Vibration at highway speeds

[mrw1108]

Hello I am new to TDR



I own a 2008 Dodge RAM 2500 Diesel. There is a vibration throughout the truck. Vibration is most noticeable between 55-75 mph. When I push the clutch in vibration goes away. The following maintenance has been done; upper / lower ball joints replaced, both u-joints on rear drive shaft replaced. Dealership has checked the front inner/outer wheel bearings, checked fine. Front ujoints are fine. Brakes and rotors are ok. A new set of tires were put on for road testing, problem still the same. The dealer wants to chrge 100. 00 dollars per to continue trouble shooting but can not give me an estimate of how long the diagnostic process may take. I am out of ideas and very frustrated with this problem. Looking for some ideas.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Well you shouldn't have to pay for diagnostics when your truck is under warranty (I assume). Although I know Dodge doesn't pay them either. I would tell them thats not acceptable and would they like to buy it back ~ does your state have a Lemon law? You could also try another dealer. Maybe get a district rep or have them call Star but your shouldn't have to pay.

 

[mrw1108]

Thanks for the reply. The truck is out of warranty (3-36). Only the motor warranty left. Already used that to have the Turbo Charger replaced. I've owned several Dodge trucks and never experienced the kind of mechanic issues that I am having to deal with now. VA does have a lemon law but you have to bring the vehicle back 4 or 5 times for the same issue. The dealer advises that they can't trouble shoot anymore unless I authorize them. I can't afford them to trouble shoot this problem for several days, I would be looking at a 1,500. 00 dollar diagnostic bill with no guarantee they will isolate the problem.

 

[TCDiesel]

If you apply the clutch and it goes away its drive-line related,Trans,TC,DL,DA. have you remove the front drive shaft to eliminate the front drive axle and drive train.

 

[GCroyle]

Can you create the vibration with the truck stationary, engine running? Select N increase RPM, feel for vibration, change RPM range, push clutch pedal to floor, engage (bring up) clutch pedal, repeat several times, does any of this affect, cause or control the vibration?



The DMF in the OE clutch system has created engine vibration all by itself.

 

[mrw1108]

Yes the front drive shaft has been removed, no change

 

[HBarlow]

None of this is a warranty or lemon law issue. Except for the engine. which has a warranty, it is his truck and he is responsible for it. Some folks need to learn about accepting personal responsibility instead of always looking for someone else to blame or to pay for his own mistakes and misfortunes.

Vibration at speed is caused by rotating parts. The fact that disengaging the clutch reduces it makes me suspect the lousy dual mass flywheel/clutch assembly. The truck's odometer reading coincides with the DMF failure mileage range reported here by others. I agree with Gary Croyles above. I woul focus on the flywheel clutch assembly.

 

[JFought]

i agree with HBarlow

 

[TCDiesel]

None of this is a warranty or lemon law issue. Except for the engine. which has a warranty, it is his truck and he is responsible for it. Some folks need to learn about accepting personal responsibility instead of always looking for someone else to blame or to pay for his own mistakes and misfortunes.







Knock this Crap OFF... This Man has been trying to repair this issue on his OWN long before He Posted he... . IS this the way YOU welcome stranger(s) to your Home... that are expressing Kindness? Come ON HB your a better Man then that... HB their is always room for being Negative. . the kindness Door Only stays Open for a short Period... HB Yep. . We live in the entitlement Generation, But Thats NOT Always the case. . When Someone takes advantage of your Kindness then LET IT RIP. . but how about expressing kindness 1st to give someone the opportunity to return it.

 

[mrw1108]

Yes I have tried that as well, the problem appears to only happen when driving. Very noticeable between 55-70 mph.

 

[mrw1108]

In response to "HBarlow's" comment, I have already spent almost 2, 500. 00 dollars in repairs bills trying to resolve this issue. The issue is not paying the dealer to diagnose the problem. The issue is they want an open check to diagnose the problem, I can't afford to have the dealership trouble shoot this problem for a week, I would be looking at a 4,000. 00 dollar diagnostic fee with no guarantee that the problem will be correctly dianosed. So this is why I am reaching out to all the TDR folks for help. I love my Dodge but I am seriously considering selling this truck. I have no idea what the problem is.

 

[mrw1108]

How can I better isolate the Clutch and flywheel as being the problem?

 

[TCDiesel]

When Moving Above 30MPH push the clutch IN (Engage) is the vib worse under load. . Report back. .

 

[HBarlow]

None of this is a warranty or lemon law issue. Except for the engine. which has a warranty, it is his truck and he is responsible for it. Some folks need to learn about accepting personal responsibility instead of always looking for someone else to blame or to pay for his own mistakes and misfortunes.



Knock this Crap OFF... This Man has been trying to repair this issue on his OWN long before He Posted he... . IS this the way YOU welcome stranger(s) to your Home... that are expressing Kindness? Come ON HB your a better Man then that... HB their is always room for being Negative. . the kindness Door Only stays Open for a short Period... HB Yep. . We live in the entitlement Generation, But Thats NOT Always the case. . When Someone takes advantage of your Kindness then LET IT RIP. . but how about expressing kindness 1st to give someone the opportunity to return it.

How about inserting your opinions in a dark and private place of your own choosing?

