I am developing a shudder when accellerating in first gear and a little in second if I am really on it while towing the fiver. The fiver is heavy - - right at 16000#. This happens only in these two gears. To me it feels like a little drive shaft whipping. <br><br>I would appreciate any feedback any might have before going to my dealer.<br><br>ShakyBob

 

Nope. I'm only at 16.5k gross; but haven't noticed any shudder with mine in 1st or 2nd, but have noticed some wheelspin/chirp in 3rd under power.<br><br>This isn't a clutch issue is it? You and sierraphil havta get smaller trailers.

 

pulled my 10k fifth last week and noticed the beginnings of the same shudder. the one time I noticed it the most was on a bumpy on ramp. Couldn't tell if it was slipping or not. I will have it out again this weekend for a trip through the mountains so I should have some more info.<br><br>Been driving manuals all my life and this feels like a clutch starting to burn. Got about 14k miles on it right now, 99% easy highway miles. So, it hasn't been abused in the slightest. Be curious to see if the problem grows.

 

Bulabula,<br>I don't feel this is clutch. I am very easy on the clutch. This past week was the first towing where it has been a little more taxing on the vehicle - - more hills, more starts and stops, slower driving in general. My other towing had been mostly interstate. I still have less than 6000 miles total on the truck, so, with the way I shift, I have not touched the clutch yet. <br><br>As previously stated, if I were to guess, I have some drive shaft problems.

 

Fiver, what’s left that that could cause a shudder vibration (low frequency) at low speeds in first or second gear? On a low mileage vehicle.

- Engine? They typically have a higher frequency vibration when something’s amiss.
- Manual transmission? They normally work or they don’t. They may grind or may make whirring sounds, but they don’t normally shudder.
- Tires/Wheels? Not at those speeds.
- Brakes? Wouldn’t cause a shudder like that when not applied.
- Driveshaft? Very unlikely. It’s a stout piece of steel/iron/aluminum and has no moving parts – and (in my experience) unless its been damaged they don’t normally break or bend.
- U-Joints? Possibly? Prob unlikely.

Clutch? They have been known to cause shudder and vib’s when worn and used.

This has nothing to do with knowing how to use a clutch or man-hood issues. Phil had a problem with his clutch. Maybe we’re assuming that these new trucks have “over-engineered” clutches in them. We also know that the bean-counters also have a say in what goes into new vehicles (maintaining a profit margin), and they look at bell curves to determine unit-cost per warranty repair ratio’s, and not necessarily the best “long-lived never touch it again&quot; clutch.

I wonder who the vendor is that supplies the clutch(s) for these trucks? Maybe they were awarded the contract due solely to lower initial unit costs, and not using longer ranged criteria. Sorta like saving a quart of oil in the diffs? A half-million quarts add up.

You guys could be on the leading edge of doing some intense real-time clutch beta testing for the '03's. It has been known to push a product into service before all the bugs have been worked out too. Not that I'm saying this is the case here.

BTW, I'm an engineer flirting in the bean-counter arena. I try to back up the engineers whenever possible.

 

I'm betting it's driveline whip.<br> I would check the carrier bearing alignment on drive shaft.<br><br>MikeyB

 

My 2001.5 and my current truck both equipped with six shooters have had a slight stumble (or shudder) just off idle in first or second gear loaded or empty. It has never been bad enough for me to get overly excited. If I were to pull the heavy loads some of you are it may be worse. I have always just attributed it to the way the engines are tuned. It did seem to be a little more pronounced on the 2001.5. Both have had the problem since day one. It may just be the nature of the beast. Hopefully we will soon have a cause and a solution.

 

well well shudddddderrrrriiiinnnnbbbbbooooobbbbb:<br><br>It might be the driveline angles when the rear springs wrap. The '03 have longer springs I think. I don't pull your weights but have had 12k and no shudder that I think is abnormal. If I remember someone else here had launch vibrations and it was the angles. Good luck...

 

Dealer kept telling mme my shaking on acceleration in 1st, 2nd, and Rev. wasn't a clutch issue. It was a major towing issue. took it to a different dealer. Flywheel and clutch were both replaced. Flywheel was warped and had high spots. Mine is a 5 speed, however the Shop Foreman said they had another 5 speed and a 6 speed. <br><br>Clutching is smooooooooooth now. I can't believe the difference. On long beds there is a 2 piece drive shaft. The bushing on the &quot;center bearing&quot; seem rather soft and allows about 1/4&quot; movement. This could be the problem on some as service manual mentions shudder as a problem with bearing alignment. 8) 8)

 

Phil,<br>I think the problem is going to be drive shaft - - possibly that center support as you state. My clutch is smooth as can be both hot and cold. It is not the launch - - this is after the clutch is out - - I ease it until I feel the clutch has fully engaged before I apply much fuel. This is all the way up until I shift. You cannot duplicate without a tow - - raps out to 2500 rpm in first before you realize you have pushed the gas down. Just slight shudder in second and only if I am pushing it a little bit for quicker accelleration. <br><br>I will not be driving the Ghost for a month :'( :'( starting next Tuesday, so I have given the dealer a month to come up with answers. We'll see. <br><br>ShhudddderrrringgggBBBBobbb

 

not the clutch, once its coupled thats that. might be a fuel problem, starving under hard load. maybe check the pcm? the drive shaft???? although 2 pieces is a pretty stout system.

 

ShudderringBob, I have expierienced the same symptoms as you, execpt mine does it in 2nd, and 3rd gears, with camper loaded, and accelerating hard, like when you merge into traffic. I took it to my local dealer and had their tech ride with me. He said its the angle of the differential, with the weight on the truck causing the vibration. They could shimm it, but then it might shudder unloaded. So, I guess I'll live with it, unless its proven its somthing else entirely. Thats the explanation I got, FWIW. <br><br> CC.

 

shudder is from two piece drive shaft..........

 

shudder is from two piece drive shaft..........

 

[quote author=moparman2 link=board=20;threadid=16049;start=0#155461 date=1057082974]<br>shudder is from two piece drive shaft..........<br>[/quote]<br><br>OK - - - and ??? ??? ??? You left me standing in the middle of the field. I had somewhat surmised that - - now what? Any gems of wisdom to drop on us shudderererererers? <br><br>CenterFieldBob