Vibration Issue - 38-45MPH
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 8
From: Fleetwood, PA
Vibration Issue - 38-45MPH
Need some help with a vibration issue.
Items replaced to try and fix issue -
Items replaced to try and fix issue -
- Tires
- rear Driveshaft u-joints
- all brakes and rotors
- ball joints are new
- front end steering is new except steering box
- sway bar end links are new
- Rebuilt the motor although not to fix the vibration i just wanted to do a refresh and needed to replace the rear main seal.......you know how it goes
- 4x4 u joints
- Balance rear driveshaft
- Front hubs? - no evidence of bad bearings checked and also greased through ABS port
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,807
Likes: 125
From: Colorado Springs
Philip, Typically when you get a speed related vibration it’s tire related. Id have the shop mark the specific tires/rims combinations AND tires/rims mating locations then remove tires, see If the rims balance empty if they do. Then remount tires exactly like they were when you pulled them off. Do they balance? No, spin tire 180* on rim and try again.
The only other things that come to mind would be engine mount or transmission mount but I think you’d have your vibration all the time.
The only other things that come to mind would be engine mount or transmission mount but I think you’d have your vibration all the time.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
Yes, Tugly had a bent wheel give him a similar vibration. My own experience with 40-54 mph related vibration was when my center carrier bearing went out. I also know, though, that if you didn't mark your drive shafts (front and rear) before doing your u-joints, putting one of them back in at 180° from where it was initially can give you the same symptoms. Cheap and easy to flip one of the drive shafts to see if the vibration goes away.
HOWEVER, any time you break out one of the drive shafts, DO NOT FORGET to use wheel chocks. When I forgot to use chocks before climbing under my truck to flip my rear shaft 180°, it cost me a broken ankle, broken leg, open-reduction-and-fixation surgery, and it would have killed me if I had not been on my creeper to ride with the truck as it rolled out of my garage and into the driveway (with me under it!)!!
BE SAFE!!
HOWEVER, any time you break out one of the drive shafts, DO NOT FORGET to use wheel chocks. When I forgot to use chocks before climbing under my truck to flip my rear shaft 180°, it cost me a broken ankle, broken leg, open-reduction-and-fixation surgery, and it would have killed me if I had not been on my creeper to ride with the truck as it rolled out of my garage and into the driveway (with me under it!)!!
BE SAFE!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 52
From: Wheatland, Mo
Yes, Tugly has a bent wheel give him a similar vibration. My own experience with 40-54 mph related vibration was when my center carrier bearing went out. I also know, though, that if you didn't mark your drive shafts (front and rear) before doing your u-joints, putting one of them back in at 180° from where it was initially can give you the same symptoms. Cheap and easy to flip one of the drive shafts to see if the vibration goes away.
HOWEVER, any time you break out one of the drive shafts, DO NOT FORGET to use wheel chocks. When I forgot to use chocks before climbing under my truck to flip my rear shaft 180°, it cost me a broken ankle, broken leg, open-reduction-and-fixation surgery, and it would have killed me if I had not been on my creeper to ride with the truck as it rolled out of my garage and into the driveway (with me under it!)!!
BE SAFE!!
HOWEVER, any time you break out one of the drive shafts, DO NOT FORGET to use wheel chocks. When I forgot to use chocks before climbing under my truck to flip my rear shaft 180°, it cost me a broken ankle, broken leg, open-reduction-and-fixation surgery, and it would have killed me if I had not been on my creeper to ride with the truck as it rolled out of my garage and into the driveway (with me under it!)!!
BE SAFE!!
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
Healed up just fine, thanks. The only time I've ever felt any aching from the plate which is still in my leg was on a winter business trip to UP when it was in the 3-5°F range in the mornings. It did take about a year for everything to loosen up after the surgery, but it all seems to be fine now. Gosh, it was almost 10 years ago.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 8
From: Fleetwood, PA
So today i jacked the truck up (included a wheel chock) and used a fixed point next to the wheel. Basically i took a screw driver and set it on something stable about 1/2" to 1" in from the outer edge clamped it then spun the wheel . I found 2 out of 4 wheels showed little to no variance when spinning the wheel. 1 wheel showed a spot where it was about 1/16" in and another showed a spot where it was 1/8" maybe a tad more. Would those two that are out make a difference or cause a vibration? To me it does not seem like a lot? I put a video of the test i did incase anyone was confused.
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Fleet Mechanic
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,807
Likes: 125
From: Colorado Springs
As I mentioned earlier, have the shop balance just the rims. An 1/8 of inch doesn’t sound like much until it’s turning at 65mph. The tire shop will tell you how bad/good the rims really are...
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,219
Likes: 1,342
From: Bahstun
remove rear drive shaft
put in 4x4 hi
go for a cruise
if vibes are gone then its not the front end
I had a bent drive shaft years ago. I couldn't feel it but it had too much runout.
Ujoints phased right?
drive line centered?
axle to leaf ubolts tight?
carrier bearing upside down?
put in 4x4 hi
go for a cruise
if vibes are gone then its not the front end
I had a bent drive shaft years ago. I couldn't feel it but it had too much runout.
Ujoints phased right?
drive line centered?
axle to leaf ubolts tight?
carrier bearing upside down?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 8
From: Fleetwood, PA
Wanted to provide an update since the problem really has not gone away.
Things I've done/replaced including first post -
Items replaced in addition to first post -
Tried a few things with no luck -
I ran 3 loads of scrap concrete to my house this week. with a balanced load it drives great. with a lot of tongue weight i can feel it x10. It is very intermittent and there is no pattern to the vibration. its almost so erratic you would confuse it for bumps in the road but no even on brand new road surface it does it.
Things I've done/replaced including first post -
Items replaced in addition to first post -
- replaced rear u joint again along with carrier bearing
- pulled a string line down the driveshaft to make sure it was straight as possible
Tried a few things with no luck -
- removed rear drive shaft went for a drive - still there
- had tires rebalanced - even bought 2 new rims thinking it was them - still there
I ran 3 loads of scrap concrete to my house this week. with a balanced load it drives great. with a lot of tongue weight i can feel it x10. It is very intermittent and there is no pattern to the vibration. its almost so erratic you would confuse it for bumps in the road but no even on brand new road surface it does it.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 8
From: Fleetwood, PA
I agree. I noticed when i took the rear drive shaft out and ran it i still had the vibration. Is there a good way to test the front end other than the usual bearing check by jacking the wheel up. i wish i could get the rear on rollers and check it basically eliminating the front end from the equation.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 52
From: Wheatland, Mo
I agree. I noticed when I took the rear driveshaft out and ran it I still had the vibration. Is there a good way to test the front end other than the usual bearing check by jacking the wheel up. I wish I could get the rear on rollers and check it basically eliminating the front end from the equation.