My comment was partially addressed to the poster who immediately advised him to demand the dealer troubleshoot and repair the truck under an expired warranty and initiate buy back procedures under lemon laws. That is ridiculous advice.

You may live in an entitlement generation and think that attitude is acceptable, I do not.

 

[TCDiesel]

How about inserting your opinions in a dark and private place of your own choosing?



My comment was partially addressed to the poster who immediately advised him to demand the dealer troubleshoot and repair the truck under an expired warranty and initiate buy back procedures under lemon laws. That is ridiculous advice.



You may live in an entitlement generation and think that attitude is acceptable, I do not.

Good Lets take this to the Next Level. . ONLY open to all. . the heck with PMs You express yourself Publicly and YOU expect Private counsel.



He already spent $1000 on repairs... You did NOT ask what the cost form the *******'s were.

HB... Why is it when the Dealers cannot Diagnose correctly they Still think they are ENTITLE TO BE PAID. You only see the small HB view. . I had 1 customer get RIP off by one of the local Dealers here for $2k on bad ground and poor batteries. . that ruined the ALT... they replaced the ECM and 1 cable.

After T&C corrected the Problem re-installed the factory ECM, New cable,ATL,Batteries correct fix,He returned to the Dealer for refund they said SOL... and BC he had added the plow (Plow was installed before the 1 st repair) No refund allowed BS, this happens MONTHLY.

 

[wcjp]

Have you checked the rear driveline Ujoints? When my rear middle Ujoint went bad it still felt tight while on the truck. Finally isolated it with an infrared heat gun. The middle Ujoint was 10deg warmer than the other two. After removing the rear driveline the problem was obvious. The stock rear Ujoints are held in place with injected plastic. It will take some work for the driveline shop to remove them. The replacements are standard Ujoints held in place with clips.

 

[HBarlow]

Good Lets take this to the Next Level. . ONLY open to all. . the heck with PMs You express yourself Publicly and YOU expect Private counsel.

He already spent $1000 on repairs... You did NOT ask what the cost form the *******'s were.
HB... Why is it when the Dealers cannot Diagnose correctly they Still think they are ENTITLE TO BE PAID. You only see the small HB view. . I had 1 customer get RIP off by one of the local Dealers here for $2k on bad ground and poor batteries. . that ruined the ALT... they replaced the ECM and 1 cable.
After T&C corrected the Problem re-installed the factory ECM, New cable,ATL,Batteries correct fix,He returned to the Dealer for refund they said SOL... and BC he had added the plow (Plow was installed before the 1 st repair) No refund allowed BS, this happens MONTHLY.

Did you successfully complete elementary school? You appear unable to read and comprehend what I wrote and I have no clue what the gibberish above means.

 

[SWithrow]

Have you checked the rear driveline Ujoints?

I think he already had them replaced along with eliminating the front shaft as well.


Could it be the drive shaft might be out of balance?

 

[mwilson]

IMHO, A vibration is one of the hardest things to pin down for repair.



Doesn't matter if it is a pick-up or a big truck you can throw some serious money at the problem and still may not have a cure.



A lot of errant vibrations are found while doing some other completely unrelated repair, seen that many times.



If you are willing to keep answering our questions we will do our best to advise you, may take some time as a lot of people only jump on here once a week or so.



With that being said,

Have you had the truck since new??



If so, at what mileage did you notice this pesky vibration??



When the vibration started had you changed anything parts on the truck, got a brake job done, anything that involved someone putting a wrench to it??



Do you carry a load, tow, etc. or is it a pavement princess like my '06.



If you do tow or load it does the vibration change??



Give us a chance to help, some of these dealers are not as good as they should be.

I am lucky that I have the skills, tools and if needed a place to dismantle my vehicles. I hate to see people spend thousands of dollars for something that could have been fixed for less than half that amount.



Let me add this,

I have long felt that anyone that presents themselves as being capable to lay a wrench on my vehicles better own one and maintain it properly themselves.

If not, how can they possibly be qualified to repair or understand my concerns??

These trucks are not Honda Civics with a fart can exhaust and we don't drown out the sound of our own vehicles with a 500 watt stereo thumping out Eminem.

How could the Civic driving tech possibly understand our concerns??? He is paid flat rate to throw ball joints or whatever in quick enough to beat flat rate,

touching or test driving your truck in an attempt to repair or even understand what he is dealing with is going to be waaaay over his head.



If you are scoping out candidates for repair look out in the employee parking lot and find a similar truck, park close to it and wait for the owner to punch out at the end of the day.



If he comes over to your truck to look at it, makes any kind of statement such as "Nice Truck, I want a Cummins in my next Ram!!", or "I love these trucks!!" or even better "What have you done to it so far??" that is the guy you want tackling your issues.



He will have a high level of interest in your wagon.



JMHO.



Mike.

 

[Prairie Dog]

None of this is a warranty or lemon law issue. Except for the engine. which has a warranty, it is his truck and he is responsible for it. Some folks need to learn about accepting personal responsibility instead of always looking for someone else to blame or to pay for his own mistakes and misfortunes.

I don't see where anybody suggested the OP doesn't want to be responsible for anything. I (wrongfully) assumed he still had a warranty ~ thats all. It sounds to me like the OP is willing to pay for a fix but he just want's a little help moving in the rite direction ~ like so many who post here.