Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) getting bad vibrations but from where?

[RAMICATOR]

i have been having a vibration in my floor pan on my drivers side. i havent had the time to shut the truck down long enough to tear into it. im thinking its a wheel bearing, but i just crawled under the truck to see if the u joints were shot, no slop in them, but i have slop in the end of the transfer case, side to side. so now im thinking thats the problem. the truck only has 40k miles, are bearing in t-case shot and causing my vibration. its really noticeable when im just crusing and little to no load on the motor. what do you guys think?

 

[TboneMan]

I'm having a similar problem with mine. I had my mechanic drive it last night. He felt the vibration but could pin down what it might be. More to follow...

 

[KNaugle]

Before you get too excited pull the rear drive line off and check the U-joints for a tight spot sometimes you cannot tell by just pushing or pulling on the drive line. Tail shaft should have some play. 40000 miles is about what I can expect to see out of my equipment.



1995 3500, 1996 2500, 2000 2500, 2001 3500, 2003 3500, 2004. 5 3500 currently own them all



Kirk

 

[rono]

What KNaugle said!! Check the u-joints!!! My son had a vibration on his '02 that he could not find and it was coming from the front drive shaft. When it finally showed itself, the u-joint wobbled around, broke and the busted the transfer case in half. VERY expensive to fix.



Ron

 

[EdK]

I also had a u-joint with one cup siezed that caused a vibration. As others have said, the "shake test" won't work finding this problem. I had to lock visegrips on it to break it loose. If the u-joints check out, check for play in the rear axle yoke. If that also checks out, check out the output bearing in the transfer case... with the driveshaft installed, SLOWLY rotate the driveshaft and listen for a random "click click click. " What I found this sound to be was the balls in the bearing rotating partially around, then falling back down to the bottom. The reason was the plastic center of the bearing that holds the balls in place had broken. That failure allows the bearing to wobble causing the vibration. Before I discovered this, the large snap ring that holds the bearing in place in the tailshaft housing had broken. The output shaft then is able to move inward causing a grinding sound!



That being said, if the bearing is the problem, I HIGHLY recommend taking the transfer case out rather than try to work through the access slot on the top of the transfer case while still in the truck. The large snap ring holding the bearing can only be installed/removed using the slot. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[RAMICATOR]

thanks guys, you have given me something to run with

 

[Joe Mc]

Wow - this is what I've been looking for! I have had a thumping on the pass floorpan for - forever!. I can't seem to get rid of it, it seems like a balance issue as it starts around 40mph and is ever present afterwards. Here's what I have so far, keep in mind some of the things I've done were not an effort to eliminate the thump.



New Eagle aluminum wheels, Nittos, balance beads, bilsteins, 2" leveling spacers. I thought I found the problem when I had the front end off the ground I put bar under the wheel and lifted as I pulled the top of the wheel - there was definite play in the upper ball joint. Replaced top and bottom, installed second "lifetime" Moog track bar and had alignment done. Still there :{



So WTF? I guess it could be wheel bearing, axel or front shaft universals? How to check wheel bearings on 4 X 4? I didn't like the one post which mentioned damage to the transfer case so I may remove the front shaft and road test to see. But, if it was the front dhaft why would it only thump the right floor pan and not the left????



Thanks for suggestions, I will post findings.

 

[RAMICATOR]

well just got back from the tire shop with good news and bad news. good news, wheel bearing as i suspected. bad news can't get it from any of the local parts dealers, ok, worst news its $360 :{ . and right after he told me that, i said "and a $3 jar of vassalene so it wont hurts so bad", he just about fell out of the chair laughing.



this is the first vehical i have owned that still has a warranty.



would a wheel bearing be covered under it?

 

[keioga]

the rear u-joints are junk. you cant go wrong replacing those

 

[BillBrown]

well just got back from the tire shop with good news and bad news. good news, wheel bearing as i suspected. bad news can't get it from any of the local parts dealers, ok, worst news its $360 :{ . and right after he told me that, i said "and a $3 jar of vassalene so it wont hurts so bad", he just about fell out of the chair laughing.



this is the first vehical i have owned that still has a warranty.



would a wheel bearing be covered under it?

I just recently replaced My wheel bearings. Got the good ones from NAPA for $152 each, Just get them on somebody's comercial account. If You pay full price there the good ones are $250 and the cheap ones are $150.

 

[RAMICATOR]

bill, i just checked napa and o'rileys, both only go up the 99 model year. just called dodge and they said $360 also. that bites, but what can you do