Hello, This is my first time here and I'm not sure if this is where I should post my question, if not, moderators feel free to move my post. My name is Mark, I have a 2001 F350 Diesel dually. I recently installed a RideTech Air Ride suspension in the truck which has been really great. However, since the installation I have noticed a small vibration which has been hard to pinpoint. It only occurs when I let off the throttle, or I am coasting (like when in cruise control on the highway). When I am on the throttle it goes away. The truck has about 148,000 miles on it. Any idea what this could be? I am thinking that it may have something to do with the driveshaft universal joints, balance of the drive shaft, but am unsure. The truck rides about 2" below stock now that it has the air ride setup. Is there anyone that has experienced a similar problem or can point me in the right direction to troubleshoot this issue? Thanks.
Yes, I think I would check the driveshaft universal joints. With the parking brake on and the transmission in neutral get under and rotate the drive shaft clockwise and counter clockwise and shake it up and down and side to side while looking for any play in the joints. There should be no play at all in them. Check that the driveshaft slip joint has been greased also.
By the way there is a great diesel section here with a page for your engine, have a look at that.
Hopefully others will chime in with opinions.
Just another thought it could also be a rough wheel bearing.
Last edited by Lazy K; 06-25-2009 at 01:47 PM.
Reason: add info
I checked the u-joints. There was some play in the front u-joint, and also seemed to have some play in the slip joint. Is the slip joint supposed to have any play in it or is it normal and just needs to be greased? Or can the slip joint splines become loosened due to a loose u-joint?
There should be no play in the universal joints so you should replace that one. Shoot some grease into the slip joint and I would think it will be OK.
It should be greased regularily.
Replace the universal joint and see how it drives then.
Also check out the front end and all steering components. With 150k on the clock you might have play in the balljoints, wheel bearings, or steering components. Firestone always does this for me when I bring my truck it for its twice-yearly alignment. How much do you use the 4x4 system?
Ok, so I finally got to get under the truck and pulled the front drive shaft out. One problem. The u-joint bearing doesn't have enough clearance to be removed from the drive shaft. Either way it goes there is about 1/8-1/4" of u-joint bearing left in the sleaves of the u-joint which doesn't allow me to remove the bearing. The Universal bearing I bought looks like there is more room for installation but I can't replace it without removing the original. Any suggestions? Please don't tell me I have to replace the drive shaft from the slip joint back.
Do you mean that you can`t get the "cross" out fron the yokes? If you have pressed all the bearing cups out of the yokes then the cross should out. The easy way is to cut the cross with a disc grinder or cutting torch and drive all the bearing cups inwards. The other way is to press one cup inwards, this forces the cross to push the opposite one out and then press or hammer the cup you pressed in back out. When both cups are out that yoke can then be removed from the cross and you can do the other one the same.
Hope this helps.
The yokes look unserviceable. When one side of the "cross" is pressed all the way in and the other side comes out the other side of the yoke, there is still 1/8" of the star portion left. I could cut it out but then if there is that much of a clearance issue I'm not sure I could get the replacement "cross" back in. I've seen some of the yokes that have a serviceable "bolt in" retainer but this one is all solid. I'll try and get some pics to better show what I am seeing.
Should the slip joint have any play? It moves a little bit also. Should it have super tight tolerances? In the event of having to replace the front drive shaft, any suggestions for sourcing the part or is an OEM part the best for the truck? I've seen replacements from companies like Auto Parts Warehouse for $211 + core and shipping.
Try going to Articles/Specs on the bar across the top of the page and click on List Articles then on transmissions/axles and then on Replacing Universal joints on a Dans 44. I know this has nothing to do with your job but there is a good pic of a universal joint being replaced. See if yours is somehow different and post back.
Well, replace the front drive shaft universal joint and it really seemed to help. The sound and duration of the vibration were nearly gone, but you could still hear just a residual amount of the vibration. However, following the installation of the ujoint my truck started a death wobble. Now it seems as though the transmission mount may have gone bad.
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How much do you use the 4x4 system?
