Ok, so today when I went to get my wheels put on, and had ZERO shaking until the wheels were put on.

WELL, when I got the new wheels on, I hit the brakes, and HORRID shaking accumulated. So I brought it back, and the guy took the wheels off.

Turns out, EACH ONE OF THE BRAKES, has two little washers attached to them, he took these washers off, with a flathead screwdriver and a rubber mallet, and the shake dissappeared.

So ANYONE who is having this shaking issue, bring your truck to the dealer, or if you are feelign brave, and take those washers off.

The manager told the dude to take off those washers, and it was all gone. So take a look at that, I'd say check with a dealer if that could be a possible issue, if so take em off. :-)



JUST MY OPINION

Don't take it word for word though.

 

All those are, are retaining clips when they intall the drums/ rotors so they stay on going down the assembly line. They can make a slight offset, like doing a brake job and not wire brushing any crud off the hub and re installing a rotor. Frenchy those made your 20" wheels shake but I think the "real" shaking problem in the daks are much more serious. I am thankful I dont have the shakes...but havent had morning coffee yet so maybe I will soon.

I would suggest you find a big rotor upgrade kit, those big wheels are going to be hell on your brakes on an already problematic system.

 

Alrighty, well I thought I figured it out.

OH well.

 

Frenchy you are right. I had posted before about my truck doing the same thing. I took it over to discount tire and the guy there pulled of my rim and saw those washers and could not belive that tireman didnt take them off. Once they were off shaking was gone! The reason is that the factory wheels have a gap for those washers and when you put aftermarket wheels on they do not so it offsets the rim causing it to shake like that.

 

Ya but even on stock wheels, if you took these washers off and had the stock wheels on the truck, would the shaking dissappear? Or no?

 

well you didnt have it with the stock wheels right? Thats because the stock rims have that indent on the rim

 

Oh... I never even thought about that. Heh.

 

so do you think it would make a difference to take off the washers even having the stock rims? The reason I ask is that I have the aluminum rims and have changed tires from the POS goodyear wranglers to Michelin LTX's but still have an "ever so slight vibration" at highway speeds but other than that it rides a hell of a lot better than having those goodyear wrangler SR-A's on it. If so, I will take it down to my local discount tire and have them remove them as well and see what happens. I tell my wife that I still feel a slight vibration at highway speeds and as usual she said that "it's all in my head" and it rides fine after changing the tires. I tell you it's not in my head! damnit! Any input would be greatly appreciated. In any case my battle (aka runaround) continues with goodyear over their SR-A's.

 

you might have something unbalanced. I have had that problem before with stock rims and aftermarket tires. Sometimes you will get a tire that is worped.

 

Knowing what I know now about the Dakota's, I would not have purchased it. I have put on Michelin LTX's instead of goodyear SR-A's and had them road force balanced and was told the stock rims & michelin tires are in excellent condition but a vibration remains at highway speeds, that is why I asked about taking off the washers as a last result before taking it in for the TSB problem. I love the look of the truck interior and exterior but the problems at this point are not worth it. My wife owns an 02 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport which has been good to us and just went over 100,000 miles but my dakota problems continue. I shall take it to the dealer this week to take care of the TSB concerning the brakes/axles and if that does not work I shall file under the lemon law and have the dealer purchase it back (being that I will refuse the offer to replace it with another Dakota if so offered) which I still have time to do under state law and purchase something else unfortunately. I would hate to let it go but oh well.