Frustrated New Owner.. Help!

[Brossjd]

I hear Ya.

Unfortunately they don't show an exact part for the 2014 3500 yet. I believe they have a solution, but I need to spend a little time on the phone. I drove a Ford 2500 4X4 service truck for about a year which had the shackles. That is how I found out about them. They seemed to work very well.

I am also still learning about their reliability. I have read many forums topics on them. As always there are as many great stories as there are stories about them needing a rebuild in 5 years.

I still need to talk myself into these. I'm not crazy about Beta testing. I know there are guys a lot more fearless with their new trucks than me.

 

[JLandry]

Guys,

At May Madness I asked the Chrysler Warranty Rep about these strange vibrations, and he suggested a dealers might be able to nail down the exact source by using a portable vibration analyzer while driving the truck. He said the dealerships do have access to such tools (although they may not know it) and Chrysler provides training on using it.

This might be something to ask the dealer about, and if they don't seem familiar with it, ask them to reach out to Chrysler for help.

Best regards,

John L.

 

[Wingate]

I hear Ya.

Unfortunately they don't show an exact part for the 2014 3500 yet. I believe they have a solution, but I need to spend a little time on the phone. I drove a Ford 2500 4X4 service truck for about a year which had the shackles. That is how I found out about them. They seemed to work very well.

I am also still learning about their reliability. I have read many forums topics on them. As always there are as many great stories as there are stories about them needing a rebuild in 5 years.

I still need to talk myself into these. I'm not crazy about Beta testing. I know there are guys a lot more fearless with their new trucks than me.

If it works, I will buy a new set every 5 years and wont think twice about it!
Question is, does it work?
I just want to get my BRAND NEW truck back and be able to enjoy it!

 

[Wingate]

Guys,

At May Madness I asked the Chrysler Warranty Rep about these strange vibrations, and he suggested a dealers might be able to nail down the exact source by using a portable vibration analyzer while driving the truck. He said the dealerships do have access to such tools (although they may not know it) and Chrysler provides training on using it.

This might be something to ask the dealer about, and if they don't seem familiar with it, ask them to reach out to Chrysler for help.

Best regards,

John L.

John, thanks!
We have an EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE vibration analyzer at work! Yes I could, no im not! I could just see that thing falling into the highway getting ran over by a Prius!
Now I might if it ends up on a chassis dyno where the conditions are more controlled. I am hoping against hope that the tires cure the issue.! That being said, If this is an issue that the shackles mentioned above will cure, Im all in, I will buy them in a heartbeat! Im sure it will void the warranty on the synthetic blinker fluid dispenser, but that will be an excuse to put the Stryker Module on it!

 

[slingshot383]

Stiff chassis, 2 piece drive shaft, pillowblock (center support) could be the issue.

 

[Wingate]

got a call from the dealership this morning. I was told that Ram said its the tires and they had been attempting to source a set of replacement Generals to no avail. They asked if it would be ok to put a set of new take-offs from a Chevrolet, (Nexus brand??)
I simply told him if he thinks its the tires and thats what Ram is telling him to do, go ahead. I also told him to take the truck and THOROUGHLY road test it, take it home for a couple of days, whatever. Just be absolutely sure that when he calls and tells me its done, that it is truly done and fixed.

 

[JLandry]

They asked if it would be ok to put a set of new take-offs from a Chevrolet, (Nexus brand??)

My truck came with Nexen Roadian HTX RH5 LTV tires (mfg. in Thailand) from the factory and they seem fine... very smooth.

Only time will tell how long they'll last.

John L.

 

[Wingate]

My truck came with Nexen Roadian HTX RH5 LTV tires (mfg. in Thailand) from the factory and they seem fine... very smooth.

Only time will tell how long they'll last.

John L.

Well thats promising!
I just want tthe tires to prove thats all it is. If I dont like them, I'll cull them out pretty quick and go to BFGs.
I may still put those aftermarket shackles on it.

 

[Wingate]

The dealership had relayed to me that as soon as they got it back from a long test drive, I would be contacted as to whether it fixed the vibration. well, its been another 5 days and "crickets" from the dealership.Apparently this isnt a good sign.
Glad the 06 model felt like doing some work last weekend. Its sad that I have made two payments on a truck that I havent seen. Afraid the new car smell will be gone by the time I see it again.
I hate to get ugly with them as we all know that will be the beginning of the end of the service department relationship, but my patience is starting to wear thin.

 

[Wingate]

Got it back yesterday evening. Its better, but not fixed. And I noticed late last night the RR inside tire is flat!
Trying to drive it a little and see if its something I can get used to. Rode in my B.I.L. 99 Ford this morning and smooth as butter. Thats a heck of a note, 320K miles and mis-match used tires and rides smooth as can be!

