DRIVE TRUCK with REAR Driveshaft Removed?

[DRAGRAM]

NEW 24 Megacab Dually. Developed a vibration right at 65 mph. That happens to be my number while on trips, that I set the Cruise Control. It currently has 5000 miles. It is Driveshaft fequency and it a gyrating oscillating vibration that is definately there that you can feel when driving on smoother roads. It happens without the Trailer. Move up or down 3 MPH and it goes away.

Dealer is busy and I have some free time right now. I tried clamping a stack of washers to the DS using a corbin clamp and clocking every 90 Deg without conclusive results. It's difficult to diagnose because it is not always consistent. But it sure seemed to affect the vibration, but never eliminated it.

Another thing about this DS is there are MANY blue markings on it and 2 orange paint marks at each end, aligned. The blue markings are around the Joint cup, inside them around the weights and even numerals such as .116 written on the DS near the u-joints. I have never seen this on a new DS. It looks like the DS was goofy and they were having a hard time getting the balance right. There are multiple weights large and small.

Today I am thinking about removing the rear DS alltogether and driving the truck. Any issues that I am not thinking of? 4H and good to go. Maybe try and plug the opening that the DS came out of to prevent lube from spraying out? Will lube drain out when I first remove the shaft? I am thinking not.

 

[flan]

You’re going to have to figure out a way to contain the fluid, probably going to come out pretty fast. But other than that and turning on dry concrete, no issue.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Use a spray bomb cap and tape it on the rear of the t case I have done that trick lots in the past on jeeps to get home after a DS failure. The speed you have issues at are more likely tires but I guess it does not hurt to try

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Does the vibration change on acceleration or deceleration (engine braking) through the affected speed range?

 

[DRAGRAM]

Does the vibration change on acceleration or deceleration (engine braking) through the affected speed range?

It does not. I was thinking pinion angle so I tried this. Also towing the trailer (11500 pounds) I did not feel a difference towing uphill or down hill at the 65 mph speed.
I might pull the Driveshaft tomorrow and test. If it does not affect it then I likely will have Americas Tire road force balance all 6 tires. The truck was smooth when I got it but maybe being a dually something is goofy with the tires. I have never had a Dually before. The Nexen tires look great though. And they do just fine pulling on ice/frozen snow.

 

[Pearce]

I'm currently missing a weight on my driveshaft. While I was underneath doing filter change I noticed all the paint marks. One location has a missing weight and the remains of a spot weld. I might be able to feel the vibe at highway speeds. But it may also be my easy excuse to explain a vibe that is not that significant. Wondering if a lost weight is covered under warranty?

My 2016 had a vibe like you are describing. Pissed me off I couldn't set cruise at 65 while towing, there when not towing also but less without the weight. Did all kinds of balancing, changed tires, load force balance, centramatics, nothing changed it. I decided it was maybe a bad wheel. Gave up on the hunt when I decided to get at 22. My next move was going to be using a dial indicator to check for out of round. Maybe add that test into your mix. Hope you figure it out. Drove me nuts. But I'm better off now LOL

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

I'm currently missing a weight on my driveshaft. While I was underneath doing filter change I noticed all the paint marks. One location has a missing weight and the remains of a spot weld. I might be able to feel the vibe at highway speeds. But it may also be my easy excuse to explain a vibe that is not that significant. Wondering if a lost weight is covered under warranty?

My 2016 had a vibe like you are describing. Pissed me off I couldn't set cruise at 65 while towing, there when not towing also but less without the weight. Did all kinds of balancing, changed tires, load force balance, centramatics, nothing changed it. I decided it was maybe a bad wheel. Gave up on the hunt when I decided to get at 22. My next move was going to be using a dial indicator to check for out of round. Maybe add that test into your mix. Hope you figure it out. Drove me nuts. But I'm better off now LOL

In your example (I know it’s resolved by now) where you know a weight is missing from shaft, even if it was covered under warranty, I would just take it to a driveshaft shop. They are equipped to pull the shaft, put it in their machine and check/balance and reinstall the shaft on site likely same day.

Ram dealer would order a new shaft and park your truck out back for however long it takes for the shaft to show up. That is assuming it’s covered under warranty and they don’t blame you for knocking it off or say it’s a wear item lol

Just my opinion, I have never warranted anything with RAM but thats how I picture it going


OP, your issue doesn’t sound like a driveshaft to me. Unless you were missing a weight like Pearce, you’d likely have a joint issue and not a shaft issue. Joint issues vary quite a bit with throttle/coast.

I would start with tires. You can likely get them balanced for free in an hour or so.

 

[DRAGRAM]

I would start with tires. You can likely get them balanced for free in an hour or so.

