[SDHNTR]

I have always had a slight vibration that gradually got worse. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the driveshaft. All was OK for a few thousand miles. Now a very similar vibration is back but it is more intermittant. Hits me at 40-50 mph and at 70+ mph. This is NOT a tire issue as this is the second set of tires (balanced and rotated many times) and I have always felt the vibration. It also shakes the whole truck (the fold down center console between the front seats shakes do bad you can't put a cup in the holder) rather than shaking the steering wheel. Time to go in again. Any ideas?

 

[noa1794]

Universal joint maybe.

 

[joc]

Have you changed the shocks yet? That is where mine was coming from. What was so confusing was the problem being intermittant. There was no resistance on the take-offs for at least 25% of the travel of the shocks. That may explain the low speed vibration. And, that may not be your problem, but it definately was mine. Good luck on your quest for a smooth ride. How many miles on the truck? U-joints went out on my last truck at less than 50k, but the vibration was not very intermittant.

 

[SDHNTR]

17000 miles but it has done this since new.

 

[PoppaSmurf]

Have you checked your rotors? They have been known to be out of balance.

 

[noa1794]

The more I think about it the more I think that universal joints would not give you this much vibration.

You might have somebody tighten up everything they can get a wrench on underneath from motor mounts on back to the rearend.

Also, most dealerships have an electronic listening device that works sort of like a stethoscope that they can attach to various points on your truck while they run it on the road. Maybe they can pin it down by noise that way.

 

[joc]

Try this: Get on freeway and run up to the speed it vibrates, 70mph. Next, when you notice it vibrating, run your mirrors down, assuming you have electric mirrors, and look at your tires. While doing this, notice if your fenders are rapidly hopping up and down, even if ever so slightly. Mine were going up/down like crazy while the tires were smooth as glass. That's when I KNEW it was the shocks. I remembered a SS Chevy I had back in the 60's that would about shake the fillings out of your teeth at 55-65 mph. About went crazy trying to correct it. An old town mechanic said "yep, it's your shocks". I couldn't believe bad ones would make a vehicle vibrate. Anyway, just a suggestion. Or just take a rear shock off and move it in/out. Mine had "dead" spots with no resistance at all /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Oh, mine began this crap when almost new. Good Luck!

 

[roofeditor]

[ QUOTE ]
I have always had a slight vibration that gradually got worse. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the drive-shaft. All was OK for a few thousand miles. Now a very similar vibration is back but it is more intermittent. Hits me at 40-50 mph and at 70+ mph. This is NOT a tire issue as this is the second set of tires (balanced and rotated many times) and I have always felt the vibration. It also shakes the whole truck (the fold down center console between the front seats shakes do bad you can't put a cup in the holder) rather than shaking the steering wheel. Time to go in again. Any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Often lifting changes the drive-shaft angle which sets up a vibration. Check on the TRD site regarding Dodges, shaft angle on Dodges is for some reason more critical./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif Many dodge articles on shimming the shaft to correct angle. Hope this gives you some ideas. Also find a good shaft shop and send it out for balance.....it worked on my 1999 Dodge very well.

 

[SDHNTR]

No lift, stock height. I also want to take it to the dealer since it is under warranty. I've noticed that the vibration is worse as I am going through sweeping curves at highway speeds. Maybe bad shocks do make sense.

 

[cm_hensley]

Do you have steel or alloy wheels? I have the steel wheels and they vibrated quite badly at close to the speeds you have mentioned. The dealer replaced the worst one and it is better now. I'm now just saving my pennies for some new alloy wheels to make it even better.

 

[noa1794]

More vibration on a curve would be consistent with a bad rear differential. One that was not able to handle the "differential" speed between the inside and outside axles. Just a guess on my part, of course.

After normal hwy driving the "pumpkin" should be hot but you should be able to keep your hand on it. You might try carefully putting your hand on it after being on the hwy for awhile. If it is too hot this is an indication that all is not well with your rearend. So to speak.

 

[SDHNTR]

Steel wheels. I'll have them look into it. But wouldn't a bent rim show up when they balance the tires? I've had the rotate and balance done 3 or 4 times and it's never come up.

 

[roofeditor]

Have your tires/wheels balanced with the road-force machine which can measure wheel and tire roundness. It can a lot you can't find otherwise.

http://www.gsp9700.com/

 

[honda_guy4]

I have the same thing going on with my truck around 75-80 mph. Had it in once, both ball joints up front were replaced and the u joint were replaced. Didn't solve the problem, still vibrates. Not a tire issue here either, had the road force balanced and everything. I have aftermarket shocks that were put on when my leveling kit was put on. Mine has been vibrating for about the last 20k, almost 40k now. Sure would be nice to know what would solve the problem.