Vibration update

[curatchko]

Well I know there's plenty of folks on here trying to figure out this vibration and we all seem to have slightly different variances of it.



I just got mine back with a new rear driveshaft. Dealer said the truck was 100 percent better than it was. Unfortunately, I think they must have driven another truck!!!!!!!!!



Bad vib is still there. So I'm done with the dealer and as I should have done in the first place, I'm gonna fix it myself.



Front driveshaft is next. I'll take it off, and 20 bucks at a local driveshaft shop will get it rebalanced and checked over. Meanwhile while it's off I'll find out how she drives.

 

[DPelletier]

Sounds like the way to go,

When I worked in the autoparts industry, we were always getting driveshaft yokes, slip joints etc, changed and we always sent the rebuilt shafts to Hayes Dana to rebalance. The process of elimination always works for me.

If your vibration goes away without the front shaft in place, that sure cuts down on the potential problem areas. Good luck and keep us posted.



Dave

 

[AFacey]

I'm actually dealing with 2 dealers on this issue. The one has a zone tech working directly on the issue. They are gonna try replacing the front shaft housing.

The other dealer claims that they removed the front drive shaft and the vibration was still present.



I expect they wil have an answer by weeks end.

 

[MMeier]

Front shaft housing?!?! WTH?

 

[AFacey]

They are trying everything they can on another truck w/ the same problem. I'm not letting them use mine as the guinea pig. When they figure it out, I'll take mine in.

 

[DPKetchum]

Maybe it was JUST my experience but when I worked on REAR wheel drive CADDYS with the BOOM/VIBRATION every drive-shaft I took to a drive line shop and had REBALANCED I was told was WAY out and after reinstalling them the VIBRATION would be 100% WORSE. Would order NEW shafts and 1 out of 3 would cure the problem. But rebalanced them NEVER fixed a one. I used several differant drive-line shops back then and EVEN sent a shaft from ONE to another and TOLD same thing with same experiance. NEW shafts would fix the problem but sometimes took several try's with different NEW shafts.

 

[curatchko]

Something is telling me that would be a concentricity issue from the shaft itself, to the u-joint hub that is welded to the tube... like it's running out.



If this doesn't fix it I'll have a new shaft made for the front by the same shop... I think it's still pretty cheap... . relatively anyhow.



I like the truck too much other than this darn vib... . The dealer actually fixed the wind noise and now everything is cool... . just this dumb vib.

 

[DPelletier]

DPKetchum,

We had ours balanced at Hayes Dana in Vancouver, B. C. Not everyone can properly balance a shaft. FWIW



Dave

 

[DPKetchum]

Over the years SAME shops made shafts for us such for customs and ones with auxiliary overdrive units etc. with no problems but darn if the factory Caddy shafts NEVER were better BUT worse then when I sent them out.

 

[jungledave]

I just got my 04 back form the dealer for the third time on the vibration problem, drone, rearview mirror vibrating annoying problem. They have replaced rear shaft. They have removed front shaft. I have removed front shaft and had it rebalanced [ balance shop told me that AAm still has the GM aproach and uses balance to make up for poorer quality machine work than DANA]. Theyahave adjusted pinion angle and reworked the brackets on exhaust. They even raised the RPM that it goes into overdrive, although he said they didn't touch the computor. It now doesn't goe into OD until 50 mph. All this and no real difference. The vibration in my truck is real bad. I don't care that it is a diesel. I spend most of my day in diesel trucks. My 02 had no vibrations at all. I have let them know over and over again that I am not going to have a truck with this problem for the next five years. I have been told that it ahs more to do with the new frame than anything and am beginning to believe. One service amnager told me to keep my tools in my box! I am convince that it is a balance issue within the engine and is tarveling through the stiffer fram and into the cab. I never noticed the exaust vibrating so badly on my o2 ar just the engine vibrating so much at idle.

 

[jungledave]

one more thought, I have removed the fornt shaft and driven it at least 50 miles and no difference. This also keeps the t-case chain from turning, partially eliminating the any question about the case ahving anything wiht the problem.

 

[curatchko]

Thanks for the wonderful news.

 

[AFacey]

Jungledave - Has your dealer been working with the zone tech?

 

[CATCRACKER]

the egines have bad harmonics. in most cases it has nothing to do with the driveline. i can sit in the driveway and rev mine and there it is. my dads 04 is the same way. my buddies 03 SO is the sameway. these trucks are to nice to get rid of for this problem. inline egines have bad vibrations when the spinning mass is as large and heavy as the 5. 9. i would bet that a redesign is in the works.

 

[curatchko]

It's not engine on mine. It's purely mph related. Not rpm related.



I have no vibrations coming from the engine. Nor did I from my 99...

 

[DPKetchum]

The NEW updated power-steering hose FIXED mine. That and the exhaust change made it a differ ant as night and day.

 

[salstrip]

vibrations

hi ,

just reading your posts , have you guys had your wheels re balanced and watched the guy do it , try it and dont let him put the wheels back on until they show 0/0 , and make sure they use stick on weight ,and clean under where they go on ,the chromed steel wheels can throw the old style hammer on weights of within the first mile, it cost me over $2000. 00 to chase a vibration , (front and rear drive shafts etc) with no luck , finally i jacked the truck up on each corner and put stands on the axles and ran the truck to the problem speed , the wheels were the only thing vibrating and you could tell which was the worst corner , so i got the wheels re balanced by another shop and they told me the wheels were way out . 175grams minimum per wheel . most wheel shops are reluctant to use this much weight with the stick on weights , so they put less than they should , thus we spend hours chasing problems they could / should have solved .

NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING !!!!!!

good luck

 

[jungledave]

Originally posted by AFacey

Jungledave - Has your dealer been working with the zone tech?

Yes. He hooked up some sensors and worked with the dealer tech. He has looked at twice with no luck. It feels very much like a loose u-joint that shows in the 60 to 80 mph area. I am convinced that it engine vibration and nothing else now so I don't know what they can do about that. I realize taht it is a diesel but once again my 02 had no vibrations at idle or at 70. You can put your hand on the exaust at idle and really feel it. It is not just normal 6 cyl vibration.

 

[MLee]

Bad vibssssssssss

has any one pulled the rear main drive shaft? at lest the larger portion. Has anyone done a run out on a Gage to check if the yokes are welded straight? i know this sound involved but if you have the equipment why not.

just my penny's worth.

Marv.

 

[Steve M]

My first rear driveshaft on my 4X2 was so far out of round you could see it flopping with the rear axle on stands and the truck idling in drive. After a shouting match in the service area, the service manager (no longer employed there) agreed to swap it with another truck. The new used one isn't perfect but, it's 90%~ better than the first one in my humble estimation of the perceived vibration intensity.

The engine in my truck vibrates more than I would like. But my previous 95, 98, and '01. 5 also vibrated at 2100rpm. This one vibrates bad at 2700rpm on the road or sitting still in Park. I've even toyed with the idea of a 2500 Hemi to get away from the annoying vibration. I wouldn't even consider a Ford or GM diesel.