Oh what could it be?? Yes just less than 43,000 miles, Cummings Diesel and you wouldn't believe the vibration. The slower you go the worse it gets. I can't even drive home. [:@]Not the tires as the vibration is to close together. Buy the way its a 6 speed manual trans. 4X4 2500 2005 model. Even going down the road with the engine off, transfer case in neutral and costing down its still there. Could it be a peace of the clutch plate missing. The prior owner said (if I heard him right) said at about 20,000 he had a new clutch, pressure plate replaced and I think he said the flywheel because it was not milled right. What if anything do you guys know on this. thanks Skip R

 

Check the drive shaft, sounds like a U-joint going out. Twist it to see if you have excessive play. It should be tight. It could also be a tire seperating, look at the sidewalls carefully to see if there is any seperation. Look at the trans tail shaft also, is it leaking fluids? If it looks like its leaking(more than just a drop or two) it could be the tailshaft bearing. Move the driveshaft input shaft up/down/side to side, it should be tight.

 

Look at the rear end housing also, CAREFULLY touch the pumpkin, if it is hot, you might be shelling out the rear end. I have heard that its pretty common for the pinion gear lock nut to loosen, that could also cause serious vibrations.

 

That's why I love this place... such helpful, knowledgeable people! I hope he gets it figured out.

 

How much rotation (play) should the rear drive shaft have when setting still?

 

Very little! If the drive shaft has more than about 1/2 inch of rotational play you have a problem. Is the rear end yoke rotating with the driveshaft or is it just the driveshaft? If the yoke on the rear end is rotating, its your rear end. If its the driveshaft rotating and the yoke remains stationary its the u joints on the driveshaft.

 

Check the big nut behind the driveshaft at the rear end. This is the pinion nut i refered to earlier. it might be loose. If it is, remove the driveshaft,(be sure to chock both back wheels)head to auto zone and get some blue locktite to put on the threadsand retorque the nut. If you get the red locktite it will take a torch to get it off in the future. Hope this helps.

 

Would this be covered under the 7-70,000 warrantyif it is a loose nut etc.in the rear end? This has just under 43,000 miles on it and I paid the $150.00 to extend the warranty when I bought it used and at that time it had about 25,000 mile on it.

 

Yes, I would imagine the drivetrain warranty should cover this. In the meantime do a search for the term "Death Wobble" on here, other forums or you can even Google it. MANY Dodge 2500 owners have the same problem you describe. Maybe someone posted a solution...

 

If your front tires are starting to wear funny it may be the front U-joints are bad. Our 04 started to wobble bad when they went at only 25,000 mi.!!!!!