Vibration - freeway speed

[MT12V]

Orig owner, 96 2500 2nd gen diesel. Have significant vibration ~62 mph up, I "suspect" started with Xfr case replacement. Have replaced: fr drive shaft, main driveshaft u-joints rebuilt, carrier bearing replaced, all 4 tires re-balanced. All suggestions appreciated.

 

[Stox5225]

Wheel bearings could be on their way out. Any movement in the steering wheel when it does this?

 

[MT12V]

Wheel bearings could be on their way out. Any movement in the steering wheel when it does this?

Thx for reply,, no movement in steering wheel I can detect as abnormal..

 

[GrantP]

Any slop in the slip yoke and tailhousing bushing? Was the front driveshaft replaced at the same time as the t-case? If so you may try removing it to see if the vibration goes away. It could be a phasing issue on the rear driveshaft too if the shaft didn't go back exactly as it came off when the ujoints were replaced.

 

[MT12V]

Any slop in the slip yoke and tailhousing bushing? Was the front driveshaft replaced at the same time as the t-case? If so you may try removing it to see if the vibration goes away. It could be a phasing issue on the rear driveshaft too if the shaft didn't go back exactly as it came off when the ujoints were replaced.

Thx for the suggestion,,
I'll have my shop ck slip yoke & tailhousing bushing,, fr driveshaft was 1st repaired and then replaced after the t-case was replaced. ??
In interim when fr driveshaft was being obtained for replacement, fr shaft was "absent" and vibration continued.

 

[GrantP]

I would focus on the rear DS then, it may have been reassembled out of phase. Ask the shop if they marked the DS before disassembly, if not the easiest fix may just be to get it rebalanced. I'm assuming the U-joints were replaced at the time of transfer case replacement.

 

[KATOOM]

Tires/wheels will not vibrate the same as driveline. Tire/wheel vibrations "shake". Driveline/engine/transmission vibrations hum.
You should be able to isolate the vibration too by selecting different gears, going into neutral, coasting, under power/off power, ect...
And as GrantP mentioned, if a driveshaft was assembled out of time then it will vibrate.

 

[MT12V]

I would focus on the rear DS then, it may have been reassembled out of phase. Ask the shop if they marked the DS before disassembly, if not the easiest fix may just be to get it rebalanced. I'm assuming the U-joints were replaced at the time of transfer case replacement.

Thx for the suggestion,, I'll have the DS rebalanced. Is there a possibility the T case could be "out of balance?" Also, re the "tailhousing" bushing, AND fact the truck has +300K miles, would getting a Dodge DS be worth considering?

 

[GrantP]

I wouldn't bother going back to the dealer for a driveshaft, if you could even get one for a '96. There are plenty of good driveshaft companies out there, Tom Woods and Six States come to mind but there are lots more. If you can find a local shop that can balance it I would try that first.

I have my doubts that there's really anything wrong with the transfer case but it's worth asking the question, why was it replaced? If it was a rebuilt case the tailhousing bushing should be brand new along with all of the bearings. Maybe the yoke is worn, you'll just have to check it. To answer your question though, no I don't see anyway a transfer case could be out of balance. Bad bearing causing some rumbling maybe...but that's a stretch.

 

[MT12V]

I wouldn't bother going back to the dealer for a driveshaft, if you could even get one for a '96. There are plenty of good driveshaft companies out there, Tom Woods and Six States come to mind but there are lots more. If you can find a local shop that can balance it I would try that first.

I have my doubts that there's really anything wrong with the transfer case but it's worth asking the question, why was it replaced? If it was a rebuilt case the tailhousing bushing should be brand new along with all of the bearings. Maybe the yoke is worn, you'll just have to check it. To answer your question though, no I don't see anyway a transfer case could be out of balance. Bad bearing causing some rumbling maybe...but that's a stretch.

Thanks very much, GrantP. I'll pursue getting the DS balanced. BTW, I do see a leak of fluid, perhaps TCase & seal twixt it and transmission,, will be in shop tomorrow.

 

[Ozymandias]

Tires/wheels will not vibrate the same as driveline. Tire/wheel vibrations "shake". Driveline/engine/transmission vibrations hum.
You should be able to isolate the vibration too by selecting different gears, going into neutral, coasting, under power/off power, ect...
And as GrantP mentioned, if a driveshaft was assembled out of time then it will vibrate.

Exactly, Driveline pre-differential are an average 4 times faster, higher frequency, were Tire/Rim related Vibs are slower but feel "heavier".

Also an old rusted worn brake disc/drum can make a real bad vibration. they are balanced to when new.

 

[MT12V]

Thanks very much, GrantP. I'll pursue getting the DS balanced. BTW, I do see a leak of fluid, perhaps TCase & seal twixt it and transmission,, will be in shop tomorrow.

 

[MT12V]

The driveshaft has been balanced, "stub" replaced along with carrier bearing. Vibration continues. Another shop put the truck on a hoist, elevated the truck off the tires, ran it up to speed and concluded the front output shaft of the re-maned T Case had too much play, hence the vibration. Re-man shop gets the T Case next week to "check it out!" I want to have both seals (marriage seals?) replaced when the T case is re-installed. Does the torque converter need to be pulled to do the front seal ( I now have a trans fluid leak)? Is that a complex task? Thx to all for the suggestions.

 

[JR]

Just for clarification on the driveshaft, yours is a two piece correct? If so, simply balancing one won't correct an out of phase issue. They have to be balanced together. If I remember correctly the rear is keyed so that it can only go in two ways so it may have been as simple as removing the rear and reinstalling it 180* out (assuming it was indeed out of phase).

 

[MT12V]

Thx JR.
The entire DS was removed, repaired and re-balanced, and I "assume" re-installing it correctly.
Am I making the old "assume" mistake??

 

[MT12V]

Thx JR.
The entire DS was removed, repaired and re-balanced, and I "assume" re-installing it correctly.
Am I making the old "assume" mistake??

09/26/18 Just learned that the re-built TC installed in my truck at the outset of this problem has the ID of:
241DLD, 32.8151, 22062, 272 process... Possible this contributes to the problem,, is this a "light duty"
remand unit??

 

[JR]

The DLD is correct for 94 to I believe 97 or maybe 98. DHD was after the 24 valve .

 

[KATOOM]

Yes, the 241DHD wasnt an option until after 1998. But still and option because lots of 2nd gens came with the 241DLD. The easiest way to identify the DHD is they have a PTO cover whereas the DLD doesnt.
Here's a link which might help you out: http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/tranfer_case.htm

 

[GrantP]

The driveshaft has been balanced, "stub" replaced along with carrier bearing. Vibration continues. Another shop put the truck on a hoist, elevated the truck off the tires, ran it up to speed and concluded the front output shaft of the re-maned T Case had too much play, hence the vibration.

Hang on, you said you had the front driveshaft out for a while and it still had the vibration? If the driveshaft was out the front output shaft by itself isn't going to cause any noticeable vibration.

 

[MT12V]

The DLD is correct for 94 to I believe 97 or maybe 98. DHD was after the 24 valve .

I was looking at my Dodge Service manual (1996, 1500 - 3500), as my truck isn't avail for me to check to see if there is tag under the hood re what TC came with the vehicle. The manual is where I saw the notation "NV241 HD is used in 2500 and 3500 models with a V10 or diesel engine", pp 21-381. I wasn't aware of the DLD name till now.