front end vibration

[RWherley]

We are having issues with a front end vibration that seems to be coming from the right side, the truck is a 04 3500 DRW with 19.5 wheels, I have checked it over several times including the tie rods, ball joints and u-joints. any ideas?

 

[Missouri Mule]

Did you check the tire. Could of shifted or broke belt.

 

[RWherley]

I have checked and rotated the tires with no change

 

[ranger 393]

tracbar bushings?

 

[seafish]

First thing to do is swap tires from to back and see if the vibe goes away or changes. If not, then check the wheel bearings by jacking up the truck and push/pull on the tire at 9 and 3 o'clock…if there is play, then your wheel unit bearing is starting to fail.

 

[S.Morris]

Explain what you mean by vibration.....or what makes it better or worse and speeds involved ...

 

[Wayne M.]

This is the sig truck?

 

[RWherley]

I have tried putting the rear tires on the front with no change, I have checked the wheel bearings which seem to be ok, I will check the bushings a little later, the vibration is a shimmy that is worse around 45 to 50 mph, and road conditions seem to affect it. and No this is not the sig truck, that is mine the problem truck is my dad's and is a 04.5 DRW 3500 crew cab with 381,000 miles and other then the 19.5 wheels has a stock suspension it is one its 3rd set of wheel bearings if you count the factory ones, all tie rod ends have been replaced several times, the u-joints in the steering knuckles have around 30,000 miles on them and are grease able and lubed every oil change same for the front drive shaft, the steering stabilizer has around 40k on it, and is not leaking beyond that I don't know how to check it, the shocks are older I don't know the mileage off had but they aren't leaking.

 

[RWherley]

Is this some thing that could be caused by old worn shocks? or fixed by adding the steering box brace?

 

[Ozymandias]

Test without the front driveshaft and tell about results.
Forget about front/rear, left/right about vibration, it is usually VERY hard to tell where they come from, even a totally worn wheelbearing is sometime hard to tell which side it is.

 

[Wayne M.]

Can you describe the frequency of the vibration? You say it's a shimmy (low freq) and not more like a driveline buzz (high freq). Is it felt more in the seat or in the steering wheel? These things are tough to nail down. Can you describe the method you use for checking/ shaking the front end?

 

[cerberusiam]

If the shocks are older and not Bilstein they are a candidate for the shimmy. Replace them before digging too much deeper. The internal valving on the shocks wear and any imperfection in the road or tire causes the tire to bounce. Anything but Biltsein's and it happens a lot faster.

 

[Wayne M.]

I wonder what the static weight difference is between a OEM tire and wheel vs. the 19.5 setup. I know 19.5 is a serious tire! I deal with them on the F550's.

 

[RWherley]

I removed the front shaft and had him run it and he said it was a little better so replaced the front most ujoin and put it back on and it ran the same as with the shaft off. The shocks are Gabriel's with at least 100k on them. the current front tires are good year 8R19.5 and are on eagle allow aluminum wheels, I don't know the weight of that combo. I will talk with dad and find out more of the nature of the vibration

 

[cerberusiam]

Gabriel shock with 100k = done. Based on a shimmy and road conditions effect I would do shocks then reassess.

 

[Wayne M.]

Gabriel shock with 100k = done. Based on a shimmy and road conditions effect I would do shocks then reassess.

I agree. Tough to beat bilsteins. Especially with that hefty Unsprung weight, you need the best dampening. Even dual shocks if possible.

 

[S.Morris]

Disconnect the steering damper and see how much resistance it has to stroking it. It may have a dead spot in it.

 

[Ozymandias]

We are still talking about a vibration right?

 

[Ozymandias]

I agree. Tough to beat bilsteins. Especially with that hefty Unsprung weight, you need the best dampening. Even dual shocks if possible.

Indeed it is very easy to beat the Bilsteins, just go one step upward, by a customvalved King or Fox and be happy, no need for Doubleshicks or something, just a setup that is made right for tthe truck it belngs to.
Generic will never meet a particular vehicle.

 

[Wayne M.]

Indeed it is very easy to beat the Bilsteins, just go one step upward, by a customvalved King or Fox and be happy, no need for Doubleshicks or something, just a setup that is made right for tthe truck it belngs to.
Generic will never meet a particular vehicle.

So we agree that the best oscillation control is paramount. More so when Unsprung weight is increased.