Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Brother in law has this Dodge truck with 86K miles. Him and his grand daughter was on a ramp going onto a divided highway. He was running about 50 when he heard a ding and then the truck started to vibrate a bit. As he sped up, the vibration went away. He then noticed it when he slowed down. At 40 mph it went away. I looked under his truck and the u joints were tight, carrier bearing good, weights on both ends of the driveshaft for balance.

On my inspection, I noticed a nice shiny spot in the center of the drive shaft. Everything else is typical for a truck that has seen northern winter salt, rust everywhere except for this one spot. About inch an a half long by about 3/4" wide running parallel with the shaft. I think a weight popped off.

He took his truck to his mechanic. Mechanic says tires are 10 years old and probably busted belts. Ok, he goes and gets a new set of tires balanced and mounted,,,,,,,,,still vibrates.

Takes truck back to mechanic. Mechanic put truck up on lift, found that the universals were dry. Carrier bearing good condition. Replaced pumpkin input seal, universals, and still vibrates.

Mechanic is now starting to believe my theory of a missing weight on the center of the drive shaft, bet he says they didn't put them there.

I know this sounds odd, but if any of you would happen to have a Dodge truck around the 96 model, could you see if your driveshaft has a weight on the center of the drive shaft?

I think the Mechanic needs to remove the shaft and have it re-balanced.

Any help will be appreciated,,,,,Thanks........SS

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

I have a '95 and will look if it ever stops raining.Can you run the truck on a lift?
If you can find a strobe light you could mark the shaft and watch it at different rpms.I don't recall seeing weights anywhere but the ends near the yoke.Maybe my FSM will show it.I will look tomorrow for you.Ron G

 

[mthieme]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

SS,
I have two on my '95. One fore, one aft one the same plane - just at each end. They are the same approximate size.
Your best bet is to find a regular truck shop. They will have the proper equipment to deal with re-balancing the drive shaft.
I'm really surprised the mechanic didn't go for this first.
Busted belts on a tire (much less all four) would stick out like a sore thumb visually.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

My opinion...... that mechanic is DONE and would not get another shred of my business. There must be other mechanics around that are in the business of fixing instead of dairy by milking a job.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

I have a local Driveline Repair shop. I've watched the guy balance and straighten drive shafts. The ones I've seen him do already have weights welded on the outside of the shafts. He knocks them off, spins up the shaft then tack welds on appropriate new ones.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

When he had the universals changed, he had to use the ones for the diesel model. The mechanic is going to soak up the balancing of the shaft and for a new carrier bearing since he screwed up. He has been my BIL's mechanic for many many years since high school. Should know Monday evening if that took care of the problem.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

Something to prove a point take two large hose clams and put them on the drive shaft where you think the weights may have been. Put the screw heads of the clamps on the shiny spot of the drive shaft. If the vibration goes away or gets better you know thats the problem.

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

I think that the "ding" noise that he heard is probably significant in the diagnosis of this,either some road debris hit the driveshaft or a bolt backed out of the torque converter and hit the bell housing but rebalancing the driveshaft will point him in whatever direction he needs to go.
It does not seem as though 86k is enough to dry out the ujoints to the point of replacement.I have 175k on mine and as far as I know they are original but I bought it at 75k and the previous owner plowed with it so maybe they have been replaced.
I had to replace both front wheel bearings and now it needs half shaft ujoints,the 1500 was not meant to be a plow truck.Otherwise it is still the sweetest truck I ever owned.Ron G

 

[rwise]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

sounds like he lost a weight from the shaft. Other shafts may not have that one, each is an individual. Last time I had one balanced it was not costly. u joints dry, they would not have lasted long anyway, 10 year old tires, probably should be changed, but wont fix the issue at hand.

 

[jimr]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

It does not seem as though 86k is enough to dry out the ujoints to the point of replacement.I have 175k on mine and as far as I know they are original but I bought it at 75k and the previous owner plowed with it so maybe they have been replaced.

I have replaced ujoints in vehicles that have alot less milage than that on them. it all depends on driving style,road salt usage etc. It stinks that the OE doesn't put grease zerts in them any more. I think something hit the shaft when he was driving there isn't usually any weights in the center of the shafts

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck UPDATE

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck UPDATE

We put on the hose clamps on the driveshaft and the vibration let up some and not near as bad. Took the truck back to the mech and told him to eat the cost on getting it balanced since a new set of tires had been bought. The man at the balance shop said the shaft looked good, but the mech said the owner demands that it be checked out mechanically vs visual inspection. Low and behold, it was out of balance. Apparently the shiny spot had a weight on it after all. Goes to show you that looks can be deceiving ..............SS

BTW BIL is happy now,,,,,,just hope he moves back to his home,,,,,,,,,real soon!

 

[dolluper]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck UPDATE

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck UPDATE

Till you hear it DING again...LOL's

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

Thank you for updating us,still raining here.Ron G

 

[mthieme]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

Glad it turned out.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Need Help on 96 Dodge 2500 truck

Something to prove a point take two large hose clams and put them on the drive shaft where you think the weights may have been. Put the screw heads of the clamps on the shiny spot of the drive shaft. If the vibration goes away or gets better you know thats the problem.

toot toot toot just tooting my own horn.