5600 - 2nd Gear Shudder

[Gypsyman]

I have a drw with approx 1000 miles and have noticed the "chatter" feel when leaving a dead stop in 2nd gear. It feels like clutch chatter or axle wrap in my old muscle cars without slapper bars or ladder bars.

 

[Spooled-up]

Could it be the clutch??

Could it be the springs around the center of the clutch? Could those be loading and unloading, or am I totally wrong about how they work?

 

[Duck]

I had the rattle at idle, but never a shudder. I had the clutch replaced per that TSB yesterday and now I have the shudder.

Nothing else changed but the clutch.

I don't know much about transmissions, could the driveline angles been compromised when they replaced the clutch disc?

 

[Fred Swanson]

Duck, how much ride height change can you get with the air bags? try them deflated, then try them with various pressures, and measure your top of wheel to fender distance. See if your shudder changes, or gets worse or better. This is a quick way to determine if you have a driveline issue.



I still think it is the driveline angles. Some people have had it corrected by the dealer. If it were the clutch, I'd expect it to do it through all the gears.

 

[Duck]

I raised the rear just over an inch and it still did it. It's just while launching off idle, so I don't think it's a driveline issue- more of a clutch issue.



The theory right now is that the new disc just has to get broken in with the old pressure plate and fly wheel surfaces. I'm going to give it a couple weeks and see if it goes away. Doesn't seem to be hurting anything.

 

[Fred Swanson]

Duck, now try them with no air ,and put a load in the rear, enough to get it to drop an inch or so. I'm still betting it's the driveline, because, if it were the clutch it would do it all the time.



Right now, the experience is between 6-10 MPH, and in 2nd gear, or any gear at that speed.



When I'm loaded down, it is gone, but I also didn't have it until I raised the truck 2 inches. Raising it seems to aggrevate it, as would be expected with driveline angles. Lower the rear, and it puts things more level, and thus less angle.



When I hook up my gooseneck, it drops a good 2-3 inches.







Duck, are you getting shudder with the clutch engaged, or during clutch engagement. Maybe I need to be clear on what you're experiencing. If you are getting clutch chatter launching, that's different, but want to make sure.

 

[ddutil]

Mine is doing it w/ clutch engaged and it is very noticeable at WOT. I have a 2500 HO quad & short box. Dan (... eh)

 

[ddutil]

and it's worst when loaded (2k# in bed) than unloaded. 1st or 2nd speed.



TTT.



Has anybody came up with more facts on this issue ?



Thanks guys, Dan.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

No shudder, no vibes, no rattles here. Loaded or empty, towing or not, hot or cold. Just a happy 2-wheel drive camper here!



Vaughn

 

[Spooled-up]

Update at 8500 miles....

I have noticed that the shudder is going away. I hardly notice it at all. I've been trying to think what could break in that would cause the shudder to go away and the only thing I can think of is the leaf springs. Maybe they are just that little more flexible where they don't wrap and unwrap so much. I guess they wrap and then stay there until you take your foot out of it.



Anyone have ladder bars on their trucks yet?



How about the guys with the more expensive Kelderman setup with the four link rear end? Did that solve the shudder in 2nd?

 

[bulabula]

No shudders here, loaded or unloaded. 18,300 on the odo.