Saw my FIRST DynaTrac kit on a Dodge...

[steved]

At least the first one installed on a truck that wasn't my truck! :-laf



I'm usually pretty observant, and I cover a lot of miles coast to coast... I've had my DT kit since 2005 and this was the first time in all my travels I have seen another DT kit. It was a dark gray std cab rolling down Route 100 in Exton this AM... right near my office.



For as many people that have these kits, I would have figured to have seen one before now. For those of you with the kits, have you seen another?

 

[champspa]

what kind of differences did you see in your truck , the way it drives , being able to use low range in 2 wheel drive, fuel mileage , and etc ?

 

[SierraRam]

I have seen a couple others on my travels around Cali.

 

[NavyDood]

I have seen two here in MD. A co-worker and another on the Hwy.

 

[steved]

what kind of differences did you see in your truck , the way it drives , being able to use low range in 2 wheel drive, fuel mileage , and etc ?

The only reason I bought the DT kit was because my truck was one of the few with the dreaded 3rd gen 70mph vibration. Getting the front end disconnected was the only way to rid myself of that.



Mileage is hard to tell... I've seen probably just under 1 mpg of an increase. It definitely tracks better... it no longer follows the road surface, it tracks where I point it. 2wd low is nice, but with 4. 10s; its almost useless since the truck is already slow.



My install hasn't been without some issues:





* My lockouts never really seated tight to the hubs... had water wash the grease out of both sides, and toasted (read: turned it golden brown) the outer bearing on the passenger side (almost got the driver's side, but I caught it in time). I have solved this issue by installing two locking rings that force the big drive sprag further into the hub, thus allowing the lockout to seat tighter.



* One of the spindle bearing seals failed, and that cause the bearing and stub shaft to rust... the stub shaft rusted bad enough that it has since toasted another spindle bearing. I have another $$$ stub shaft, spindle bearing, and seal kit sitting at the house waiting for a spare minute to install them.



* And last summer, I had a piece of gravel drop onto the exciter ring and remove the tip of the driver's ABS sensor... needless to say that didn't help the function of the ABS.





I can't stress enough, use the best grease you can get your hands on. I currently run Schaeffers, and it seems to be doing the job extremely well.

 

[BMHenry]

I purchased a Spyntec kit. . I must say that I am glad that I personally didnt go with the DT. The abs section is completely sealed and have not had a problem with wash out in the hubs. . This summer will be the true test though. . Will post if anything changes.



Didnt mean to hijack the thread. . As far as the main question. . I am the only one I know of in my area to have the kit. .

 

[steved]

I purchased a Spyntec kit. . I must say that I am glad that I personally didnt go with the DT. The abs section is completely sealed and have not had a problem with wash out in the hubs. . This summer will be the true test though. . Will post if anything changes.



Didnt mean to hijack the thread. . As far as the main question. . I am the only one I know of in my area to have the kit. .

Until a couple years ago, DT was the only kid on the block.



And further, check back when you have 185k on your Spyntec (what my DT kit currently has on it, the truck sits with 245k), and let us know how its going. Just because its new, doesn't necessarily mean its any better... it takes time to find problems.

 

[HOBrian]

I don't have the kit, but I have only seen two!

 

[SDrake]

The only reason I bought the DT kit was because my truck was one of the few with the dreaded 3rd gen 70mph vibration. .

Hmmm, I must have the "dreaded drone" but I am not sure, it doesn't feel like a vibration. Nevertheless I will remove my drive shaft and see if it eliminates the drone. Or is the vibration in the axle ring-gear pinion combo itself???



I just bought this truck sight unseen, long story, deal has basically turned out good but not with out problems. If I had driven it and heard that drone I would have halted the deal right there and said first this must be remedied or I must understand what's up with this. But now I have the truck and I don't like the drone and my wife will not stop gripping about it. I don't blame her. It is no way for a truck to sound.



I was looking for drone fix and exhaust resonators as I read this.

 

[steved]

Removing the front drive shaft made my vibration go away... it has been termed "harmonic resonation", but I think its possibly a faulty part in the transfercase. I replaced the front shaft, even had it professionally balanced... it didn't help. If it was R&P, then removing the shaft should not completely remove the vibration as the rest of front diff is still turning.

I have read about transfercases literally blowing apart, and in almost every case where I asked, they had the vibrations. The funny part is that I can lock my hubs and run 70mph (where I had the vibrations) and not a single vibration... what changed?

 

[SierraRam]

It is incorrect pinion and CV angles. Your truck is lifted and when they try to keep the correct caster adjustment it brings the angles out of spec. I have it on mine it was only noticible above 60mph, since I don't usually drive that fast in 4x4 so the Dynatrac kit was the answer for me. I have noticed this usally occure on 6" or more of suspension lift.

 

[steved]

My truck is 100 percent factory suspension in the front... did it from the day I drove it home with 200 miles on the clock. In my case, it has nothing to do with a lift.

 

[SierraRam]

First I have of a non lifted truck having this problem, you just go lucky I guess.

 

[steved]

First I have of a non lifted truck having this problem, you just go lucky I guess.

There are probably more than a 100 threads on this very subject... it was a very common issue in the day... I'm one of many lucky ones.



There were all sorts of "fixes" including drive train realignment, balanced drive shafts, replacement transfercases, replaced ujoints, replaced front axle assemblies, etc, etc, etc... basically, let's throw parts and see what sticks. The only commonality between them all was the fact that the vibrations went away if the front shaft didn't spin.



Point being, it had nothing to do with lifting, suspension mods, etc... it affected a portion of the new 03, 04, and early 05 trucks sitting on the lot; then it went away. You either got a good one, or a vibrating one.