VIOLENT shaking/vibration

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Folks- ( if this is redundant, I appologize my first attempt doesn't seem to have made it so I am trying again) Today while I was running some routine errands, I hit a slight rough spot in the road doing 55-60 mph and my truck started to shake and vibrate so bad I thought the engine/transmission would bust lose from their mounts. The only way I could get it to stop was to bring the truck to a complete stop. I inspected the undercarrige as best I could on the road, but did not notice anything wrong. It happened once more before I got home, this time I was doing abot 45-50. The truck has 77K miles on it and has recently had the shock tower recall installed. I called the dealer and asked if this could be a result of the shock tower recall mod they made and of course they never heard of anything like this. The vibration/shaking I am talking about is SEVERE, not like anything I have ever experienced in any vehicle. It also seemed undamped and increased rather than diminished as one would suspect. ANY BTDT I hate to be at the mercy of the dealer.

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1995 2500 Auto 4X4 Ext Cab, Sun Coast torque converter, Trans Go shift kit,Jacobs E brake,BD Auto Lok,Prime Lok fuel filter relocate, Boost/EGT and transmission fluid temp gauges, and Mag-Hytec transmission pan/rear end covers

 

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Did you inspect the attachment points of the shock absorbers? Sounds like they are no longer attached to the axle or tower! Can't think of any other source for such violent motion. Check for wheel balancing weights being removed also. You'll know by looking for marks where the weights were clipped to the rim. Gotta be something real basic. Get out and get under is my advice. Then find a new dealer. No dealer should have ever let you leave without a free courtesy inspection for the cause!!!!!
Please advise the outcome.
Ron


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'99 QC SLT 4X4, Forest Green, long box, camper/trailer pkg, 3. 55 axles, auto, CD/cassette, power seat, heated mirrors, HD xfer case, fog lights, K&N filter, stainless rocker trim, chrome Mopar fender well trim, Westin chrome side steps, Mopar bug blaster, FIA nose mitten, Ultra camper top, Bedrug bedliner, Poplock tailgate lock, Two meter Radioshack ham transceiver (license KC7MME), Britebox and soon to be Van Aakened. Proud member of the vast right wing conspiracy!
'98 Arctic Cat 300 4X4 ATV
'00 Honda Recon ATV
'99 Grand Cherokee
NRA Life member

 

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Your first post did go through and it has two replies to it.

Link to your old thread

 

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A friend had something similiar on his 3500. To correct the problem he took his truck to a reputable tire dealer and found 3 of the 6 tires to be out-of-round. That cured the problem for him so might give it a shot. Good Luck... .

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1997 3500 SLT, Ext cab, 5spd, TST #11, GV Aux Trans, BD exhaust, Kelderman Air Ride, 60 Gallon fuel tank, Clifford Security, Reese 20k 4way 5th wheel hitch, Boost/EGT gauges, K&N air filter, Rancho RS9000 shocks, Brush Guard, DZee full length running boards.

 

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Check your steering shock. If it's shot those are the symptoms you will get.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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Just a thought. My truck wound bounce and shimmy under certain speeds. When I would rebalance the tires, it would go away and then come back. Turns out the wheel weights were falling off the wheels. As mentioned in another recent post, make sure they use a balancer that centers on the lugs. Just using a cone in the center hub does seem to work with these wheels.

[This message has been edited by TradedV-10foraCummins (edited 06-01-2000). ]

 

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Ther is a TSB for this that involves adding a second steering stabalizer and replacing the track bar. All of this was done to my truck and it still shook. About a month later I replaced the tires and it went away, hasn't done it since about 8k miles. The old tires looked good other than down to the wear bars. Just some info I thought I would pass along.

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1996 4x4 3500 4. 10 5spd, Diesel Dynamics stage 2 injectors, #5 TST plate, 16cm2 housing with 4" exhaust, Cummins exhaust brake, US Gear overdrive, Grover air horns, Mag-Hytec cover, and more.

 

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I am curious to know what corrects this. My old truck is a '95 1500 with 40K on it. It had some sort of recall (among several) for a piece on the steering that "might" break. That was replaced quite a while ago. What is being described I have never experienced and don't think I care to.

Other than being "clunky" my '95 seems ok. My 2001 is SOOOOOO much better it isn't funny. Of course, it should be!!!

