NHDiesel

Since I've had my truck (almost a year now) I haven't been able to go over 75 mph without vibes. They got a little better after installing new tires, but it was still there, and bad enough that I didn't dare to try to go beyond them to see if they went away. I got up a little over 80 a couple times, but they just got worse at those speeds.

Well last week I was investigating a noise I had (turned out to be the vacuum disconnect for the front axle), but at one point while diagnosing it, I had the truck jacked up running in gear, while I checked under it (safely). I noticed the front of the rear driveshaft wobbled quite a bit, as if it was a little bent, running out at least 1/8", maybe as much as 1/4". The yoke going into the transfer case was fine, and the u-joint is fine as well. There are no obvious dents in the tube, so all I can think of is a manufacturing defect. Once i have the money, and after I installing the 5-speed (in case i end up needing new driveshafts anyway), I'll be ordering up a new driveshaft from Tom Woods. In the meantime, has anyone else tracked down their vibes to the rear driveshaft?

Jim

infidel

A lot of people have had problems with vibrations from the center carrier bearing under load.
Fords had the problem so often that they replaced the two piece drive shaft with single heavy duty driveshaft on new rigs to eliminate the carrier bearing.
Personally I would investigate this option before sinking much money into it.

NHDiesel

I don't have the 2-piece driveshaft...my truck is a 4x4 std. cab. I can visually see where the shaft is bent, the spot where the worse part of the wobble is. Its definately a bent shaft, and the way it looks, the tube wasn't welded centered to the u-joint yoke when it was assembled. I can't be certain of this until I remove it and put it in a lathe to check the roundness with an indicator, but until then, I can just go by eye. I checked, and a new rear driveshaft from Dodge is around $600, but I can get a custom Tom Woods shaft for around $300. And since so many people have driveline vibes at the same speed I do, I suspect that this may be a fairly common thing (to some degree) with the original shafts, so I won't hesitate to use a supplier that I know builds quality shafts.

Jim

robert chilton

Check with your local drive shaft business. The last shaft I had retubed was only around $50. They just reuse your ends and rebalance it after they put in the new tube. You can even specify thickwall tubing

NHDiesel

Closest driveshaft shop to me is 200 miles away. The guy is awesome, but I doubt I'll have a chance to drive down there to have it done. I've had him do lots of shafts for me when I lived down there, and he does a great job. Its something for me to consider, but for convenience, I may just call Tom Woods and have a complete new shaft sent out.

Jim

12VRoush

I have a 95' std. Cab 4x4 and my turck does the same vibe at about 70mph+
I was told it might be the front u joint on the drive shaft? But i inspected it and there is no slop in the joint really? Also my truck when i put it in reverse it bangs really bad once it hits the gear? i dont know what that would be if anyone could help pls do?