Rumble/Vibration
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul, MN
Rumble/Vibration
I have this rumble that starts around 47-50 mph and is almost unbearable between 55 and 65. Above 65, it starts to smooth out, but there is still a pronounced vibration. It doesn't matter what gear I'm in or what engine speed. I'm almost positive it's in the driveshaft, but don't really know where to start looking/ what to look for. If I decide to take it into a shop, about how much am I looking at here? I just drove home from my cabin in Wisconsin and I have a headache from how deep/loud the sound is. Oh well, that's life. Thanks for your help. BTW, it's an '89 302 w/ a 5 speed.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 0
From: South Ga
not sure about the rumble, help me more. Are you sure the tires are balanced good? Check universal joints on drive shaft first, then slip joint. Most of the time you can check the u/j yourself. Have u gave the shaft a good "shake"
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul, MN
Yeah, had the tires checked out-good. I did give the driveshaft a good shake, but it doesn't matter much becuase I know very little about repairing cars at this point, so I don't know what to look for. There was very little, if any play in the shaft-none at the rear u-joint, and very little at the front. The noise I'm hearing is a very loud and deep vibration that sounds like it's coming from the middle of the truck...by the driveshaft. I did some experimenting, and the only factor in the noise seems to be vehicle speed. Braking, engine speed, etc. had no effect on it. Sorry I can't be more help, still in the process of learning.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 0
From: South Ga
Should be no play, not even "very little" as you described in the front part of the shaft. I would change all, you could do it.......or have someone you know help you that does know how. That's what i would do first, sometimes it's the simple things. I swore up and down i had a bad u/j, turned out to be a tire gone bad.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
From: Bryan/College Station
When you checked the driveshaft, did you have it in neutral with the parking brake on? If not, there was probably tension on the driveshaft and it will not show play even with bad ujoints. Release the tension and you will see the excess play in the ujoints and splines.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 443
Likes: 1
From: Central Va.
When noise is at its worst- knock trans into neutral-is it still there?? Seen tranys make this vib.-noise- as well as joints and TIRES(sometimes that all it is,tires, sometimes its only one of them) Had a Brand New Ranger with vib. Took tires and wheels off of another new one with no problems and it corrected it!!!Had to do this in front of customer to prove it was tires, and then let them drive it They were sure they had bought a lemon- but were ok with it after replacing only the tires!
