Ok, I have looked at pretty much every post on here for this vibration my truck has with no luck figuring it out.Heres what it is doing. At about 65 mph it starts vibrating, at 68 it is the worst, At just over 70 the vibating has settled down but I can still hear a coming and going vibrating noise.When I let off the gas peddle the vibration comes back as it slows down past 65 then it is gone again. I would say it is worse at 68 coasting than when under power. I have changed the u-joints 2 times, Using both Precision and Perfect Circle (spicer) with no differance.I took the shaft to a very well known driveline shop and had it balanced wich didnt help,but they told me that the tube had some run out, so I had them replace it because they said it would most likely be the cause. WRONG. They had not heard of this problem with these trucks. Well I hope some one can help before I drive this truck into a tree. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

Any chance the tires may be slightly out of balance, or maybe an issue with your clutch or flywheel? Not too familiar with handshakers, so don't know if those things could be an issue. Goodluck.
edit- just saw you now have an 03 with an auto... sorry. I can tell you that my vibe totally went away after the install of my new flexplate and converter. Don't know why really...

 

My Buddy had this same problem. Check your propeller shaft. I am probably wrong but I think it comes off the tranny and has a ujoint in it also. He could feel his vibrating throught the transfer case. Does yours shake your 4x4 handle? The dealer took it apart and found it was cracked. He has the same truck as you 03 S.O

 

Just a thought does it have the new updated powersteering/hydro boost hose with the big C weight on it? Its was a TSB for early to mid 03s.Old hose would make a nasty buzz feeling through pedals,floor and steering wheel at speeds you mentioned.After updated hose a world of differance in how these trucks felt from parking lot speed on up.Look at early TSBs and see if your hose has a big C weight attached.Its not just the C weight thats added but a totaly new hose also.

 

Go to forums at www.carsondodge.com. There is a sticky there with 10 items on vibrations. I don't think they are guarantied to eliminate vibration, but worth checking out.

Pete

 

FWIW... I have the exact same problem. If I find a solution, I'll post. I'm dismantling the whole ---- truck this weekend until I find what's shakin'

 

Just wondering where the weight would be hanging on the power steering hose? I looked at my truck and I dont see anything. I dont think this is the vibration I am dealing with but it may be the noise i have been wondering about. The vibration is definately drive line related. The four wheel drive shifter vibrates when it is happening. I did drive the truck to about 75 and put the trans in neutral and let it coast back through the "bad" spot, most of the vibration was gone but was was still there a little bit. I was kind of thinking it may be my exhaust vibrating,but I think I am more confused now.I cut the stock muffler off and put a ultra flow made by dynomax on it. I guess that is why I am not sure about the hose TSB, I didnt know if it was exhaust drone or the hose. Thanks for the input , any help is greatly appreciated.

 

You are describing excatly what my buddys 03 was doing. He had the tires check looked at the drive shafts. Pull off your rear driveshaft and then pull out the Propeler shaft. The stering box vibration comes throught the steering wheel. It's not you exhaust that would bang off the floor and not really make you 4x4 shake. When you put your truck in neutral it disengages the shaft. At the end of the shaft is the propeller shaft that slides over it and conects to the drive shaft with a Ujoint. FYI after about a month the Shaft is going to split even more and the vibration will be through out the whole power band and you will hjave to get it towed becuase it will be undriveable

 

Tim -

Sounds like the dreaded and all too common 70 MPH vibration common to 3G trucks.
Some are worse than others, lots of guys have had DC buy back the truck. Short version: DC doesn't know what is causing it or how to fix it. There are many theories on 2nd or 3rd order vibrations, pinion angles, out of balance drive shafts etc etc.
One easy way to determine the cause is to take the FRONT drive shaft out and see if that cures the problem. It did in my truck. Some people have had decent luck with new front drive shafts made of aluminum.
I also pushed the caster all the way forward to lessen the pinion angle which helped somewhat. The vibe is still there but not as bad.
It seems to be more or less limited to short box trucks with an auto tranny and 4 whl drive.
Good luck with a cure. I honestly don't think there is one.

Steve

BTW, if you have an 03 truck you have a 48RE tranny, not the 47.

 

The powersteering hose TSB vibration is more then through the steering wheel.Mine and others I drove had vibration through clutch pedal,fuel feed pedal ,floorboard,steering wheel etc. Made the vehicle much smoother after that TSB was done.Had friends that said WOW what a differance in theirs once done.

 

I'm fighting with the dealer on a vibration right now. Mine is an '05 6spd SWB, and I don't think this is the same thing most people are experiencing, but I'm not sure. They are trying to tell me the vibration is "Normal". Bunch of crap if you ask me.

 

bnh 4221,

His truck is an 03 SO. It has the 47re.

Marshall

 

If you have the updated hose, there will be a metal crimp, and a large cylinder shaped weight mid-span of the upper (pressure supply) line running from the power steering pump to the hydrobooster.

If you don't see anything (a plain span of hose) you don't have the updated version.

Mine created a kazoo like buzz only at 2000 RPM. After a couple of trips where they put padding in various parts of the dash, they did the hose, which was the cure.

 

My 03 is also vibrating at 2 to 2.1 rpms regardless of speed or gear. I read last week from carson dodge, that they believe it is simply the resonance points inherent to diesels. They believe that because the frame is weaker and built differently on the 3rd gens, that the vibration is more pronounced. They have a handfull of items that they have tried, and the "times out of ten" that the particular fix has worked. For example, the one I remember most was to install rubber between transmission and crossmember, worked "9 out of 10 times".
I printed out the list but have since misplaced it! When I can find it I can post again.

 

Marshall,

I stand corrected. Thought all 3g had 48re. Learn something new every day.

Thanks -
Steve