Launch shudder when towing

[JCasper]

I get the shudder whenever I am towing. It happens mainly in 2nd and 3rd gear.



Is it the center bearing on the driveline causing it? If so, is the bearing going bad, or is it just the bad angle I have heard about?



I am getting ready to leave for Yellowstone in a few weeks and have been thinking about having the driveline rebuilt before I go.



I have replaced the center u-joint about 10,000 miles ago when it went out. It was not a shudder, but a bad vibration when slowing down.

 

[tkerrigan]

Put some air lift bags on the rear axle and run 50 lbs when towing, 5 lbs when not. They will improve the drive line angles when loaded. Worked on mine.

 

[JCasper]

Put some air lift bags on the rear axle and run 50 lbs when towing, 5 lbs when not. They will improve the drive line angles when loaded. Worked on mine.

O. K. Thanks.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Same on mine, only shudder when towing, air bags solved the problem.

 

[roperteacher]

This is going to sound crazy but go ahead and put 4 ounces of LS additive in the diff. Can't hurt and the manual says it doesn't need it, but I have read over and over again how it has fixed several types of Shudder. .

 

[JHardwick]

I'd skip the LS additive, you'll most likely add rearend chatter to you vibration.

 

[DPKetchum]

Fixed mine also.

 

[nunya]

airbags on my 3500DRW took out the shudder when pulling out from a dead stop, 30 psi. and all is well now. Did not shudder with a 32` Travel trailer but a 3400RL 5th wheel did!

 

[JCasper]

Well it looks like I need to start shopping for Air Bags.



It doesn't bother me too much, but would be nice to get rid of it.



The list of things I need never stops.

 

[Sky]

Why should we have to go buy airbags etc to get rid of a shudder for a 40-50k truck that is built for towing? I bought this truck to tow and it should with out any problems IMO... .

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Sky, When I purchased the 2003 we were full timers in the 5er, both places I went to said "it's the driveline angle" which it was. Hook up your trailer and bring it in, we'll need it to get the angle right. Might take a day or two... ...

Airbags was easier and cheaper in the long run!

 

[DPKetchum]

The TSB for driveline angle pays less then . 8 to do. Took mine in with gooesneck attached,tech rolled under neath with tsb/pen/paper and inclination gauges and checked and wrote down measurments. Rolled out and compared them to tsb. Mine was ok. My neighbors 05 was not. They(service dept)had needed shims in stock and changed his measurments while he waited. Took less then a hour to do whole deal including adding shims.

 

[Cattletrkr]

I have replaced the center u-joint about 10,000 miles ago when it went out. It was not a shudder, but a bad vibration when slowing down.

What about the rearmost joint?

 

[JEstes]

Stupid question, but where exactly do the shims go anyway?

 

[Hoefler]

Under the rear springs on top of the spring perch. Loosen spring u-bolts, raise truck by the frame until the axle hangs by the bolts, slide in the shim, re-tighten bolts, lower jack and check your angles.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Ummmmm... . the shims on mine are on top of the center bearing mount. Some trucks require shims, some require a different bracket. Haven't heard of putting shims under the springs... til now.

 

[231jasonS]

These shims or center bearing bracket are custom pieces or Dodge parts?

 

[Cattletrkr]

Dodge parts. There is a TSB dealing with launch shudder.

 

[231jasonS]

Ive got some pretty good axle wrap when towing. I assumed it was because i replaced the overload with a Mini-pak and air bags. Maybe the driveline angle is wrong?

 

[JCasper]

What about the rearmost joint?

The center joint was hot when it was bad, that's how I knew it was the bad one. All of them are still cool after a long drive now so I feel they are o. k.



Also when I did the center one the other two seemed to be moving very freely still.