BIG Vibration Issue
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 131
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Driving home from work this evening and really trying to listen and feel and pay attention to when it starts the vibration.
One thing I did notice was that if I got it up to 75 mph, in overdrive with torque converter locked, if I disabled the overdrive, obviously the engine revs way up and the vehicles starts to decel rapidly, but it seemed as thoough for a second or two the vibration stops?? And then once under 65 mph it is hardly noticable. But I mean this vibration is AWFUL! It vibrates the whole cab violently. Could it be that there is something wrong with 4th gear (OD)? Im going crazy
One thing I did notice was that if I got it up to 75 mph, in overdrive with torque converter locked, if I disabled the overdrive, obviously the engine revs way up and the vehicles starts to decel rapidly, but it seemed as thoough for a second or two the vibration stops?? And then once under 65 mph it is hardly noticable. But I mean this vibration is AWFUL! It vibrates the whole cab violently. Could it be that there is something wrong with 4th gear (OD)? Im going crazy
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 44
I think that maybe its time to spend a little cash and bring it in to a good quality repair shop like the guys who did your diffies. These guys should be specialists in drive line repairs and should have seen this before. Just ask for a quote on the repair which would include what is broken just in case you decide to repair it yourself or sell it. Total cost should be under 100 bucks which could be money well spent especially if it decides to completely let go and starts costing you some serious coin. Keep it under 60 mph and don't push your luck until it gets looked at.
Do me a solid and get back to me on this. I'd like to know what the repair is just in case I run into something like this.
Do me a solid and get back to me on this. I'd like to know what the repair is just in case I run into something like this.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 131
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Well I havent gotten around to bringing my truck in or had much time to try and diagnose the problem as I was on vacation and have been driving my work truck majority of the time, when I do drive it though, I dont go over 60mph
Well yesterday I had some free time, so first thing i did was jack up the rear end. With both back tires off the ground I tried to see if there was any play in the rear difs pinion flange (right behind the rear u-joint) which there was not, solid as can be.
I then checked to see if there was up and down play at the front of the driveshaft where the slip yolk slides into the tailshaft(?), and it does seem like there is up and down play where the male end slides into the female end. Like the female end is solid but its almost like the male end doesn't fit tightly into it... Like that tailshaft "bushing" may be bad?? Im not sure if this little amount of play is normal or not, moving it up and down it does make a "clunking" noise as it hits the top and bottom of the female end... I then dropped the tires back to the ground and checked both again. Again, ni play in rear pinion, but a slight up down play in the front (not as much as when it was up in the air).... Also I do want to point of that there is hardly any vibration when the truck is accelerating under load, as soon as I let off the gas and let it coast, anything above 60-65mph its a rotational vibration right under my butt in my seat.... I am guessing this is my problem??? Any input is greatly appreciated
Well yesterday I had some free time, so first thing i did was jack up the rear end. With both back tires off the ground I tried to see if there was any play in the rear difs pinion flange (right behind the rear u-joint) which there was not, solid as can be.
I then checked to see if there was up and down play at the front of the driveshaft where the slip yolk slides into the tailshaft(?), and it does seem like there is up and down play where the male end slides into the female end. Like the female end is solid but its almost like the male end doesn't fit tightly into it... Like that tailshaft "bushing" may be bad?? Im not sure if this little amount of play is normal or not, moving it up and down it does make a "clunking" noise as it hits the top and bottom of the female end... I then dropped the tires back to the ground and checked both again. Again, ni play in rear pinion, but a slight up down play in the front (not as much as when it was up in the air).... Also I do want to point of that there is hardly any vibration when the truck is accelerating under load, as soon as I let off the gas and let it coast, anything above 60-65mph its a rotational vibration right under my butt in my seat.... I am guessing this is my problem??? Any input is greatly appreciated
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 174
Likes: 25
From: Haymarket, VA
check the ebrake.
I had an 04 that did this and the ebrake was slightly hung up due to the cable itself. Try unhooking it by the backing shield (only takes a few seconds) and see if its goes away.
I had an 04 that did this and the ebrake was slightly hung up due to the cable itself. Try unhooking it by the backing shield (only takes a few seconds) and see if its goes away.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 131
Likes: 10
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Update...
Was under the truck looking around and noticed I had some play in one of the u-joints in my FRONT driveshaft. So I took it off, it is a 2 piece design with splines that slide in and out of the large end, and is covered im a springy rubber boot.
Decided to go for a drive in 2wd with no front shaft...holy cow I think I found my issue!!! I got truck up to 90 mph with about 80% of the vibration gone! The remaining vibration is very subtle and I can hear it more than I can actually feel it...
Ran to the parts store, got 2 new u-joints, put them both in, greased the "slip spline" middle portion of the front shaft with hogh pressure grease, and re-installed the shaft. Went for a drive, and the vibration is back, just about as bad as before...
Now thinking my next move is to have both my front and rear driveshafts balanced by a shop.
On a side note, when I push up on the rear of the trans where it meets the t-case, right where the mount is on the crossmember, I can move it up and down 1/8", and it will make a clunking noise. Would that be considered a bad trans mount? And could that cause a vibration? I dont get a clunk or noise when shifting through gears or anything like that.
Any info or thoughts would be great, thanks
Was under the truck looking around and noticed I had some play in one of the u-joints in my FRONT driveshaft. So I took it off, it is a 2 piece design with splines that slide in and out of the large end, and is covered im a springy rubber boot.
Decided to go for a drive in 2wd with no front shaft...holy cow I think I found my issue!!! I got truck up to 90 mph with about 80% of the vibration gone! The remaining vibration is very subtle and I can hear it more than I can actually feel it...
Ran to the parts store, got 2 new u-joints, put them both in, greased the "slip spline" middle portion of the front shaft with hogh pressure grease, and re-installed the shaft. Went for a drive, and the vibration is back, just about as bad as before...
Now thinking my next move is to have both my front and rear driveshafts balanced by a shop.
On a side note, when I push up on the rear of the trans where it meets the t-case, right where the mount is on the crossmember, I can move it up and down 1/8", and it will make a clunking noise. Would that be considered a bad trans mount? And could that cause a vibration? I dont get a clunk or noise when shifting through gears or anything like that.
Any info or thoughts would be great, thanks
vertical pin buster
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 41
From: grant town
My 03 screw has a strange vibration too. Any time I let off the gas above 50 mph it vibrates until the it slows down about 3mph. My t-case is bad. When I replace it I'm also going to replace output shaft bushing when I put the new case is.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 44
Mine started doing this and the problem was the passenger front 4x4 release mechanism. It seems that it is air operated and if the seals leak the 4x4 tries to go in. Try shifting into 4x4 at hwy speed. If the noise goes away that that is your problem. The noise returns when you shift back to 4x2.