 

[JR]

I feel your pain Wingate. The wifes new car has been at the dealership 8 weeks as of Thursday for electrical gremlins. The dealership couldnt figure it out so they brought in a few of Fords brightest from Michigan last week. Haven't heard squat, I think I already know the answer.

The ONLY bright side is they have been very accomodating and gave us a brand new junkday, er, Hyundai, to beat up on while they dissect hers. It had less than 10 miles on it when we left the dealership and we are fast coming up on the 7500 mile service :-laf

 

[Cummins12V98]

Tell them to quit wasting your time and install a set of Michelin MS2's that should have came on our truchs to begin with. When I order a 15 IT WILL HAVE MICHELINS!

The POS General were 2/3 worn at 25k with a front tire seperation. I have the Michelins for 25k and they still look new and ride very smooth.

 

[Too Tall]

Take it in and don't accept no or we can't find the problem as an answer. Too many dealers give up unless the bad part falls off in their hand.

Amen brother. The squeaky wheel get the grease. If they won't fix it, take all the way to the lemon law and arbitration. Dealers are very sensitive about their reputation. Something is out of balance, for sure.

 

[gtwitch]

I have a set of Nexen tires on my Safari van as they were the only 6 ply tires I could find and they are good tires "but" I notice that if I come off the interstate after a 50 or so mile drive where the tires are warm, the tires take a "cold set" and will be rough for the first 10 or so miles until the cold set get warmed up the next drive, much like the nylon tires of the late 60s. The other words I keep hearing about Nexen tires is that the rubber compound is soft and does not wear like Michlen or Goodyear or other truck tires we can get, but no adverse wear on my Safari so far, but only 10k yet so far.

gtwitch in wyoming

 

[jacknife]

vibration

Based on my own experiance l woul say that you have a couple of out of round tires. .

 

[RCHAWES]

Wingate, I remember reading about a guy with a 2013 that had this vibration and it turned out to be a defective drive line (shaft). It was causing the vibration. I'm no mechanic but I have had a drive shaft vibrate like you described and in a month completely fell off my truck 2003 3500, as it was a faulty u-joint. Hope you get it sorted out.

 

[Wingate]

Well, it appears to be fixed. Not sure exactly what all was done and not sure I will ever know. But the truck does not vibrate. It has the take-off Nexus tires on it. I can also tell that its running lower air pressures than when I got it back the 1st time and still had the Generals on it. I believe they had tried to air them up as per the service bulletin (almost 90 psi)
Hands down, the General Tires are complete garbage. I think there are some good sets out there, but for the most part, they are junk.
My passenger seat back does NOT vibrate going down the road anymore either!
I am still considering installing the Sulastic spring shackles. Kinda waiting on those who have already purchased them to report back with impressions/opinions.

 

[JLandry]

I can also tell that its running lower air pressures than when I got it back the 1st time and still had the Generals on it.

Glad to hear the problem is finally solved!

The following tire inflation pressures were derived from RamBodyBuidler.com might be helpful when adjusting your tires in the future.

Note: This only applies to the LT235/80R17 tires (used on a dually).

Singles (front) (lbs per tire / lbs on axle)

35 psi = 1,725 / 3,450
40 psi = 1,890 / 3,780
45 psi = 2,055 / 4,110
50 psi = 2,215 / 4,510
55 psi = 2,370 / 4,744
60 psi = 2,515 / 5,030
65 psi = 2,680 / 5,360
70 psi = 2,810 / 5,620
75 psi = 2,940 / 5,880
80 psi = 3,085 / 6,170​

Duals (rear) (lbs per tire / lbs on axle)

35 psi = 1,570 / 6,288
40 psi = 1,720 / 6,880
45 psi = 1,870 / 7,480
50 psi = 2,015 / 8,060
55 psi = 2,155 / 8,460
60 psi = 2,315 / 9,260
65 psi = 2,470 / 9,880​

I'm currently running 70 psi in the front and 40 psi in the rear tires of my lightly loaded truck. It's smooth as silk with Nexen tires.

John L.

 

[drsmart]

I'm currently running 70 psi in the front and 40 psi in the rear tires of my lightly loaded truck. It's smooth as silk with Nexen tires.

John L.

John. We have a 3500 on order. I've been reading about the TPMS indicating low pressure on the EVIC if the tires aren't close to specs shown on the door pillar. We'd like to run similar to your setup. Is the display warning not a problem?

Thanks
Dave

 

[JLandry]

We have a 3500 on order. I've been reading about the TPMS indicating low pressure on the EVIC if the tires aren't close to specs shown on the door pillar. We'd like to run similar to your setup. Is the display warning not a problem?

Dave,

Thankfully on a 3500 there isn't a low tire pressure warning like on the 2500. A screen on the EVIC shows all the tire pressures from the sensors, but you don't have to about alarm chimes no matter how low you set the pressures.

That's another good reason to get a 3500!

John L.