Vibration 65 to 75mph on 04

[KNaugle]

Looking for advice on a vibration between 65 & 75 MPH. Quad cab, short bed, H. O. , Auto, and 3:73 ratio. Drove the truck prior to purchase but did not drive a highway speeds for any length of time, felt and heard the vibration before purchase. Tires on the truck were cupped out and thought that new tires would resolve the problem, wrong. Dealer tells me that vibration can not be fixed. Vibration is a low frequency resonating from the rear of the truck under slight load. It is felt in your feet, steering wheel, and seat of your pants, and the worst part is the sound. I checked drive line angles, they are fine. Replaced rear U-joint due to rough spot, made no change. Removed front drive shaft and skid plate, found rough joint in the front. Have not reinstalled front drive line yet. Read a old TDR about the Big-V and some of the fixes they had found to help. One was trans dipstick touching heater hose, mine was not touching hose but was touching insulation on fire wall which I moved away. Currently driving with out front drive shaft and skid plate. Vibration has changed for the better, it is still their but not as bad. Looking for any info for the cause and or corrective measures.



Forgive me if I have posted to incorrect area, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Kirk

 

[jungledave]

I believe you have what is commonly referred to as the drone vibration. I had an 04 that was bought back because of this; your truck wouldn't happen to be a patriot blue laramie HO 4x4 shortie quad? My dealer tried everything including some stupid exhaust bracket. I had and tried everything I could think of including ballancing the shafts and running without the front shaft. I also had the dealer tell me that they have a shorter t-case mount that slightly lowers t-case to chang angle that is supposed to work but I still have never seen one. Some of the other guys say something about indexing the rear shaft to didderent locations on the t-case splines. I made the mistake of buying my 04 new without taking it out on the highway too. My 05 has very little vibration compared to the 04. You are right about the forrum this should be in the other non engine forum.

 

[Coolslice]

It seems like a lot of guys are having success by replacing the driveshaft. I just had mine replaced under warranty this past week and it seems to have fixed the 70 mph vibe from what I can tell so far.



Just taking a wild guess here but I know that DC has changed vendors on the driveshaft at least once since 04. 5. Seems the only logical reason to do that is because they had found that part to be a problem. I was told that DC is known for denying some problems until the warranty period expires for that year and then they will issue a TSB so the customer will need to pick up the cost if they choose to have it fixed... Thats my theory on this issue because they have had thousands of complaints and many buybacks and they still seem to be playing stupid.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

2004 vibes!!!

I sure am glad that I just bought a 2004. Oo.

I did take it out on the highway at 70-75 mph before writing the check and did not feel any vibes. My son JR2 recommended doing it and he was with me.

 

[steved]

Driveshafts have nothing to do with some of these... I replaced the front shaft in mine and balanced the rear shaft to no avail. Here is the current list that I remember the causes being: bent axle shafts, bad driveshafts, bad tcase, bad front axle assembly, misaligned drivetrain, harmonic resonation between engine and drivetrain, etc.



As best as I can diagnose, mine is either the tcase or a driveshaft mounting flange (although the driveshaft spins true on either end using a dial indicator). And considering the vibration got "better" after a tcase fluid change, well, that would only affect the tcase.



My fix was the dynatrac hub kit, but that might not be for everyone. I also had the rear shaft balanced... it was out quite a bit too.



Also, might want to pull driveshafts and simply check for a bad joint... I have replaced EVERY ujoint in this truck at under 75k. They seize up on a one or two pins.



steved

 

[OHale]

Driveshafts have nothing to do with some of these... I replaced the front shaft in mine and balanced the rear shaft to no avail. Here is the current list that I remember the causes being: bent axle shafts, bad driveshafts, bad tcase, bad front axle assembly, misaligned drivetrain, harmonic resonation between engine and drivetrain, etc.



As best as I can diagnose, mine is either the tcase or a driveshaft mounting flange (although the driveshaft spins true on either end using a dial indicator). And considering the vibration got "better" after a tcase fluid change, well, that would only affect the tcase.



