My 1999 truck does the same thing and has since the day I bought it. It does it around 38 to 40 MPH. Doesn't matter if I am speeding up or slowing down. It does it both times. I have changed tires also and it is still there. My dealer told me it was just something in the dodges and to live with it. Didn't make me to happy.



Would like to know the real reason also!



Thanks, Scott

 

[TradedV-10foraCummins]

Add me to the list, my 99 does the same thing. It is like chasing a ghost. New tires, wheels, shocks, driveshafts checked, rear drums checked, etc. , etc. Mine doesn't seem to do it all the time. And it doesn't do it at all with a descent load (1000 pounds or more) in the bed. Let me know if anybody figures it out. I also find it interesting that everytime this issue comes up , the majority of the trucks affected are 99 models.

 

[CumminsPower98]

Rear end hop

My truck has the hop at 40-45 mph. I have tried different tires and wheels also like many others. I also had the rear drive shaft rebuilt and the rear part re-tubed because it was bent. After all that I have had no change at all. Just the other day I had all the tires rebalanced and no change at all. This is really strange and I sure would like someone to figure out what is going on so I can fix it. Mine hops enough that I can see the back end bouncing in the mirror. At high speeds I don't really feel anything.

 

[C.]

I have vibration around 40 mph in my 99' also. I assumed it was the wheels. But now I am haveing second thoughts.

 

[BadDNA]

Just started having this problem with my 98. 5 2wd QC SB. Glad to hear I'm not the only one, sorry to see there's been no definitive solution. Has anybody found the culprit? I'm getting shakes right around 40mph, accelerating, braking, coasting in neutral, doesn't seem to matter. I originally thought tires, had them rebalanced, no change. I was then thinking ball joints or tie-rod ends, but there's no vibration in the steering wheel. I was to the point of having the driveshaft checked, and may still, but I wanted to see if anyone has other ideas first.



Thanks,

-Eammon

 

[CumminsPower98]

The 40 MPH shake in my truck is almost certain to be the tires/wheels. I have 16. 5 wheels and its hard to get the tires perfectly centered. I hate this and can't wait to be able to afford 16" wheels. I checked one of my old tires and it was about an 1/8" out of round. I have yet to check the new tires but I have the same hop with them.

 

[nuv22]

add me to the " I have vibration around 40 mph in my 99' also" CLUB!!! same thing over here

 

[John - K5AWO]

Originally posted by RJ2

Found the problem, Put my old rear drums on and vibration dissapeared.

Take your new drums and have them mounted on a tire balancing machine.





Spin 'em up and see how far out they are. The reading will be guess work, but it will show you what side is out of balance.



Drill holes on the heavy side to bring it back to balance.