Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) vibration turned to shudder after carnage...

[wcjp]

Is the axle still bolted to the leaf springs? The centering pin can break if the axle isn't torqued correctly.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by Sled Puller



2002 Thunder in Muncie 8000# Open Sled Pull Champion.



I beat Lorretta Mitchell, Scheids demon, Black Dog, Powersnorter, Dave Gresh, Bill Kondolay, a slew of Indianians, and best off all, a Texan, and DDs pride, Jim Fuller!!!



You better believe it was worth it!!!Oo.

I was gonna tell you to ask Dave Mitchell what the problem might be, but I guess you couldn't "catch" him. :-laf

 

[Briar Hopper]

Had something like that happen to me. Gave up, took it to Dave. He drove it, crawled under it, etc. Finally found a U-joint that was BARELY gone, in other words, it still looked/felt okay, unless you shook the driveshaft just so !!!!!! Take the load off the back wheels, leave it in neutral, look at the dern yokes REALLY close. They're the first things to bite the big weenie, them and the U-joints... . a small twist, barely seen, would do it. Carrier joint okay?

I wish you didn't live so far away. I'd be over to see what I could do.

BTW, Dave found what 4 highly experienced mechanics couldn't, in fixing my truck. 4 good mechanics, plus a dumba$$ at the local tire store .

 

[Sled Puller]

Going to Mitchell's is a bad idea.



Everytime I leave there, I have 200 more horsepower, and less cash, more broken parts!

 

[Sled Puller]

Drove it without the axles last night, I'm pretty sure vibration is gone, I'm trying too hard to notice it now.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I'm assuming you made up some nifty hub covers so all that precious AMS-OIL didn't come out.....



It's weird that your axles seem like they are the problem... . usually they just snap like twigs... . but it sounds like you have twisted them a tad!



Matt

 

[SlyBones]

Make sure the carrier is in straight, and the carrier bearings are good. If the carrier bearings are trashed, its possible for it to be offset like Diesel Freak mentioned. This could cause some binding on the axle and vibration or shake that is vehicle speed related and not related to engine or drivetrain speed.

 

[Extreme1]

Time for some traction bars! A set of "slapper" types will help the wheel hop when going forward.



I don't think an axle would do it, they just keep bending until they break.



It COULD be something in the t-case or in the back half of the trans (sorry, not what you wanted to hear).



Put it up on jack stands, have someone run it at 29 to see if it vibrates. If not, try dragging the parking brake and repeat.



It could be a cracked weld on the housing, a cracked carrier, a slightly twisted driveshaft, cracked ring gear, etc.



You really need to stop the hop, the torque spikes when that happens are pretty amazing.



Good job at Muncie, by the way. I had momentary thoughts about trying it until I saw all the carnage. Cool stuff. You guys make snowmobile racing look affordable and undemanding time-wise!

 

[Sled Puller]

Oh yea, duct tape was my nifty cover.



I wonder how to get Amsoil 140 off wheels, paint, fender wells, mud flaps bumper... .....





I dropped it at the driveshaft?Diff shop last night.



He had a TST clutch there melted down from a non smoking first gen.

traction bars are in the works.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Duct tape is good... . 100mph tape is better!!



So... from what I gather, we now have to refer to our trucks as being smokers or non-smokers? I'm gonna tell my insurance company that it does NOT smoke... . I wouldn't want them to increase my rates or deny coverage!



Matt

 

[Sled Puller]

UPDATE:



1 axle twisted, one fatiged, bearings, "sprung".



Had a GOOD shop replace all the bearings, axles, and one spider gear.





Surprise! Vibration is still there!!!



It could be like Briar said, they are missing a yoke being slightly twisted, or I have a tailshaft bent.





I'm driving it now, if it is a tailshaft, it should take out the seal, I would think.