The infamous drive shaft vibe resurected... and a possible real cure.

[Yo Hoot]

I had the infamous driveshaft vibe way back in 2004 when I first got my truck brand new. I took it in for service only to discover that they refused to drive the truck because the vibe was at 65 mph and up and there are no local roads with a speed limit that high. My driveshaft is a single piece unit. After I installed the 35" Toyos, the vibe got less noticeable and actually went away after adding miles to the truck.

Recently I installed new u-joints. The vibe is back. As soon as I go over 70 mph it gets pretty rough. I'm concerned about the tail housing of my transfer case. It can actually crack and break off.

Today I found a local driveshaft shop. The fellow knows the issue and says he's been doing driveshafts for 26 years. He says you could have an angularity issue as little as 1 deg that could cause the problem. He's going to take it for a day and go over it till it's fixed. He'll put the shaft on a computerized machine that tells him at exactly what speed the shaft will go out of wack and balance it. He will also fine tune the shaft angle on the truck and shim the rear axle as required.

I'll update next week.

Has anybody been there done that?

 

[steved]

Been there, done that... the 3rd gen vibration in my 04. 5 was something related to the front drive components. I had my rear driveshaft balanced and new joints installed, no affect... the rear shaft was significantly out of balance.

If you think about it, 1 degree of change can happen as the suspension flexes.

I removed the front driveshaft, and the vibrations in mine went away. Installed Dynatrac hubs, and it cured it completely (even with the hubs engaged).

I think there are several things that cause the same vibration... the reason it was never really "fixed" in these early trucks. Make sure they check that harmonic balancer to make sure it hasn't slipped.

Good luck, I hope your experiment cures it.

 

[rscurtis]

I have a friend on LI who recently installed the 1-piece aluminum shaft, it was fine up to 65 MPH, then it vibrated to the point he was afraid of breaking something. He had it checked by a DS shop on a computerized balancer, they said it was within a couple of grams. Then, he found someone with an older style high speed balancer that could run it a cruising speed, and it was significantly out of balance. They added a couple of weights that have almost cured it. The truck has the DT kit so it's not the front driveline.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I have a friend on LI who recently installed the 1-piece aluminum shaft, it was fine up to 65 MPH, then it vibrated to the point he was afraid of breaking something. He had it checked by a DS shop on a computerized balancer, they said it was within a couple of grams. Then, he found someone with an older style high speed balancer that could run it a cruising speed, and it was significantly out of balance. They added a couple of weights that have almost cured it. The truck has the DT kit so it's not the front driveline.

In other words we need good dynamic balance and proper driveline angles. This isn't rocket science for driveshafts. There is no reason why our trucks are any different.

 

[rashwor]

When I had the issue on my '05, replacing the u-joints in the rear drive shaft solved my problem. So far, so good.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I did get the work done last fall. The shaft was completely disassembled... the end yokes were cut off and re-welded straight. He said they were crooked. He also removed the harmonic balancer. He said they can cause more headaches.



As you can see in this video of my driveshaft, the balancer was not looking good. I had the rear up on blocks and the truck in drive.



2004 Dodge 2500 QC SB Driveshaft wobble vibration - YouTube



Here is the finished shaft. .



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Great improvement. I do have a very mild vibe still at 70-80 mph but it seems to be going away. I may need to have a look at the front shaft next.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Good post Hoot, I can't believe how bad that balancer is. Do you think it slipped somehow or was it just made crappy?
Also, is the new shaft steel or aluminum?

 

[Yo Hoot]

Good post Hoot, I can't believe how bad that balancer is. Do you think it slipped somehow or was it just made crappy?
Also, is the new shaft steel or aluminum?

Part of the problem was a bad u-joint that wobbled some too. It's not a new shaft. He rebuilt the old one. Cut off the balancer and cut the yokes off of the ends and re-welded them back onto the tube. It's steel.

 

[George Cameron]

I wonder if a Balance Master driveshaft balancer would help? Are these any good?



Balance Masters: Driveshafts

 

[Yo Hoot]

I wonder if a Balance Master driveshaft balancer would help? Are these any good?



Balance Masters: Driveshafts

I don't know.

 

[bsnemt]

So, from 30-35mph & 60-65mph my driverside rear corner area of the tail gate and bedbox vibrates. I also can appreciate the vibration, not in the steering wheel, but just feel it, kinda in the seat and everyplace else but the steering wheel. I rotated the POS goodyears and no change...

I pulled my rear driveshaft this wkend hopping to find a frozen u joint. Came up neg-a-tori! 64,000 mi and the joints are smooth. I actually dont know how to take it, I was hopping it would be a u joint, have replacement spicers ready to go, but the voices in my head say leave well enough alone. I know (from reading this and other posts and a buddies truck) that the u joints on these rigs are troublesome, but somehow not having a bad joint I dont feel lucky. Actually, I feel a little left out

Anyway I hope its not a new unseen hurdle.
So, now I'm gonna remove the front shaft (I will report the findings) and maybe perhaps I will be installing the SpynTec hubs, DynaTrac BJs and new front axle u joints sooner then planned...

Here are some questions and thoughts:

Could this vibration or anyones driving vibrations be from a bad leafspring and or shock?

I too have the stock driveshaft harmonic balancer, is it bad? How would one tell if so?

Regarding the t. case output shaft, is there suppose to be visible trans fluid on the shaft and also on the driveshaft yoke? Mine did...

Should I listen to the red horned man on my left and replace both rear driveshaft u joints anyway?

Thanks!

Yo Hoot how's the new rebuilt, harmonic balancer less, shaft holding up?
Very good video! Makes me wonder if mine is doing the same thing...

O and sorry if I might be pirating this thread, there are so many threads with this topic and its such a common issue is it really pirating anymore or do we all just own the same truck...