Trouble w/my 2003 Dodge Ram Dually Rear-end?????

[KennethCrosby]

I have a dodge truck (2003, turbo diesel 24v HO, 4. 10 Gears, 4x4).



This is my problem, I have had the U-joint changed out about 5 times now, and after 23k miles the back end is shaking again when i slow down between 20-5 mph and then it stops. I checked the bolts which holds the drive-shaft in place and they are all tight. I truely believe the U-joint is defective.



Does anyone have a better suggestion on how to fix this problem for good, and to stop the leak of hyd. oil from the rear-end. I am tired of Landmark Dodge telling me one thing and I still have the same problem as before.





Please Help!!!!







I just looked in the service manuals, I've purchased, and it says that i could be worn/out of balance tires. My tires are to the point where there is no tread on them and i am in the process of having them replaced. I have looked under my truck and everything seems to be in place, so what else could it be? :--)



All of this started about a week ago.

 

[Hoefler]

If you are getting a shaking of the truck, it most likely the tires. A u-joint or drive shaft will not shake the truck. The rear end can, but you would have oil and obvious damage. You probably have a flat or a bad belt.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

I have a dodge truck (2003, turbo diesel 24v HO, 4. 10 Gears, 4x4).



This is my problem, I have had the U-joint changed out about 5 times now, and after 23k miles the back end is shaking again when i slow down between 20-5 mph and then it stops. I checked the bolts which holds the drive-shaft in place and they are all tight. I truely believe the U-joint is defective.



Does anyone have a better suggestion on how to fix this problem for good, and to stop the leak of hyd. oil from the rear-end. I am tired of Landmark Dodge telling me one thing and I still have the same problem as before.





Please Help!!!!







I just looked in the service manuals, I've purchased, and it says that i could be worn/out of balance tires. My tires are to the point where there is no tread on them and i am in the process of having them replaced. I have looked under my truck and everything seems to be in place, so what else could it be? :--)



All of this started about a week ago.

How many miles do you have total on this truck? You could have lost your balance on the rear drive shaft.

 

[JApol]

With the amount of u-joints you have put it I would 2nd the shaft balance. I had a set of u-joints go out in less than 20K. I had the shaft balanced and the new u-joints have been in for close to 40K. If you have a hiway speed vibration also I would get the shaft balanced.



with the low speed vibration that does sound like a tire going bad.

 

[BDaugherty]

If you're looking for a shop to fix it for you, try Big Moe's in Austell, GA.

Home

 

[Missouri Mule]

Usually if a drive shaft is out of balance it will vibrate at all speeds. You can look at the drive shaft and be able to tell if any of the weights fell off.



If tires are bald you could definitely could have problems with them being bad and causing problems.



Have you checked back rotors and back brakes?



If Diff fluid is leaking out of the axle tube a shop should be able to order a seal that will fit the axle better ( not sure if that is what it does but my mechanic ordered a different seal that had more rubber on it and it hasn't leaked since),

 

[KennethCrosby]

Thank You everyone,



I talked to a diesel mechanic, that lives up the road from me, and we looked under my truck. Knowing that I have to get my rotors changed (due to bad wear... . you can see the bad wear in the rotors), that is causing the vibrations in the back-end. The Diff. Seal is leaking fluid out the axle tube also, so that is going to be fixed tomorrow. Missouri Mule, I truly thank you, because u hit it all on the head, and my tires will be changed out @ 2pm also. I hope to never allow Landmark Dodge to work on my truck ever again with there $120-$148 oil changes.

 

[KennethCrosby]

Next, I am looking into investing into a twin-turbo set-up for my truck. So, can i get any good suggestions? As well as, fuel/water separator?

 

[KennethCrosby]

2003 dodge diesel 3500 4x4 cummins stock turbo news flash!!!!!

:--)******LATEST NEWS FLASH:*******:--)



MY DODGE RAM 3500 PULLED A 2009 TWIN TURBO FORD F350 OUT OF A DITCH ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE FOR BURIED DOWN TO ITS AXLES. A CHAIN WAS HOOKED TO THE FRAME OF THE ford, AND WITH MY 4X4 BARELY PULLING (NO MORE THE 2500 RPMS) PULLED THIS TRUCK OUT WITH EASE!!!!!!!! :-laf I HAVE 7 WITNESSES TO VERIFY THIS STORY. PIC OF MY SUPERVISOR SHOWING THE DEPTH OF THE HOLE WHERE THIS FORD WAS STUCK!!!!!!!!

 

[JRMora]

Kenneth,



My truck started doing the same thing last week. Got real bad in a hurry. In my case the center carrier bearing on the driveshaft support failed. My u-joints were OK. They installed a new center support bearing. BTW, they are on national backorder but my dealer found one in CA and bought it from them.



Carl Gregory does my work here in the Columbus area. I have no experience with any other dealers here in GA. They did my blend door and recirc door repair last summer. They charged around $680 and put everything back nice and tight. Oh, lordy, it's nice to have a defroster again (it had been broken for 2 years)



Juan

 

[jelag]

Ken

I'm confused... you wrote -- """Knowing that I have to get my rotors changed (due to bad wear... . you can see the bad wear in the rotors), that is causing the vibrations in the back-end. """

If your saying that the bad wear on the rotors is causing the vibration ONLY when the brakes are on... in other words the scrapping of metal to metal, I'll buy part of that... . but if your saying that you have a vibration ALL the time and its caused by the bad rotors. . I won't buy that... . bad rotors won't cause a vibration when the brakes aren't applied...

 

[KennethCrosby]

Thanks, I knew what it was, but kept wanting it to be something else, but when i took it into the dealership, and told them what was wrong, and my assessment, then they took my truck to the back parking lot and never brought it inside. But listen to what i said it was, and ordered a entire assembly driveshaft and all to fix my truck. The sad thing is, this is the 3rd - 5th driveshaft changed out. So i requested to get my old one from the dealer and have it rebuilt else where.

 

[KennethCrosby]

You are right Jim,



It wasn't the rotors, its the driveshaft. I changed my rotors and brakes in the back anyhow, and My truck almost stops on a dime now. but i am not happy about the manufactures not having recalls on the driveshafts, and i know if they did, it would cost them millions, each year.

 

[Bob4x4]

It sounds like the truck is not maintained very well. The rotors are bad,the tires are bad... ... ... . a lil maintenence will make the hiway safer for all of us

 

[KennethCrosby]

LOLOL, Bob



I had to wait til christmas passed, too keep the wife from barking :-{} at me about money. U know the drill. :-laf:{

 

[KennethCrosby]

Could anyone share there twin turbo experience with me?

 

[MMeier]

Have you considered going with the aluminum one piece driveshaft that some are upfitting to the older trucks ?

 

[KennethCrosby]

MMeier



With some of the things i do with this truck, I really think, I would Destroy the one piece driveshaft. I power-torque my truck, and can roast my tires in 2nd gear, sitting in place. Its been about 5 yrs since that last one, but I get happy sometimes too.

 

[KennethCrosby]

After 5 days of waiting for a entire new driveshaft to arrive, it has been discovered, the U-joint on the second driveshaft near the center bearing went bad. I kept my old driveshaft, and plan to have the entire driveshaft redone or modified.

 

[FDavid]

I had the exact same problem you describe with my 03 3500. Changed the u-joints only to have them fail. Took it to a different dealer and the tech immedietly diagnosed it as an out of balance driveshaft. Got a new driveshaft put on and no problems in 50k miles.