How? My dealer is booked up. Not sure what kind of machine they have.
You say it is a joint issue , not the shaft then you say it's tires? 2 completely different sounds/feelings. If it is a Joint then it is the Drive Shaft. It's an assembly and it looks like the Joints are not servicable. Locked in with an adhesive injection (no C clips).
I had the tires road force balanced at Americas Tire today as wel as had them replace the Front Right TPMS. I had to go to the dealer and buy it and take it in with the truck. It was flaky since the very first miles coming home from Louisiana. It was boken. The sensor separated from the stem. Thankfully the tire liner was not damaged. I could leave any day to go to a race and I am tired of the TPMS taking over the Inst Diplay over and over all day lone when traveling, so I paid for it.

The truck definately rides smoother. But, that oscillating droning noise is still there. My FIRST choice is the Driveshaft. After that is could be a wheel beraring, Diff bearing, Engine Balancer, Torque converter etc. It's a brand new truck and I am reasonably sure that noise was not there when I took delivery. I am going to push for a Driveshaft if the dealer ever gets to it or take it to a shop that can check it out. My Prefered DS Shop does not do removals/installs. So, I would have to remove it myself and rent a Car to take it down to them (50 miles). Or Drive the D170 if they ever get that fixed (broken Axle). At least I could get it there fast with 1025 HP.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

How? My dealer is booked up. Not sure what kind of machine they have.
You say it is a joint issue , not the shaft then you say it's tires? 2 completely different sounds/feelings. If it is a Joint then it is the Drive Shaft. It's an assembly and it looks like the Joints are not servicable. Locked in with an adhesive injection (no C clips).
I had the tires road force balanced at Americas Tire today as wel as had them replace the Front Right TPMS. I had to go to the dealer and buy it and take it in with the truck. It was flaky since the very first miles coming home from Louisiana. It was boken. The sensor separated from the stem. Thankfully the tire liner was not damaged. I could leave any day to go to a race and I am tired of the TPMS taking over the Inst Diplay over and over all day lone when traveling, so I paid for it.

The truck definately rides smoother. But, that oscillating droning noise is still there. My FIRST choice is the Driveshaft. After that is could be a wheel beraring, Diff bearing, Engine Balancer, Torque converter etc. It's a brand new truck and I am reasonably sure that noise was not there when I took delivery. I am going to push for a Driveshaft if the dealer ever gets to it or take it to a shop that can check it out. My Prefered DS Shop does not do removals/installs. So, I would have to remove it myself and rent a Car to take it down to them (50 miles). Or Drive the D170 if they ever get that fixed (broken Axle). At least I could get it there fast with 1025 HP.

I have direct Access to Tin Kuniskis but I have to let the dealer give it a shot. I only bug him for certain things and do not want to use up my welcome.

Good luck with your issue, sir

 

[DRAGRAM]

It is the Driveshaft. Removed and drove the truck and it was smooth. Some more noise driving the front wheels. only. Kind of sounded like more induction noise but I bet it was the front Diff gears meshing etc. But the truck was smooth on my test run. I made 2 loops because I wanted to be sure. It DID lose some oil even though I had a plug in the boot. I will refill tomorrow since I happen to have some. The driveshaft ujoint in the rear is dead nuts on measuring with a dial caliper. The FRONT U-joint is offset .050 on the one plane and about .025 on the other. I don't build driveshafts but I suspect this is a NoNo. You can balance it but it still wobbles and that can be felt balanced or not.

Look at the pics. Those blue marks are not mine. But they clearly show the offset that was verified with a dial caliper. One side is hanging over the snap ring groove and the other one is exposing it beyond about .010.

Now I just have to get the dealer on board.........

 

[DRAGRAM]

Of course the Driveshaft is on National Backorder with NO ETA. So, instead of jumping through hoops with the dealer only for them to backorder me a Driveshaft........I had Inland Empire Driveshaft build me a new one using my Yolk and rear Companion Flange. One reason I had them make a new shaft is I wanted to adjust the length +1". I did not like how short the original one was.............

 

[DRAGRAM]

OK, the new shaft is installed and I am glad I made it longer......
Still plenty of room to move foreward into the transfer case. It can go all the way in and crush that dust boot flat. So, no issues there. Not sure why Ram has this DS so short. Maybe it fits several models and therefore it is a compromise in my Truck?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

OK, the new shaft is installed and I am glad I made it longer......
Still plenty of room to mover foreward into the transfer case. It can go all the way in and crush that dust boot flat. So, no issues there. Not sure why Ram has this DS so short. Maybe it fits several models and therefore it is View attachment 82183View attachment 82184a compromise in my Truck?

Aluminum is much better too!

