Shutterring during launch

[dodgerep]

I was wondering if anyone out there has dealt with the shutter that occurs in the drive line when accelerating from a complete stop. I have heard that there is a TSB on the fix that involves a shim at the carrier bearing, but I was wondering if anyone has fixed this or had it fixed. I searched on Dealer Connect for a TSB but could not find it. Any information would be greatly appreciated

 

[JCleary]

Is it all the time or only when going around a corner?



I had a launch shudder, but only when making turns. It got to be pretty bad.



I switched from the Mopar synthetic gear lube to Amsoil Severe Gear 75w90 and it eliminated the problem.



I was extremely surprised. I for sure thought I had a differential problem, but the oil took care of it.

 

[GFritsch]

I was wondering if anyone out there has dealt with the shutter that occurs in the drive line when accelerating from a complete stop. I have heard that there is a TSB on the fix that involves a shim at the carrier bearing, but I was wondering if anyone has fixed this or had it fixed. I searched on Dealer Connect for a TSB but could not find it. Any information would be greatly appreciated

I posted this a while ago. The spacer added by the dealer has stopped the launch shudder when the truck is empty. (90% 0f the time), but reappears when the truck is loaded with more than about 1,500lbs. In my case I can raise the bed up with the air bags and it goes away.



Hope the part number helps.



From this site Launch shudder TSB



Greg

 

[dodgerep]

Thanks

Thank you for posting that TSB. I am assuming the fix is the same for the 06. I will probably have an issue having the service department making the adjustment to the 06 on an 04 TSB, but I will get it done. I appreciate the information.

 

[jwilliams3]

Heres the deal on the launch shudder and my experiences:



If your truck is a 6 speed like mine then this post will apply.





If your truck is to the point of shuddering then the angles of your driveline have caused one or more U joints to start to suffer severly; to the point of drying and skipping.



I did lower my carrier bearing with a piece of 3/8" piece of steel stock and that took the shuddering away for a while. Basically that corrected the "off" driveline angle.

But your U-joints (one or more) need replaced at this point.



You need to:

Get your driveline angle worked out and get your rear u joints replaced.

You cannot judge or tell if the U joints or good or bad until you take them apart.



If you need U joint part numbers let us know.

 

[GFritsch]

If your truck is to the point of shuddering then the angles of your driveline have caused one or more U joints to start to suffer severly; to the point of drying and skipping.

Interestingly enough my truck did this brand new (8 miles on the odo). It seems that the bed angle causes the u-joints to vibrate if not aligned properly. I had the angle fixed early on and have put 20k on the truck since with no problems. As I mentioned earlier the shudder comes back when the bed is heavily loaded and goes away with more air in the air bags. I have a neighbor with a Chevy that shudders and has lived with it for over 100k on the original u-joints (still working).

I think worn u-joints could certainly cause a shudder, but I don't think that a shudder is necessarily a sign of a bad joint, just an alignment problem.

In any case it is frustrating on a vehicle this expensive.

Greg

 

[jwilliams3]

Greg,

Looks like in your case then you probably just need the driveline angle fixed.



Good luck having the dealer fix it! :-laf

 

[GFritsch]

Elk Grove Dodge in CA did this repair as well as the others in the link I posted on my first reply to this thread back in Oct. of 04. The mechanic had done it before and the shudder was fixed. Sorry if me previous responses were confusing.



Greg

 

[TNT]

Launch shudder fixed under warranty!

Took my 28,000 mile truck in to have rear U-joints replaced. The dealer said that the rear U-joint was bad and that transmission fluid was leaking through the slip yoke from the transfer case. So they replaced the entire 2 piece drive shaft, U-joints, midmount, and all associated parts... no charge!! :--)

 

[JRyan]

I just upgraded to a 3500 dually long box and noticed the launch shudder discussed here. Some posts say there is a fix but the shudder returns when loaded. I must my truck for pulling a fifth wheel so the vast majority of its miles are under load. Since the shudder reappears after the fix when loaded, I wonder if the reverse would be true, that is the no-load lauch shudder isn't there when loaded? My point in asking is that if there is going to be a shudder either loaded after the "fix" or unloaded without the fix (but no shudder when loaded) I just as soon as not get the fix since most of my miles are loaded. Of course, the better option would be for Dodge to fix the shudder altogether.



Thanks for any input.

 

[Tony D]

My truck is doing this 3700 miles from new. What is the fix.

Thanks,

 

[sag2]

Generally you can fix it unloaded or fix it loaded. For unloaded you need to lower the center support. You should use kit 05135709AA that includes the spacer and longer bolts. It lowers the support about one inch. To fix it loaded, you need to change the center support bracket to a shorter one as specified in the TSB.

The thing to do is determine if the truck is driven mostly loaded or unloaded. Then fix the symptom that occurs the most. If you only load it up once in a while, don't worry about it if it only does it loaded.

 

[RockinJ]

I fixed the launch shudder in my '05 LWB 6-speed by lowering the center support bearing bracket 1/2" with a spacer that I fabricated from aluminum bar stock (you will need to install longer bolts). The truck only has 8,900 miles on it, so I'm not convinced that "worn" U-joints were the cause.

 

[jwilliams3]

Been there done it.

Mine shuddered... then I lowered the carrier... fixed it for a while... then the skipping came back.

U JOINTS!!

 

[JRyan]

Sag2, is that Dodge's position regarding you can fix it either loaded or unloaded but not both? (I can't even get my dealer to figure out how to diagnose the problem to begin with. ) If so, that sounds like a defective design by Dodge and I have a serious problem with that since I use my truck (2006 3500 dually 4x4) about 1/2 loaded and 1/2 unloaded. Otherwise, it's a great truck!

 

[tkerrigan]

Just put on air bags and air up when you have a load. Without the air bags my truck's rear drive shaft half actually aimed uphill to the rear end with a heavy load. No way ujoints can stay in phase that way. No problems now.

 

[JCasper]

What kind of airbags do you have and where did you get them? Did you install a compressor to air them up?

 

[sag2]

Sag2, is that Dodge's position regarding you can fix it either loaded or unloaded but not both? (I can't even get my dealer to figure out how to diagnose the problem to begin with. ) If so, that sounds like a defective design by Dodge and I have a serious problem with that since I use my truck (2006 3500 dually 4x4) about 1/2 loaded and 1/2 unloaded. Otherwise, it's a great truck!

I don't know if that it is their position, it is just the reality of the situation. Drive lines have to operate within a narrow range of angle cancellation for them to not vibrate. If you have a suspension that is soft enough to give an acceptable ride, the drive line angles are going to change rather dramatically through the suspension travel. You try and do the best you can for both situations. Most people don't operate their trucks at both ends of the GVW range all the time. They run them mostly loaded, or mostly unloaded. You can fine tune the center support to give the best operation in the GVW range you operate in most of the time. Call it a defect if you want, but very few people are going to experience a shudder. I can tell you that the majority of customers will not accept the ride we had in our trucks 20 years ago, they think they are cars today. Well they are not cars, and my perception is that all the manufacturers have done a very good job of trying to please the buying public and still keep the costs at a reasonable level.

 

[tkerrigan]

I used the Air Lift air-25655 pump kit and air-57280 bags. buy the combination and get a $25 rebate. Page 338 in the summit racing catalog. Or summitracing.com. You have to call to order the bags. Phone 800 230 3030

 

[RVTRKN]

I only noticed the shutter when I start in the improper gear. Example: sitting at a lite on a steep hill and starting out in second gear. Had a learning curve on the NV5600, but all is OK now.