I have a 99 Dodge Durango/5.9L, 130K miles.In the last couple days, it has developed a mild vibration that is at it's peak at 30mph whether accelerating or decelerating. Vibration is the same whether braking or not. Also not correlated to engine rpm, shifting the auto transmission to L1, 2, or neutraldoesn't change the vibration. Vibration lessens above 30 mph, and is hardly noticable at 60-70 mph, except when I take my foor off the accelerator, there is a whining sound that wasn't there when at contstant speed. My initial thoughts are either wheel bearings, U-joints or differential. Any advice on what to check first?

 

The vibration sounds like your wheels may bo off balanced which is simple get them balanced, as for the whine that is, like you said, probably the diff or wheel bearings.

 

Rear diff needs a fluid change and friction modifier added and IF there isn't any damage, that should do it on the noise.

Agreed on the wheel out of balance OR a tire with a broken belt. How old is the rubber?

IndyD

 

Thanks, the tires are 4 yrs old and have about 55k miles. I listened again this morning while driving, and the sound at 60-70 mph is more like an increased rumbling road noise than a whine that occurs when I let off the accelerator.

What type of friction modifier would you suggest for the differential? Thanks

 

75w90 Mobil1 AND the Mopar LSD $9 little bottle of friction mod for the rear diff. Just the Mobil1 for the front diff if 4x4.

I'd say the wobble is the tire.

IndyD

 

I ended up taking my Durango to my mechanic. Turned out to be the rear u-joint on the rear driveshaft. It was pretty much bound up.Put front and rear u-joints on with grease serts.

 

ok, what would make the tire/s wobble, thats been happening to mine, not often...but it has... dunno what it is.

But the wobbley tire, what could that be?

loose lugnuts? doubt that.

just curious to know.


THanks. DodgeD98

 

Tire wobble =

A) smaller issue is a missing wieght resulting in being out of balance
B) bigger issue is a broken belt inside the rubber

Either can make it 'wobble'. A is fixable by getting the tires rebalanced and rotated. B isn't and requires a replacement.

HTH,

IndyDurango