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'01 3500 QC SLT, 5-spd. , 3. 54 LSD, Tow Pkg, Camper Pkg, White w/ Camel. Mud flaps, diamond plate,
Jacobs E-brake, Gauge Works dual gauge pod, ISSPRO EGT & Boost Gauges. Cobra 75WXST & Firestik - - - Towing a 2000 Cedar Creek 30'camper. NRA Member & Proud of it!!!!

 

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This may be way off base, but could it be a loose or broken motor mount?

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2001 2500 ETH/DEE Blk/Agate 4x4 QC LWB SLT+ 3. 54 LSD, Every option except Snow Plow and Cab Lights. 12000 lb Warn Winch and all the right gear.

 

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Originally posted by FBFISH:
... Today while I was running some routine errands, I hit a slight rough spot in the road doing 55-60 mph and my truck started to shake and vibrate so bad I thought the engine/transmission would bust lose from their mounts. The only way I could get it to stop was to bring the truck to a complete stop.

There are only two things I've ever encountered that can cause such violent shaking:
1. U-joint(s) about to disintegrate
2. Center (driveshaft) support bearing about to
disintegrate.

Anything on the suspension would be dampened to some degree by the springs (and shocks, if they work). But the driveshaft is connected more directly to the body and the operator would *really* notice it. And it's the only thing I can think of
that would have the range of motion necessary to
cause violent shaking in the first place.

Good luck!
Fest3er

 

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FBFISH,
There have been several threads from others that have experienced this problem.

I posted this 2/28/00:

Dave,
Were you running the stock 245's or 265's prior to the shimmy rearing it's ugly head?

I encountered similar shimmy on my '96 2500 SWB w/360 V8/auto w/255/85R16s after hitting uneven pavement at 65-70 mph. The problem didn't show up until 41k miles. My
local dealer changed the track bar & stock stabilizer - no improvement. They then added the second stabilizer per TSB - minor improvement for a short time. The most
improvement came from installing 265/75s (off my '00 2500). The shimmy has not totally disappeared so I suspect that it is ball joint, wheel bearing or control arm bushing wear and that the increased mass from the larger tires amplified the problem. I can't detect any play in the above parts nor does the front end shimmy during any other conditions.
Has anybody successfully cured this problem?
Sorry for not having an answer and the long reply.

Brian

Since this post the truck has been to a different dealer where the DC Zone Rep got involved and had the following work done:
rebalanced all 4 tires
replaced both steering stabilizers - previously replaced by first dealer
replaced all 4 control arms - stiffer bushings
replaced all 4 ball joints
replaced front wheel bearings, rotors and brake pads
The front end alignment was never checked - they marked the eccentrics and reinstalled to the same position

The original track bar was reinstalled by the first dealer (Glen Thomas Dodge) because we disputed payment since it didn't fix the problem.

The problem still exists. It did not get any worse after the original 'worn out' track bar was reinstalled. My next step is to take it to a good alignment shop and have them set the front end to the maximum caster.

Note that our two Cummins 4x4's ('96 & '00) don't exhibit the slightest shimmy over the same bump. My current theory is that the front end is very sensitive to the caster because of weight difference between a Cummins & 360 V8. I suspect that a Cummins truck can get away w/less caster before the shimmy appears than a gas engined truck can get away with before the shimmy appears.

Have the shop check the front end aligment and max out the caster and let us know if this solves the problem.

Brian

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'96 2500 CC 4x4 5spd

'00 2500 QC 4x4 6spd

 

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Folks- First let me thank those fine people who provided their wisdom on this problem. I did find thye track bar had about 1/8" play and my steering damper was leaking. I replaced both of these with aftermarket parts. I put about 500 miles on the truck this weekend and am happy to say the problem is resolved. Perhaps because I have been "traumatized" by the experience, I am very conscious of front end behavoir, and still think there is some looseness, probably ball joints, which I will take care of next. There is a TSB for this problem for certain trucks (mine included) which adds an additional steering damper. The dealer wants over $500 for just the parts so for now, I opted out.

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1995 2500 Auto 4X4 Ext Cab, Sun Coast torque converter, Trans Go shift kit,Jacobs E brake,BD Auto Lok,Prime Lok fuel filter relocate, Boost/EGT and transmission fluid temp gauges, and Mag-Hytec transmission pan/rear end covers

 

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The secondary steering stabilizer kit for my '96 is made by Rancho (PN on the TSB). Shouldn't run you more than $100.

Brian

 

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had the same problem on a 94... . replaced the shocks and it took care of the shake rattle and roll. It was scarry... ... ... .