Hi everyone. 1997 ram 2500 5.9 gas, auto, reg cab, 4x4, 8800gvwr. Bought the truck and has a violent shake at 50mph that just comes on out of nowhere. I've replaced and checked the following: balance tires, checked wheel bearings, balanced driveshaft and new u joints, rear (dana 60) was checked out and all bearings good, new transmission mount. The shake is still there even if I shift to neutral at that speed. It gets worse faster I go. Smooth up until 50 and transmission shifts fine no banging. I removed front driveshaft to rule that out. Shifted to 4wd high and still shakes. Do not feel it in the steering wheel, definitely in the cab like drivetrain. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

Does the shake start once you hit O/D? Does it change if you push the O/D off button?

 

I think he has death wobble

 

It does seem to start when it hits o/d. I will try that today and see if it makes a difference. And if it was death wobble wouldn't I feel that more in the steering or would I feel it in my seat/cab?

 

That rules out drive line. Sounds like the death wobble. You need to lift the front wheels off the ground and check the other steering/suspension component's. You have something worn causing "slop" witch is causing the death wobble.

 

That's what I was thinking too, but, as the Fanatic points out, wouldn't you feel that thru the steering??? I haven't experienced it though.... so, no real idea of what it feels like.

 

When it's not bad it feels like a miss in O/D. When it's really bad you feel it everywhere! 😂

 

Ok it still does it with overdrive off. I will definitely jack up the front end and start checking everything. I really appreciate all the responses. Is there any specific front end parts that are probe to go on these trucks or basically everything?

 

The known trouble areas are the track bar, tire rod ends, and the steering box

 

Well i have basically the same truck and here is what was replaced in order, Ball joints, drag link, right side tie rod end. pitman arm tie rod(along with the stabilizer) This was replaced because i was starting to experience the death wobble. I also noticed the steering gear has some slop in it also but i don't get the death wobble any more. (It's on the list to be replaced) There is a slight amount of slop in the track bar but couldn't replace it because the parts store stole parts out of the box. It's near impossible to tell if you feel it through the steering column when you are nearly getting thrown out of the seat.