Drive Train Vibration/Pinion Angle Alignment
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, ME
No it doesn't and I thought the same too. It's kind of an odd feeling, the pedal is nice and firm, but it feels like the truck starts bouncing up and down at a set frequency. Not harsh bouncing, if there was a passenger with me I'd probably be the only one to notice it. I have my old front drums, thought about putting one on and driving it and then swap to the other side and see if it affects it. Would like to do the same for the rear but don't have any spare rear drums for it. Thought that would at least confirm or deny my thoughts. Now just to find a little time (and decent weather) to mess with it.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
52 Panel you may have a chipped tooth on the ring and pinion, or the welder warped the axle housing or set the perches at a slight angle to each other. Try resetting the pinion angle first tho. Did the U joints you replaced have any signs of damage? How did you break the perch welds?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, ME
AX, all my springs are new, stock style, new bushings and pins to boot. Took apart to line them too so no apparant cracking either. I noticed yesterday on a real smooth street that it did it without the brakes rolling real slow. I'm thinking I have a flat spot on a tire, but thought it would have been picked up on the balancer.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Jack the truck up and spin each tire, look for any out of roundness. You may have a broken or separated belt in the tire, not a safe condition if so. Also check for loose lug nuts.
Last edited by AXracer; Apr 16, 2007 at 03:14 PM.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 670
Likes: 6
From: south-central PA
flat spot can be seen on a tire balance machine (wheel hops), but wheel weight don't affect it. some older bias ply tires have flat spot when cold, that go away once the tire warms up.
back to drive shaft vibs, my experience has been that they are almost always most noticable during hard acceleration from a stop AND around 45 to 50 mph. when are your worse?
sorry but i read the post pretty quick, did you put the shims between your axle and springs yet?
back to drive shaft vibs, my experience has been that they are almost always most noticable during hard acceleration from a stop AND around 45 to 50 mph. when are your worse?
sorry but i read the post pretty quick, did you put the shims between your axle and springs yet?
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 907
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City, Mo
Vibrations
Have you checked the spring perches welds after driving for a while? Were the u-joints lubed? When you are about seventy mph(above 60 mph) put the c-4 in neutral, are the vibrations still there? Like the motor mount and perch welds, cracks are sometimes hard to see. Many good post ideas here to help eliminate problem areas. It could be any one or a combination of problems causing your vibrations. Have a great day, chuck
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL
Thanks to all of the comments and suggestions. I think I finally have the problem solved. It seems to have been a combination of things. I took the drive shaft out and recheck the u-joints even though they had just a few miles 1,500 or so on them. I found a broken pin in the rear joint. Replace both front and rear joints for good measure. While I had the shaft out, I took it to a drive line specialist and had him balance it. he said the front end of the shaft was out by about .070 which could have caused some vibration. I re-engineered the transmission mount, rear crossmember, and adapter plate and set the transmission angle at 4 degrees up (front of the engine pionting up). I bought a 2 degree shim from Summit Racing and shimmed the rear to 4 degrees up. Whatever I did, it is now smooth as a spanked baby's butt except for a small amount of wheel vibration at 62 to 66 mph. Next stop is the tire shop to rebalance. Thank to all of you for the wisdom that is expressed on this site.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL
Thanks to all of the comments and suggestions. I think I finally have the problem solved. It seems to have been a combination of things. I took the drive shaft out and recheck the u-joints even though they had just a few miles 1,500 or so on them. I found a broken pin in the rear joint. Replace both front and rear joints for good measure. While I had the shaft out, I took it to a drive line specialist and had him balance it. he said the front end of the shaft was out by about .070 which could have caused some vibration. I re-engineered the transmission mount, rear crossmember, and adapter plate and set the transmission angle at 4 degrees up (front of the engine pionting up). I bought a 2 degree shim from Summit Racing and shimmed the rear to 4 degrees up. Whatever I did, it is now smooth as a spanked baby's butt except for a small amount of wheel vibration at 62 to 66 mph. Next stop is the tire shop to rebalance. Thank to all of you for the wisdom that is expressed on this site.
Originally Posted by 49fordpickumup
Have you checked the spring perches welds after driving for a while? Were the u-joints lubed? When you are about seventy mph(above 60 mph) put the c-4 in neutral, are the vibrations still there? Like the motor mount and perch welds, cracks are sometimes hard to see. Many good post ideas here to help eliminate problem areas. It could be any one or a combination of problems causing your vibrations. Have a great day, chuck
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL
It truly is a great feeling. The truck has never driven better. I have a Lincoln Navigator that I usually use to haul real estate customers around in. Yesterday, a lady called me to see a house and I was in the Panel. She was driving a Lexus and met me at the house she wanted to see. It wasn't the house for her so I pitched another and gave her three choices, follow me in her car, I ride with her in her car, or she could ride with me in the Panel. She chose the Panel. When we finished looking, she said "I can't wait to tell my husband. He is going to be so jealous." I would never have dared put her in there before with the vibrations that caused excessive noise.
Originally Posted by AXracer
Cool! Isn't it great when a plan comes together! 
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