I have an 01 2500 v10 extended cab. About 8 months ago I put after market wheels on with the super swampers that I had been running. My truck would start shaking around 40mph and higher. (not a death wobble, just shaking). I feel it at my feet and in the seat. The steering wheel stays nice and straight, no pulling or vibrating, but the truck its self is shaking/bouncing. Tires were road forced balanced (twice) and the ride stayed the same. Had 3 front end alignments done. I replaced all tie rods and ends, shocks, wheel bearings, hubs, and upper and lower ball joints on both sides, and the steering stabilizer. Checked the changed the trak bar bushings even though they werent warn. Still no change. Bought 4 brand new BF mud terrrains and still nothing. tried my friends rims and tires and still had the same issue.

Now Im thinking unbalanced drive shaft or bad u joints on the drive shaft. I do have some play in the rear drive shaft.

I am open to any ideas and help, about to give up . Thanks

 

If you have play in the ujoint, I'd replace it. Maybe take the shaft to a shop and let them check the balance.

 

Im taking both the front and rear drive shaft out on Wednesday. When I bought the truck the dealership claimed there was an issue with the front shaft and replaced it. At that time I was running 285 michellins with a regular road tread. When I swithched to the super swampers I got the vibrations. Thinking I had bad tires I went and put on 305/70.16 BF mudterrrains. Brand new and road forced balanced I still had the same vibration. A local shop that does allot of after market lifts and customizing seem to think now that with the bigger more aggressive tire that the vibration in the ujoint or shaft is amplified. We will see

 

As you have tried diff tires and the problem is still there, I don't think it is in the tires or rims. But I thought I would pass this link on to you. I have gone through sort of the same thing as you and found that the Balancing beads work great. They did not fix my vibe but they did make a world of diff to the way the truck rode and handled. I will never go back to lead weights. My problem turned out to be a low comp test on a couple of cyld. I am not sure if the v10 will have the same symptoms as the v8 but you might check for a miss in your truck.

http://www.counteractbalancing.com/counteract/

 

I actually tried the pellets in the tires when I ran the super swampers. didnt make any difference.

On another note. I put in a new tranny and transfer case last summer and still no change.

 

Have the shop check to see if you twisted a drive shaft. I have seen it happen, it was only of 1/8in but it caused vibration like you're describing. That was in a 01 chevy 1/2 ton 5.3l pulling a ford out in 4lo so a big v10 like that could do it.

 

bump bump

 

Mine does that at 65 mph. I have tried to nail it down and this is what I did, others same as you.

Found the rear axle was actually toe'd out of square. Removed the U-bolts and aligned it square using actual hard measurements on the frame. Re-aligned and that did help somewhat of a caster shimmy.

Now I am contemplating on whether the issue is axle related. See on the 2500 Dana 60 front axle there are bushings on the outer axle housings, the axle runs through these bushings. From there is a U-joint and onto the hub. What I am wondering is if that bushing is worn then the U-joint can vibrate like a PTO on a tractor does, same rule applies.....At least this is what I'm thinking. However, my steering wheel has a vibration.

I haven't looked into it yet as I only use mine very little, but I plan on changing out the bushings and U-joints next year. Now nothing is bad that I know off and everything checks out or is new, but the U-joints are old and so are the bushings.

 

i replaced those u joints when I did the front wheel bearings and hubs. Didnt get to the drive shaft this week but i think its coming out gettting rebalanced, and the u joints done. Also think im going to put new shocks in. Im running very inexpensive skyjacker shocks and figured a new heavy duty shock might take some of the bouncing out of the front end. This is getting old quick. eight months of bouncing around the highway sucks

 

it could be your U bolts. Do you have a lift? Are they stacked Blocks? If they are stacked blocks, then the blocks can move and make the U bolts loose. Basically your rear axle is wobbling.

Hit the u-bolt nuts with some fire and tighten them down hard.