Hey,
I was hoping some wise folks here might be able to help me pinpoint the source of my front end vibration. I have an 05 Dodge Dakota, Quad Cab 4x4 with the V8 engine. It has 192000kms and I have had a few front end parts replaced. I did get the tires balanced three days ago (and it was out) and I thought the problem went away (maybe I was delusional). However it did not go away. It begins to shutter around 50 km/h and then disappears at 80 km/h and then reappears again at around 120 km/h. It is the most severe between 60-70 km/h I think. When I jacked it up and checked the suspension everything seemed tight (no obvious play when stressed with a pry bar). When I spin the front tires i can hear the clicking of the front axle from both the driver and passenger side (I think this is normal?) When I rev the engine in neutral I don't get any sort of shutter until 4000 RPM. The shutter appears to be intensified by heavy acceleration but still shutters while coasting in neutral at the above mentioned speeds.

Any advice is helpful as I don't have confidence in the Dodge dealer here. They have a rep of doing a lot of "fixing" before finding the problem.

Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum. There are a couple of things you can do to narrow it down. Have you rotated the tires to see if the vibration moves somewhere else? That would tell you it's a balance issue. Some people on here (me included) have had to get tires balanced multiple times before vibrations went away. If the vibration is still there, yuou should check the tie rods and ball joints. These trucks are notorious for bad front end parts, also check the struts and sway bar end links. Last of all check the CV joints. See if you have a boot that split and lost all the grease. The clicking is normal when spinning the front wheel, thats the CV joints.

 

Thanks for the reply. I am back to the tire place again today. I checked the front end for loose parts with my pry bar but it is hard to tell when it is on jack stands. I really need to get it hung on a hoist.

 

Best way to check ball joints is to jack front end up as close to the tire as you can, then put a pry bar under the tire and lift up and down and check for up and down movement in ball joint. Uppers can be checked with a rubber mallet, whack the top of the control arm and look and listen. Sometimes you can see movement, otherwise listen for the telltale clink or ding. But what you're describing doesn't sound like a suspension thing. Sounds more like a tire, u-joint, cv joint or maybe even front hub. You said you would get the vibration while revving it at 4000. Did you mean you were sitting still and revving and vibrateing? If so you've got other issues.

 

Well, it's not the balance. I checked over the front end and I think it is the driver side CV half axle. To be specific I think it is the inner tripod joint on the inner part of the half shaft. It has enough play in to cause a shutter I think. The same play is not on the passenger side.

Any recommendations on a manufacturer for the part? Based on what I have read about the Mopar suspension parts for this truck I will be getting an aftermarket part.

 

Yeah I just put in in neutral and slowly brought the revs up and the things and the truck shutters at 4000 rpm. I read somewhere you could check the torque convertor that way. I am sure it is not that since the truck has no problem accelerating or shifting whatsoever. Plus I read that the speed sensor kicks in and that is what causes the shutter.

I am pretty sure it in in the driver side half axle.

 

could be sway bar end links. easiest way to check is get someone to rock your truck with you underneath and see if the ball joint on it moves up and down. wheel bearings are bad too but im sure you would have noticed the play in the wheel while it was jacked up.

 

Well Dodge says the outer tie rods are gone and my rear u-joint. They looked fine to me. I am skeptical. I am going to pick up the parts since we all know the factory mopar parts are not that great. We will see if it stops the vibration.

 

Well, I had them do the u joint only. Took it back and all vibration is gone. So i jacked it back up and checked the tie rods more carefully. Again I can feel no play in the wheel and when I test the wheel from the outside I can hear nor feel and play. However when I test it while looking right at the joint itself there is marginal play I suppose if you really watch it. The passenger side is tight and I played with it for a while to find the play. In this case I think they are looking for some extra cash.

So, for future reference a rear u joint can cause the violent intermittent shaking in the steering wheel. I have had u joints go before and I always felt it in the seat. I will keep you posted.