driveline vibration - possible fix

[WBarber2]

For those of you like me with a 4x4 with a driveline vibration, DC may have a fix.



Took my truck to the dealer yesterday to check alignment and have a look at my driveline vibration between 65 and 70 (actual) MPH. With my 315s the speedo says 59 to 64. The dealer immediately got defensive about the big tires. I told them the vibe was there with the stock Michelins as well as the BFGs, plus I had rotated the BFGs front to back - no difference.



Anyhow, it was out of alignment (both caster and camber). When I got the truck back they said no problem found with the vibration - pi**ed me off.



Took the truck out and ran it at 60 to 70 and sure enough no vibration. Called the dealer today and asked what's up. The dealer said that DC just sent them a bulletin today saying that some '03 and '04 trucks are misaligned from the factory. The bulletin says that if both caster and camber are off it may affect front driveline angles and cause speed specific front end vibrations. Sound familiar ?? The dealer said they just got lucky correcting my truck's alignment. They didn't know about the bulletin yesterday.



Went out again tonight on a longer run on I-25 and I-40 here in NM. There is just the slightest hint of front end vibe at 62 indicated (67. 5 actual) if I hit rough pavement or bumps. It is much better than before. Before, it shook so bad at 65 my wife could feel it plainly through the passenger seat, plus the steering wheel jumped around a lot.



I have no reason to believe the dealer is b. s. 'ing about the DC bulletin. Check it out if you are having the vibration problem. Hope this helps some of you.



BTW, I had them check alignment because the truck is very fond of following the road crown both left and right. It still is - I guess the BFGs may actually cause that, but I'll settle for no vibration.

 

[brillmtb]

? Camber adjusted

I went by my friends alignment shop and he said there is no camber alignment on the 03. There is a caster and toe. So the pull to the right may be difficult to correct. Might be able to do it with change in caster. Offset ball joints may be available but cant use adjustable shims either.



Seems that the engineers screwed up with making the front end camber non adjustable.



I am taking it to the dealer next week to give them a shot at it and see what they say. Should be interesting.



Also, I was told that the TSB/recall on bad primer (paint warrenty), aluminum wheels cracking and loose fan cluch bolts did not apply to my vehicle by looking at the VIN. The TSB's say you need to pull off the wheel and inspect the date stamp inside. Who do I trust? Can they tell by the VIN and if so why did the TSB say this?

 

[sag2]

brillmtb

Most recalls have a suspected date range. The purpose of the recall is to check components that are in the date range, and verify they are in fact defective. I'm sure all the manufacturers error on the side of recalling potentially more vehicles than less. That is why they want to check the date code on the wheel, because it might be a good one (on a "bad" VIN).