I have a 2002 2500 4x4 6spd.

I had 285/75r16 bfg at on it, and they were chopped, and worn. When driving between 50-70mph, there was a vibration it was minimal at 50mph, and progressively worse up to 70, where the truck was vibrating badly.

I assumed it was due to poor balancing/chopped tires.

Yesterday, I had Discount Tire install 4 new 315/75r16 bfg at. mounted and balanced.

hit 50mph, and it starts to vibrate, getting worse up to 70mph.

I am at a loss here.

I feel like I have ruled out driveline issues, as I can drop it to neutral at 70 and it still vibrates, and it does not matter what rpm or gear the truck is in.

The tie rod ends look good, and I did not see any play in them.

Can it just be another case of poor balancing? If I was to somehow have a bent rim, would it come up while balancing?

Please give me some advice, and point me in the right direction.

Chris

 

I would have to agree with you on balancing being off.

 

Check your driveline, Check all u joints to make sure they are tight. I dont remember if the 02's have counter weights or a harmonic balancer. One of the weights could have fallen off. But it is most likely with your driveline!

 

Can someone explain to me how the driveline still comes into play, when the truck vibrates regardless of gear, rpm, or if it is in neutral. It is speed related, and I cannot figure out how driveline comes into the equation on a speed issue.


I keep leaning toward balance, bent wheel, something in the steering/ suspension.


Maybe I am just not understanding....

Thanks,
Chris

 

When you are in neutral your driveshaft (shaft between the transmission and axle) is still spinning. These shafts are balanced, and if the balance weight comes off it will not be balanced any more. Also there are u-joints on the shaft at each end that could be causing the vibration.

If you are sure the wheels are balanced I woudl check the dive shaft.

 

Is it a "vibration" or Death Wobble?

 

It is vibration, not death wobble. I lifted the front of the truck, and there is no play in the bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends.

Any chance the steering stabilizer/dampener being bad can cause this?

How do I see about getting the drive shaft balanced?

Thanks, Chris

 

This may not apply to your year vehicle, but I had the samething going down the highway. I was a couple hours from home and the vibration got so bad I was going 45 and I felt like I was breaking it. I had the dealership come and get it. They replaced the u-joints between the front driveshaft and the T-case. My uncle has the same truck and he has replaced his twice in 150,000 miles. Hope this helps and I'm not pointing you in the wrong direction.

 

Well i would look at the track bar or the steering stablizer. The steering stablizer is only really good for about 20000 miles or so. I know they have had issues with them like this before.

 

My wife just took the truck to the drive line shop.
They said the front u joint on the front drive shaft was trashed. They quoted 250.00 to replace all the joints on the front shaft.

I am hoping that this will fix the vibration.

Chris

 

How would you describe the vibration? shaking or a tingle? low frequency or high frequency?

The driveshaft turns 4x as fast as the tires. So the vibration (frequency) is 4x as fast.


Usually a driveshaft or u-joint will vibrate at lower speeds ~35-45mph or higher speeds 70+mph than tires.

 

Um, any vibration can come from a driveline or tire. I does not matter how bad or good it really is. But vibrations can be weird. i was working on a truck that would vibrate at 30mph, 60mph, and then 90mph (90 in a semi is fun, lots of looks hahaha) and it turned out to be one u joint at the trans. Drivelines have lots to do with vibrations and if they say one of them is trashed then replace it. But I would hang my self before I would pay 250 for two u joints. I lost one on the road and called a buddy, get it a schucks for 30 bucks, instaled it on the road, took it to jiffy lube, lubed it up (aftermarket u joints need to be lubed) and have been fine ever since. So if you would like to do it your self let me know and I can help you out or GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. Sorry for being so blunt

Pete

 

I had the exact same problem with my truck just after I bought it. Front drive line u-joints fixed it up. The vibration, more of a humming noise in my case not really felt but more you could hear it. Maybe I could feel it (it's been a few years ago) either way the 4x4 trucks 02 the front drive shaft is always spinning as long as the truck is rolling. I think it's called a CAD system??

I guess I got lucky, the u-joints went out on my Bronco a few month before I got the Dodge and the sound was the same, almost like driving over a metal bridge, the kind you can see through. Simple fix and no problems since.

Good luck

 

Check the u-joints. If you have a vibration that won't go away, also check out how your shocks are doing. I've seen that be a problem before, though not specifically with Dodge trucks.

 

The truck is fixed.

I got under it last night, and the front u-joint on the front drive shaft was toast. joint was worn through the cap.

It looked like an easy enough fix, so I went to Oreilly, and picked up a greaseable one for 15.99.

No vibrations anymore.

I would have put money on it being tires/wheels. I guess I learned something today.