My fix was the dynatrac hub kit, but that might not be for everyone. I also had the rear shaft balanced... it was out quite a bit too.



Also, might want to pull driveshafts and simply check for a bad joint... I have replaced EVERY ujoint in this truck at under 75k. They seize up on a one or two pins.



steved

Steve,



Not to hijack the thread, but did the dynatrac kit solve all of your vibration issues (including tcase)? With warm weather coming on I am going to take a last shot at getting my vibe fixed under warranty. I looked at the Dynatrac website: where did you buy your kit?



Thanks,

O.

 

[steved]

Steve,



Not to hijack the thread, but did the dynatrac kit solve all of your vibration issues (including tcase)? With warm weather coming on I am going to take a last shot at getting my vibe fixed under warranty. I looked at the Dynatrac website: where did you buy your kit?



Thanks,

O.

I got in on a group buy last month for the no-spin or free-spin kit dynatrac offers.



Yes, truck is absolutely smooth now... all vibrations are gone... I'm smooth out to my max speed of 98mph.



And what I meant by it not being for everyone... if the $1800 pricetag doesn't give you sticker shock, then you might not like getting in/out of the truck to lock the hubs in to use 4wd.



steved

 

[OHale]

Thanks for the great info Steve!



O.

 

[KNaugle]

Thanks for your input on the problem. I will concentrate the rear drive line 1st and rear end. I crawled under a 06 and the drive line style has been changed, wonder why? Buy the way it is not Patriot Blue. I will post up dates as I get them.

 

[MHirst]

I have been through all those listed including Hell and Back finally after ready a post from the TDR Ranch Dressing on the value of loosing the trans and motor mounts, I did this then drove aroung a few miles accelarating and hard brakinig the I just tightend all the bolts, I cant explain it but this solved my vibes the Dealer was dismayed they still wont agree to the fact that these trucks have some Vib issues, it really makes the fun of buying a new truck not much fun, I love the Cumming but I will have to think twice about buying from DC again.

 

[jungledave]

I actually put my 04 on jack stands and locked it in and looked at the front and rear shafts with it in four low. I put the emergency brake on lightly so it really slowed the shaft speed. I then made a short movie on how much the rear shaft moved up and down like it was off center and then took my camcorder to the dealer. They replaced the shaft with one just like it??? I talked to a driveline shop and he told me that since dodge dropped DANA and went to AAm axle that AAM has a GM aproach to drive shafts. Makes sence since AAM kinda came from GM. What he meant is that the AAM precision is not near as good as Dana and they make up for it by using really large ballance weights. I also know that AAm doesn't make the shafts, it is a different vendor but looks like their design. I would have the shafts ballanced with of without the dealers blessing. I had the front shaft on mine ballanced and they replaced the rear with one just like it. With no luck and after about 8 months of this crap they bought it back. I am still convinced it had something to do with the rear shaft or the rear pinion angle. I also don't like the harmaonic balancer to be on the front of the rear shaft that has play since the shaft goes into a bushing in the t-case. On GMs the ballancer is on the rear end pinion and cannot have any play. So who knows I am just happy that my 05 has very little vibration.

 

[Wdoucet]

Had an 05, dealer changed everything but the engine, ended up as BuyBack. Got a vibration free 06 (manual).

 

[DMcAnulty]

Take the front support bracket off that runs from the first bracket down the exhaust pipe from the engine to where it bolts to the transmission belly. That significantly reduced the vibration on my 2005.

 

[JGrosso]

My '05 had the same problem. Dealer did the driveshafts, tires, etc.

Finally replaced the rear axle and it fixed the problem.

 

[JamesHyatt]

I lived with the vibration above 68mph for 2 years. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the complete rear drive line. Seems to have eliminated the problem. The last 200 mile trip towing at 70 was smoooth!

 

[steved]

As I stated, pulled the front driveshaft and mone went away... upgraded to the dynatrac kit and still no vibrations... smooth as glass...



What this sounds like to me is that there are several conditions causing the vibrations, and it is hit and miss finding a cure.



steved