Driveline vibration

[WAckerman]

So a couple of weeks ago, I hauled a pallet of flagstone home from a quarry. I don't remember having any trouble with it, but after that was done I started getting a vibration from the rear end and slow speeds (5-10 mph). I took it in to have the tires balanced and was talking to the counter guy about it. He wondered if I could have twisted the driveshaft out of balance or cracked a U joint.



How possible would either of those options be? I'm a little nervous as I have a boating trip planned in a couple weeks that will be right around 600 miles round trip. Boat doesn't weight much, but I don't want any trouble on the road with the family along for the ride. Tire guy suggested I have Six State's distributors in SLC look at it. What would you all recommend?



If it is the driveshaft, what would i be looking at for cost? I know it could depend on whats wrong... also what about cost for U joints?



Thanks for your opinions

 

[JCasper]

Drivelines are easy to replace or fix. You just need to find a good driveline shop in your area.



Six States Distributors - Locations in Area all



I had my whole driveline rebuilt for $200.



How many miles are on your truck? I lost my first U-Joint at 51K. They are known to be a problem on these trucks.

 

[WAckerman]

Thanks for the tip, I have 39k on it now. Is that about normal life expectancy? Should I have all of them replaced now, or just the ones they find bad (if they find any bad ones)? I talked to Six States this morning and they said to bring it up and they'd go for a ride and let me know what they think it could be. Figured that was fair, so I'll be doing that on Monday.

 

[steved]

Sounds like a ujoint is dry and seizing... replace them all when you're in there...

 

[HBarlow]

Do you get the "vibration" when loaded and launching or when unloaded and creeping at a steady 5-10mph?



I have had different experiences with my two previous Rams. I put 325k miles on my '01 before selling it to my son-in-law who lets his job supts. drive it now. It has around 350k-360k on it now and has never had a u-joint replaced.



I put 228k miles on an '06 before selling it. It never had a u-joint replaced either. It had the common driveline wobble on launch when heavy loaded but the driveline was inspected and was fine. I used both trucks to pull heavy trailers commercially but they saw 99. 9% highway use, no off-road. Both were 2wd.



Your driveshaft can be removed, separated into two pieces, and spun to check for vibration/out of round by a good driveline ship. Should cost about $50.

 

[WAckerman]

This vibration is different from the normal launch vibration the truck has always had. I have not had the truck loaded since the stone was moved, so I don't know how a trailer would affect it, but it is very noticable when unloaded.



When I first noticed it, I was stuck in traffic on the freeway, in the left lane, moving about 5 or so MPH, and I thought I was running on the rumble strip.

 

[HBarlow]

Maybe you are on the leading edge of a u-joint failure or possibly tweaked the driveshaft under heavy load. I've not heard of anyone doing it but I'm sure it's possible.



If you remove the driveshaft yourself a good driveshaft shop can put it in their lathe setup and spin balance it. Their process will not only check for true but will balance both halfshafts and inspect the u-joints for wear.



When my '06 with 48RE was a year old and had 130k miles it suddenly developed a driveline vibration between 62 and 68 mph. I was working and on the west coast so decided to take a load going to the midwest then go home and have it checked out.



Mistake! It turned out that a pressed in soft metal bushing in the tailshaft of the 48RE had slipped out of place and was not supporting the tailshaft. The tailshaft took out the rear seal and it began dumping transmission fluid. I had to surrender my load, have a temporary repair done, and limp it home. James Nortrum did a complete DTT rebuild with all the billet parts and I had the driveshaft checked. The shaft and joints were fine.

 

[AABEN]

We have found out that you can get a Vibration from your rear brake rotors. Did you half to use your brakes very much? If hot and setting still you hold your foot brake on very hard will caused your rotors to warp. You can turn them and they will be OK . When this happens you will think you have tires out of balance or a universal joint bad---BEN

 

[WAckerman]

Thanks everyone. I had a chance to run it to the shop yesterday and they are pretty sure that the joints are ok, but they are suspecting the carrier bearing failed because it wasn't shimmed properly. They want to replace it and align it and see how that goes.



I hadn't thought about the brakes, but the vibration is there with or without brakes applied.



Anyway, the shop acted like they saw a lot of trucks with a similar shudder. I'll keep posting when i get it fixed.

 

[steved]

Unless they pulled the driveshaft, the ujoints will look fine.

 

[JCasper]

Unless they pulled the driveshaft, the ujoints will look fine.

Yep, they look fine, but are dry and seized.



You can't tell until the shaft is out.

 

[WAckerman]

OK, thanks. Would it be worth it to have them replaced now with 39K on the truck?

 

[steved]

All of mine were toasted by 72k...



If they find one bad, replace them all.

 

[WAckerman]

So the truck went in yesterday for the vibration. They shimmed the carrier bearing 3/8" or so and everything seems to be fine now.



The guy at the shop confirmed everything that was said on here, as far as the factory joints being crappy. He also made a comment that the Dodges seem to be getting more and more tempermental when it comes to drivetrain.



So I guess I'll just keep an eye on those joints for now, but I am happy to have the vibration fixed... what a difference it made! Can stand to drive it again.

 

[Mark Starr]

My 06 had the same symptom. I'd bet it's your u joints. Easy to check for simply by grabbing the drive line and twisting it or shaking it. They are a you know what to change yourself though, I'd have it done, Check it before it gets worse as it could get expensive

 

[Jim W]

I would look at replacing the u-joints now and not latter. A friend of mine at work has a 2005 3/4 ton HD longbed and lost his transmission (cracked case) at 125K miles pulling his 5er home this month due to a bad u-joint. Spent an extra week on the road waiting for a replacement unit and the installation to be down at a DODGE dealer ship in southern IL. Kicker is he has a full shop at home were he could have done this himself but 8 hours from home with a 5er attached does not help. Cost him 5K +, also a rebuilt unit from DODGE 3 year 80,000 mile warranty with it.

Spending my kids inheritance of fuel.

 

[WAckerman]

My 06 had the same symptom. I'd bet it's your u joints. Easy to check for simply by grabbing the drive line and twisting it or shaking it. They are a you know what to change yourself though, I'd have it done, Check it before it gets worse as it could get expensive

I was standing there when they were wrapping it up, and I'm by no means an expert, but when he was down there shaking the driveline I couldn't see any movement. He claimed they looked OK. It was mentioned before that you can't really tell if they are gone until you pull it apart? I'm running out of time to get them done before I have to leave, so I guess I'll cross my fingers and run them this trip and get it all changed when I get back.

 

[steved]

They seize, but show no looseness...

 

[WAckerman]

Got it. Thanks steved

 

[steved]

If they actually pulled the driveshaft, it would be readily apparent.



Mine were so far along that I could not flex the rear one by hand. The front axle joint was the same way. Neither had any indications of being bad... other than vibrations.



Just something to look at while you're in there...