What the?!? Vibration gone??

[steved]

OK, I'll start this by saying I have been fighting a vibration in the front axle/driveshaft area since new... even went as far as replacing the front driveshaft... didn't help.



This weekend I changed all the fluids in the truck except the brake and PS fluids... truck has 58k on it, I don't "tow" (hey, my 1,000# work trailer doesn't count!!). I changed the diffs to Mobile 1 75W90, the transmission to Pennzoil Synchromesh, and the TCase to Castrol full synthetic Dexron III (ATF+4 hasn't been released as of yet and isn't even full synthetic yet either)...



The diff oils looked good when I changed them... the front was a little more discolored than the rear, but it also has less fluid too (dilution??)... neither had much on the magnet.



The transmission oil looked like new, and it was different than the Synchromesh I replaced it with going by smell. Interesting side note... my magnet is glued to the case... I could not get it out even trying to pry it out with a screwdriver... I found this very odd and troubling since I could also not get my fingers on the entire thing to clean it very well...



The TCase is where things got real interesting... the stuff I drained out was clean, but it was a purple looking stuff... not even an ATF-like color... it was PURPLE!!! Not purple red, but purple... didn't know if this is the color of the new ATF+4, but my PS fluid isn't even close to this funky color. Didn't smell bad, just looked funky. Stuff I replaced it with was bright red. And don't get me wrong, I ran full synthetic ATF in my 99 2500 when it called for ATF+3 and had over 200k on it without issues... the reason I wasn't too worried about switching over in this truck.



Now, the test ride... my 70 mph vibration seems to be gone?? Will still need to run it some more on an interstate where I can hold/vary speeds, but all in all, it felt MUCH better. I tried several times to get the resonation, but it never came on.



I changed so many fluids that I can't point at one single thing other than the fact that without the driveshaft in before this, I had no vibes either... which would indicate the TCase or driveshaft was the culprit and the driveshaft was replaced with a new one... I put over 100 miles on it last night on back roads driving around 55mph and didn't even pull the fuel gauge off from full... so we shall see!



Oh, and between the FASS and the Rokktech sensor, I'm getting 20mpg on winterized fuel... very happy!!



Will keep you posted since I'm heading to either OK or SC in the next week or so... be on the look out for me!!!



steved

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

70 mph vibration

I underwent a 3 or 4 month battle with DCX over the same vibration. I had the rear shaft changed twice, the front one once, pinion angles set and r eset, extra hangers installed on the exhaust and several other things I don't recall after better than a year now. Bottom line, it all went away when they changed the transfercase. That was a real battle to get them to eat that one. The thing I hung my hat on was at the time just two people had had resolution to the vibration and they both had the transfercase changed out. STAR fought it like hell but I think what helped is I didn't let it drop and I was constantly in the face (over the phone) with the area service manager and finally they changed it out and VOILA,. . no vibration,. . zero. When you first feel smooooooth power all the way up in power and especially in that 70mph area then you just want to ... ... . ! They (DCX) had even gotten to the point that they were talking buy-back and I think what really helped me is that I said NO,. . that isn't what I wanted which turned them from thinking I was a cronic complainer to someone who actually had a problem and who loved their truck and just wanted it fixed and wasn't gonna get off their a... until it was. That's when I finally go the ok on the replacement. Hope that helps.

 

[steved]

Well, so far so good! Mine vibrations seem to have went away... the truck has always been a vibrator, even the engine. So it is hard to tell if it is still there a little or not.



The only thing I can think of is the fluid is offspec and causing problems?



Even if it didn't cure it completely, I plan on buying hubs after XMas.



steved

 

[p-Bar]

I was at the SEMA show a month ago or so and talked to the American Axle rep. Told him all the B. S. going on with the drivelines on the Dodge's 1st they make the drive lines also when the so called bad ones were sent back they tested them and they were within spec. they said it was the transfer case and this is what they told D. C. .

 

[steved]

I agree... whatever it is is from the companion flange to the transfercase... with the front axle out it was absolutely smooth which rules out the front axle being defective. That leaves a defective companion flange on the axle, defective driveshaft, defective Tcase... now, I checked my companion flange to see if it was off-center and it isn't... the driveshaft was replaced so that means that the driveshaft is most likely not at fault... that only leaves the transfercase.



Finding wild colored fluid was also a give away... I don't know if that was from whatever is wrong or was what caused the problem... but my vibration is definately better if not gone.



steved

 

[OHale]

This is more good info for me. I have the vibe but have taken a break from repeated trips to the dealer. They have tried exhaust weights, front drive shaft removal, etc. to no avail. I started talking about t-cases this past summer based on other experiences here. I'm going to start the diplomatic route and turn up the heat if that doesn't work. The truck is so very nice in every other category that vibe irks me all the more. Thanks for the info all.

 

[JApol]

I just started getting the 70MPH vibe at about 5000 miles. I guess I am going to have to talk to the dealer and see if they will fix it.

 

[ECappleman]

Factory puts in Synthetic fluid for the transfer case.

Thats why the wierd color.

 

[Cattletrkr]

My brother's Chevy K1500 has blue ATF in the T-case. GM uses it for the electronic shift T-cases. Does Chrysler maybe do the same? I suppose Steved has the manual case anyway...

 

[steved]

Factory puts in Synthetic fluid for the transfer case.

Thats why the wierd color.

I could see that, but they state it is ATF+4...compatability?



I know other manufacturers use varying colors of stuff... my GM buddy was telling me about "grapejuice" which is a purple colored differential fluid GM uses.



I'm going by what they state "should" be in there which is ATF+4... it didn't look like ATF+4... not saying it wasn't some other lubricant, just that there is a discrepency.



Oh, and yes, manual shift tcase (is there anything else... :-laf ).



steved