Weird Vibration?

[nitrox2595]

Hey guys,



I have been experiencing a very strange vibration. When slowing down using the exhaust brake,it almost feels like when the brake pads are really worn out and grinding. I occurs only when slowing down. I have the launch shudder when accelerating, and now this. I just redid the front end(new ball joints,tierods, and brake pads), but this vibration started about a week before. A friend of mine put a scanner on it, and it brought up a trans code, but would not go into more detail. Does anyone have any ideas????? Thanks in advance.

 

[nitrox2595]

guess i lucked out and got the only truck in the whole united states with this problem!

 

[Slow Six]

Sounds like the u-joint thing that most of us have had with our older trucks. They can be misleading and be gone even though they seem tight and look good. It is generally lack of grease that causes them to go.

 

[HBarlow]

Do you feel the vibration at a steady road speed when not accelerating?

I posted in another thread a couple of days ago about an experience I had last week. I hauled 11,600 lbs. of gravel on my dump trailer from a gravel pit about 65 miles from my farmhouse Thursday am. On the way home, gently accelerating from a stop sign, fully loaded to just under 26,000 lbs. , I felt a severe vibration that disappeared at steady cruise speed. I did not feel a vibration when slowing with the exhaust brake function. I (wrongly) assumed it was due to the heavy load placing additional stress on a u-joint.

After dropping the trailer I felt it again the following morning under acceleration. I called mopar4less and ordered replacement u-joints. My mechanic friend just left. He drove out today and removed the rear half of my two piece driveshaft. The rear u-joint is dry and binding. The truck has about 73k on the odometer.

That is the first u-joint failure I've ever experienced in over 600k miles of service with three Dodge Ram duallies.

 

[nitrox2595]

now it seems to be happening when accel/decel... my mech. says no, but i think it is the ujoints. we will be checking and replacing tomorrow. thanks all. i will keep you posted.

 

[TulsaOkie]

I've started having that strange vibration but at low speed and only without my trailer on. When it's load I don't feel it but I sure do when it's empty. It's only at low speed so it doesn't happen very often...

 

[Hoefler]

Check out this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/6-7l-engine-transmissions-2007-5/218688-vibration.html See if it sounds familiar.

 

[nitrox2595]

I had the mechanic look at carrier bearing and u joints. He seems to think that it is transmission related. It happens below 30 mph with and without the exh. brake on. It feels like i am driving on rumble strips. I am also getting the launch shudder. I need help stat. !!!!

 

[Hoefler]

If you have an automatic. Check your RPM when it does it. Set the cruise if you can when it does it. While it is doing it, shift it to a lower gear. does it go away?? Shift back up, does it come back?? If it goes away when you down shift, not in the drive line or transmission. Related to engine speed.

 

[TulsaOkie]

Pulled the drive shaft, replaced carrier bearing and 3 u-joints and now it runs like new !!! I learned my lesson on my 05, u-joints are alot cheaper than a new transmission !!!

 

[HBarlow]

I took my rear half driveshaft to a known and trusted driveline machine shop. They replaced the middle and rear U-joints. I reinstalled the driveshaft and my truck is as smooth as new again.

As I reported in my earlier post I had never had a U-joint problem with either of my two previous high mileage Ram duallies but this one had one very dry joint in 73,000 miles and another one that was a bit rough.

I don't know who Dodge's supplier for univeral joints is now. They might be sourced from China. Perhaps quality is slipping on some of them. I would recommend to anyone experiencing a minor driveline vibration not related to a bent wheel or bad tire to be suspicious of u-joints.

 

[TulsaOkie]

I was hopeing to get greaseable u-joints but the driveline shop couldn't find any, carrier bearing had to be overnighted from MI. Shop said there wasn't any demand for them local, so that could be a good sign. Even though Oklahoma and Texas has more Rams than the rest put together.

 

[HBarlow]

Okie,

Yeah, I asked a very good local driveline shop for new joints with zerk fittings also. I got the same answer . . . not available.

I ended up with a box of three new MOPAR OEM joints from MOPAR4LESS on the shelf in my barn but found the local driveline shop in Lubbock had replacements in stock. I got the truck back in service sooner by using parts from the local guys.

MOPAR4LESS had them in stock and shipped them immediately.

Oh well.

 

[TulsaOkie]

Harvey, I cruised Hwy 82 this past weekend, went to Denver City. I Should of cashed in my lunch ticket with ya.

 

[HBarlow]

If you traveled US-82 from Dickens to Crosbyton in Crosby County you drove right by my farmhouse. You should have stopped.

My wife is here on weekends and there is something good to eat. During the week when she's working in Lubbock I can only buy meals in town or microwave the "care packages" she leaves me.

 

[TulsaOkie]

I must of drove right by ya, I took a load to Denver City, and stayed at Brownfield. I busted a wheel on my trailer and stayed a extra day.

 

[nitrox2595]

Well, You guys were right as usual... It was the u-joints- The rear was so bad, it was scorched looking. Truck is very nice again. Thanks for all your help.

 

[HBarlow]

Darren,

Now you know. PM or call next time you're passing through.

 

[EricBu12]

Glad my 09 has a 1-piece driveshaft