 

[Power247]

OK, the new shaft is installed and I am glad I made it longer......
Still plenty of room to move foreward into the transfer case. It can go all the way in and crush that dust boot flat. So, no issues there. Not sure why Ram has this DS so short. Maybe it fits several models and therefore it is a compromise in my Truck? View attachment 82183View attachment 82184

Nice! Are all the vibrations gone now?

 

[DRAGRAM]

Nice! Are all the vibrations gone now?

That is a good question......The vibration is still there and I learned something. And, I have a really good driveshaft in the truck. So, not all is lost.

So, after a test drive showed no improvement and the vibration still seemed to come and go or get better and worse, I had to start thinking out of the box.

I keep 2 , 5 gallon pails of Diesel fuel in the bed. They are repurposed race fuel cans. I have in the past heard them tumping against the front of the bed in my last ram 3500. But never a vibration. So I rearranged them away from the front wall of the bed. One was clearly rubbing on the front wall. Transfered a nice paint splotch to the bed liner. So I am HOPING this will do it. Also this noise was not there when I was bringing the truck home 1700 miles (bed empty). It did not show up until later. So it could easily be what it was. I have NOT driven the truck yet so I will have to report back on another day.

 

[DRAGRAM]

Still does it with my belongings reloacted away from the front wall of the bed. TECH drove the truck today and he does hear it and he does not think it is driveshaft related. I am going to get under it and see if the exhaust is rubbing on something or something similar......They are going to make me an appointment to take it in sometime next week.....

 

[Wanderlust073]

Still does it with my belongings reloacted away from the front wall of the bed. TECH drove the truck today and he does hear it and he does not think it is driveshaft related. I am going to get under it and see if the exhaust is rubbing on something or something similar......They are going to make me an appointment to take it in sometime next week.....

I was so hoping this story would end with “so I replaced the driveshaft but really the vibration was just my gas can rattling in the bed”.

 

[DRAGRAM]

I was so hoping this story would end with “so I replaced the driveshaft but really the vibration was just my gas can rattling in the bed”.

I thought the same thing for a while. But a Gas Can would not resonate or oscillate. I think the reason he thinks it is not the driveshaft is the oscillation will skip a beat so to speak every once in a while. He thinks a Driveshaft problem would be very consistent. Also there are times where I can forget the Truck has a problem and other times I am pulling my hair out.

 

[DRAGRAM]

OK, I guess the front U-Joint being offset was a coincidence. The dealer has had the truck off and on for the last 6 weeks and had the best Tech working on it. He and I have collaborated on this many times sharing ideas and he was communicating with several people on a STAR case and so on. He put ANOTHER dirveshaft in the Truck and NO change. He used Vibration analysis equipment on the truck and sent logs to STAR for review and so on. He did check AXLE bearings as best he could and the FINAL result is they are saying it is the Tires. I am thinking this is weird but I am not goint to disagree. I can live with it as long as there is not anything wrong with the Truck it's self and it is reliable.

One Test they asked him to do is reduce rear tire pressure from my 75-80PSI down to 50 PSI. And I was able to drive the Truck myself to confirm. The oscillation vibration is really hard to hear at that pressure. I put them back up to 80 and BOOM, there it is. I will agree that at that point it is likely the tires and NOT an axle bearing.

So, I will live with it and casually shop for Tires. He said he COULD push it and get them replaced. But it HAD to be another set of Nexens. So I will likely put Michilens on it like my 21. I really like those and they rode even better.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

OK, I guess the front U-Joint being offset was a coincidence. The dealer has had the truck off and on for the last 6 weeks and had the best Tech working on it. He and I have collaborated on this many times sharing ideas and he was communicating with several people on a STAR case and so on. He put ANOTHER dirveshaft in the Truck and NO change. He used Vibration analysis equipment on the truck and sent logs to STAR for review and so on. He did check AXLE bearings as best he could and the FINAL result is they are saying it is the Tires. I am thinking this is weird but I am not goint to disagree. I can live with it as long as there is not anything wrong with the Truck it's self and it is reliable.

One Test they asked him to do is reduce rear tire pressure from my 75-80PSI down to 50 PSI. And I was able to drive the Truck myself to confirm. The oscillation vibration is really hard to hear at that pressure. I put them back up to 80 and BOOM, there it is. I will agree that at that point it is likely the tires and NOT an axle bearing.

So, I will live with it and casually shop for Tires. He said he COULD push it and get them replaced. But it HAD to be another set of Nexens. So I will likely put Michilens on it like my 21. I really like those and they rode even better.

80psi? What kind of weight do you have in the back? With that PSI you are good for 11,336LBS on the rear end!
At 50PSI you are good for 8160LBS on the rear end!