Need advise.
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2017
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Need advise.
Hello all,
I'm in need of some help. I bought a 2001 Dakota, quad cab, 4.7, AWD a few years ago. I have enjoyed the truck and it has suited me well. It know has 147K.
Overall its in good shape, however I have always had one issue with this truck. It has a slight vibration at 20 to 30 mph. When i test drove the truck before buying it I felt it, however I took a gamble and figured it had a warped rotor, alignment, or a suspension issue.
However, I have had the suspension gone threw more then once, and all warn parts replaced, besides u-joints.
I have taken the truck to multiple shops and mechanics, with no luck. The best information I have received is when a mechanic at a dodge dealership removed the front drive line. The vibration was GONE, put the front drive line back on, vibration is back. I even had a new front drive line built and replaced, but the vibration is still there.
I am sort of at a lose now, the last shop I took the truck to said it might be a frozen u-joint in the rear drive line, however the vibration would still be there when I remove the front drive line, so I cant imagine that's the issue.
Is there anyone here that might be able to give some advise? At this point, I am about to replace EVERY u-joint in the truck.
If that's not the issue, ill be forced to take the truck to a transmission shop and see if they have any ideas. Front diff, transmission, t-case?
What could possible be causing this vibration when the front drive line is installed, and when the front drive line is off, there is NO vibration? Thanks to anyone with some advise!!!
I'm in need of some help. I bought a 2001 Dakota, quad cab, 4.7, AWD a few years ago. I have enjoyed the truck and it has suited me well. It know has 147K.
Overall its in good shape, however I have always had one issue with this truck. It has a slight vibration at 20 to 30 mph. When i test drove the truck before buying it I felt it, however I took a gamble and figured it had a warped rotor, alignment, or a suspension issue.
However, I have had the suspension gone threw more then once, and all warn parts replaced, besides u-joints.
I have taken the truck to multiple shops and mechanics, with no luck. The best information I have received is when a mechanic at a dodge dealership removed the front drive line. The vibration was GONE, put the front drive line back on, vibration is back. I even had a new front drive line built and replaced, but the vibration is still there.
I am sort of at a lose now, the last shop I took the truck to said it might be a frozen u-joint in the rear drive line, however the vibration would still be there when I remove the front drive line, so I cant imagine that's the issue.
Is there anyone here that might be able to give some advise? At this point, I am about to replace EVERY u-joint in the truck.
If that's not the issue, ill be forced to take the truck to a transmission shop and see if they have any ideas. Front diff, transmission, t-case?
What could possible be causing this vibration when the front drive line is installed, and when the front drive line is off, there is NO vibration? Thanks to anyone with some advise!!!
Legend
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 183
From: Fort Worth, TX
could be the front pinion or the front output shaft of the transfercase.
For the test, did you put the transfercase in 4-HI instead of AWD? Pretty sure in AWD mode it would not drive without a front shaft, as the internal differential would only output to the low-resistance front shaft. As such, it could also be something in the transfercase differential which goes away when the differential is locked up for 4-HI. That should be easy enough to test though, given a road that is straight (do not try to turn the steering wheel in 4-Hi on pavement).
If the vibration is still there in 4-HI, that rules out the center differential. Would have to look at either the front axle pinion bearing, or the transfercase output shaft bearing. Both could be fine when unloaded, but vibrate when loaded by being connected via the driveshaft.
For the test, did you put the transfercase in 4-HI instead of AWD? Pretty sure in AWD mode it would not drive without a front shaft, as the internal differential would only output to the low-resistance front shaft. As such, it could also be something in the transfercase differential which goes away when the differential is locked up for 4-HI. That should be easy enough to test though, given a road that is straight (do not try to turn the steering wheel in 4-Hi on pavement).
If the vibration is still there in 4-HI, that rules out the center differential. Would have to look at either the front axle pinion bearing, or the transfercase output shaft bearing. Both could be fine when unloaded, but vibrate when loaded by being connected via the driveshaft.
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2017
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could be the front pinion or the front output shaft of the transfercase.
For the test, did you put the transfercase in 4-HI instead of AWD? Pretty sure in AWD mode it would not drive without a front shaft, as the internal differential would only output to the low-resistance front shaft. As such, it could also be something in the transfercase differential which goes away when the differential is locked up for 4-HI. That should be easy enough to test though, given a road that is straight (do not try to turn the steering wheel in 4-Hi on pavement).
If the vibration is still there in 4-HI, that rules out the center differential. Would have to look at either the front axle pinion bearing, or the transfercase output shaft bearing. Both could be fine when unloaded, but vibrate when loaded by being connected via the driveshaft.
For the test, did you put the transfercase in 4-HI instead of AWD? Pretty sure in AWD mode it would not drive without a front shaft, as the internal differential would only output to the low-resistance front shaft. As such, it could also be something in the transfercase differential which goes away when the differential is locked up for 4-HI. That should be easy enough to test though, given a road that is straight (do not try to turn the steering wheel in 4-Hi on pavement).
If the vibration is still there in 4-HI, that rules out the center differential. Would have to look at either the front axle pinion bearing, or the transfercase output shaft bearing. Both could be fine when unloaded, but vibrate when loaded by being connected via the driveshaft.
I don't remember ever having the truck in 4-HI or 4-low ever with the drive shaft on for more then a few miles ( never needed to with AWD). Today I will get out to a straight road and put the truck into 4-HI and drive at the speeds I normal have the vibration, to see if its there in 4-HI. This is a very good idea.
Thank you for the help, ill respond after I do the testing! Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Registered User
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Well after much time searching for this low speed vibration, I was able to solve this issue. I had to take my truck into to transmission shop a few times. First I had to have my AWD t-case rebuilt due to neglect from the previous owner along with running one different size tire. 3 tires one size, and 1 tire a different size for a long period of time.
After having the t-case rebuilt the vibration was still there. I had the front drive line removed and sent to a driveline shop to have it balanced. Reinstalled the driveline, vibration was still.
Had the truck put on stands, then put in gear to watch all the drivetrain parts in motion. They noticed that the front CV axles were not balanced, one was actually bent... They replaced both front CV axles, vibration is now gone.
They said they have never seen a bent CV axle on a pickup before, but that's what the issue was. I have no idea how they got bend, as the vibration was there since the day I bought the pickup. The Dakota is now up and running good again.
After having the t-case rebuilt the vibration was still there. I had the front drive line removed and sent to a driveline shop to have it balanced. Reinstalled the driveline, vibration was still.
Had the truck put on stands, then put in gear to watch all the drivetrain parts in motion. They noticed that the front CV axles were not balanced, one was actually bent... They replaced both front CV axles, vibration is now gone.
They said they have never seen a bent CV axle on a pickup before, but that's what the issue was. I have no idea how they got bend, as the vibration was there since the day I bought the pickup. The Dakota is now up and running good again.
Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 462
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From: Denver
Could it be from the previous owner driving it in 4-HI on pavement? I know that can/will damage everything from the driveshaft to the transfer case (could even have contributed to it needing the rebuild you had done) but not sure about the actual CV axle shafts.