Notices
1999 - 2016 Super Duty 1999 to 2016 Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty with diesel V8 and gas V8 and V10 engines
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Real Truck

lift kit causing vibration?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 16, 2012 | 07:23 PM
  #1  
Bigtruc's Avatar
Bigtruc
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
lift kit causing vibration?

I have a vibration in my truck that shows up between 58 & 63 mph. I've been looking my truck over from front to back & can't figure out where its coming from. Just put $600 into the front end with new u joints, ball joints, all the seals & greasing everything. Then I replaced one bad u joint on the drive shaft & checked all the others really good to make sure they r ok. My truck is a '99 with a 8" superlift suspension lift on 38" Toyo's. Anybody else out there have 8" or bigger lift kits that got vibrations from the steep angle of the driveshaft & know if there is a way to get rid of it? Thanks :0)
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2012 | 08:20 PM
  #2  
F350-6's Avatar
F350-6
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Did you make sure all the bolts and parts are tight? Sometimes you have to re-torque things after a couple of hundred miles. Did you shim the carrier bearing when you installed the lift?
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2012 | 08:48 PM
  #3  
2000silverbullet's Avatar
2000silverbullet
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
+1 to Chris's comment.

8" lift w/ 38s should have the carrier bearing a couple inches. Makes a huge difference.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2012 | 09:32 PM
  #4  
Bigtruc's Avatar
Bigtruc
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Yes everything is still tight. I don't have a carrier bearing on this truck. Is that suppose to be on all model f250's or just certain years? Mine is the early '99 model with the 7.3 pas.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2012 | 11:05 PM
  #5  
akaFrankCastle's Avatar
akaFrankCastle
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
Next time you get the vibration, take your foot off the skinny pedal and see if it goes away. If it does, I'd look at your drive shaft u-joints and maybe a drive shaft balance.

Is your drive shaft a single piece from the transfer down to the rear axle? If not, there should be a carrier bearing in there.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2012 | 11:25 PM
  #6  
Bigtruc's Avatar
Bigtruc
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
The vibration does go away when I let off the gas, I only have it under load so I figure it has something to do with the drive line, just can't find what. As far as I know I don't have a 2 piece drive shaft. There r 2 u joints, one right after the other right off the transfer case then the actual drive shaft. It is necked down just a little about 6 inches from the rear end with a rubber boot over it. Not sure if this is what is considered a 2 piece drive shaft or not.
 
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2012 | 09:26 AM
  #7  
akaFrankCastle's Avatar
akaFrankCastle
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
Sounds like you've definitely got a driveline issue, most likely with the driveshaft. With an 8" lift and no adjustments made to the driveshaft angle, this is common.

Here's a pic I just took of the two piece driveshaft in my CCSB.
Name:  e6563aa5.jpg
Views: 12602
Size:  243.9 KB

And my finger is pointing to the carrier bearing.
Name:  5fa5c3ea.jpg
Views: 7952
Size:  206.1 KB

Looks to me like you have a super cab short bed? You might have a one piece drive shaft. If that is the case, you might need to buy some leaf spring perch shims to bring your drive shaft angle closer to stock.
 
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2012 | 10:12 AM
  #8  
Bigtruc's Avatar
Bigtruc
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Thanks for the pics & the info Frank. Thinking bout having my driveshaft balanced too to see if that is a problem
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 17, 2012 | 11:52 AM
  #9  
akaFrankCastle's Avatar
akaFrankCastle
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
Might as well have them throw new u-joints in it as long as you are pulling it out.
 
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2012 | 12:32 PM
  #10  
Bigtruc's Avatar
Bigtruc
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Absolutely! That was my next step, just replace them even if they feel good yet. U can never be too sure :0). Any idea in kits that will change the angle of the driveshaft a little? R they expensive or hard to do?
 
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2012 | 01:19 PM
  #11  
akaFrankCastle's Avatar
akaFrankCastle
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
Originally Posted by Bigtruc
Absolutely! That was my next step, just replace them even if they feel good yet. U can never be too sure :0). Any idea in kits that will change the angle of the driveshaft a little? R they expensive or hard to do?
Quick Google search netted this as one result:
Amazon.com: Rancho RS8125 Shim Kit: Automotive

As I am CERTAIN you already have a block under those leafs, I would probably look in to getting something custom made. Think about a lift block with an angle cut in to the bottom. Stacking a lift block on top of a shim and then bolting leafs on top of it is just plain dangerous. Too many points of failure in there. Bottom line is you need to adjust your pinion angle on the rear diff to come up. I don't know how long your drive shaft is, but you may also need to have your drive shaft lengthened to match the new distance between your trans and diff.
 
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2012 | 07:54 PM
  #12  
RACERX7775's Avatar
RACERX7775
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 3
From: WARRINGTON, PA
akafrankcastle, I had a set of custom lift blocks and traction bars made by newtonlifts. my blocks are 8 3/4" tall. completely removed all factory shim/lift blocks. So its a 5" lift. any pinion angle any lift height. hes on ebay. they are awesome.

Name:  lift block.jpg
Views: 17447
Size:  136.6 KB

Name:  MILITARY WHEELS.jpg
Views: 8353
Size:  146.9 KB

Name:  IMG_20120211_093925 - Copy.jpg
Views: 8775
Size:  86.8 KB

Name:  IMG_20120211_093841 - Copy.jpg
Views: 11986
Size:  86.7 KB
 
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2012 | 07:57 PM
  #13  
RACERX7775's Avatar
RACERX7775
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 3
From: WARRINGTON, PA
OH, i have the same wheels and tires. i had em balanced but still get a nasty shake on the highway.

Name:  MILITARY WHEELS.jpg
Views: 15950
Size:  146.9 KB
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dixiefish5o
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
17
Jul 9, 2010 07:36 PM
FXSTSB
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
3
Mar 6, 2008 10:14 AM
rasta
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
4
Jun 15, 2007 11:57 AM
broncobob1
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
14
Mar 12, 2007 07:57 AM
Benny2002
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
6
Feb 22, 2007 01:08 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:49 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE