Getting a slight wobble/vibration from about 30 mph to 40, upon reaching 40 it dies out and rides smooth, as it does under 30.
Any time it is in the 30 to 40 range, whether accelerating or de-accelerating, it wobbles.
I am thinking it must be a ujoint or busted/failing tire belt, from these symptoms, any thoughts ?

 

If it is the tires it should keep going. The wobble. I was with a guy who rims had snow packed in them at 80 the steering wheel looked like it was on crack!

 

thats weird, could be tires, my dad's truck had a tire that wore funny due to mud packed in behind the rim, and it had an odd vibration at certain speeds. when the u joint went out on my truck, it never vibrated (it was on the left front axle)
also check your front and rear drive shafts for failing u joints, and or missing balance weights, same for the rims, check for missing balance

 

U joints, i have the same thing from 75-90 after that it smooths out real nice lol.


I know what your thinking...shut up im building a race truck.

 

Thanks for the thoughts, I should point out that I have a 1500 Ram with the multi part drive shaft, so I actually have 3 ujoints.
Yeah might be some kind of balance issue, I am going to put in new shocks in a couple of days, I think I'll swap the rear to front tires, and if the wobble stops then I'll be pretty sure it is the tires - I imagine a wobble from the rear tires wouldn't be felt near as much in the steering wheel as the front.
Tires look to be in decent shape with lots of life left in the tread and nothing obviously wrong with them, but them busted belts can be deceiving.
I've had them all off recently doing ball joints and brake work, don't think being packed with debris is a factor.

 

I have found that 99.9% of the time when you have a vibration that comes and goes with speed is a u-joint failing. Since I assume you are in two wheel drive I would check for play in the rear drive shaft and look for dents or missing weights on the shaft. Also check the carrier bearing that you referred to as your third u-joint. That can also cause vibration issues but usually when the carrier bearing goes it will vibrate constantly.

 

"Mid-ship bearing" is what you'd have to tell a parts store or service tech, I know, I have hunted down this elusive part before - And no, I did not imply, or mean, that its a 3rd u-joint, I was under my truck the other day, grease gun in hand, and there are 3 u-joints.
1st connects the trans to the 1st short drivetrain tube, second connects the short tube to the long one, 3rd connects long tube to differential.

 

sounds to me like i'm needing u-joints lol

 

U-joints and/or the driveshaft needs to be balanced.

 

I have a 96 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 front u-joints for wheels are ratteling, how hard are they to change? please any help would be gratefull.