My 2003 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 (100K) has a shake to it between the 37 and 42 MPH. It feels like a wheel/tire out of balance, but I had those re-balanced to make sure. I swapped out the spare to see if that eliminated the shake, but it didn’t. The shake is not in the steering or front as no vibrations are coming through the steering wheel, but more in the seat style. I can look at the bed in the rear view mirror and notice it seems to be shaking. Tried a search on the issue, and no one seems to be able to give a great explanation on how to resolve it. When I take the overdrive button off, it seems to be minimally noticeable, which makes me lean towards the transmission. Tranny fluid looks good and doesn’t smell burnt. Could it be a torque converter issue that would shake the entire truck or something else. Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

1) 4-wheel Alignment was done?

if not DO IT!

2) Check All Steering Joints

3) Have you had wheel bearings checked?

if not DO IT!


Those are the most common causes for that type of "shaking"

 

How do you align the rear wheels??

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=4

^ Read That

its not a typical alignment in the sense of the term. Has to do with the thrust angle and some other stuff there.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I did have a 4 wheel alignment done when the wheel balancing was completed. I checked the steering joints as well when I was figuring out a power steering hose leak. And the bearings have all checked out. Any further suggestions? Thanks again.

 

you align them to the front.. if they are too far out, you adjust the rear mounts, and give yourself more room to align them to the front..

i suspect aliens.. they are invisible to the naked eye, unless you're wearing a tin foil hat.. then you can see them.. it is likely they are grasping your drive shaft for amusement.. they like doing that, and I don't know why..

put your shiny hat on, lean out the door while achieving those speeds, and take a gander.. i wouldn't be surprised if there were as many as a dozen holding on.. simply ask them to redistribute their weight appropriately.. problem solved..

 

lol

okay now for the serious feedback...

My only other thought is that that power steering issue could be your problem too... the pump might be shot and is not operating correctly.

If it isn't that, then you are going to need to start checking wheel bearings and axles, and then the transmission...


The trans is the last thing I would suspect but you never know.

Does the shaking happen more or less when you have the truck in 4WD?

 

The truck does it in 2wd primarily as I don't drive that speed typically in 4wd. I would guess if it was the pump than steering would be affected in some form, but it seems like the issue is coming more from the mid to rear of the truck than the front. I'm beginning to consider the aliens as a viable option as I have plenty of them on another vehicle.

 

hahaha

well I've never taken the cab or bed off of one of these trucks but it might be a bushing that has failed between the frame? (again not sure if thats how Dodge does it)

Not sure what else to tell you could be the problem.... Something's definitely going on...

Do your brakes travel to the floor, and then if you let off and push them in again does the pedal get firm?

If so then you're looking at a VERY badly worn Wheel bearing.... that happened to me on an old Chevy Blazer (1987/8)

 

He said the shake is in the seat. most likely something in the rear. How are the u-joints. How old are the shocks. Could even be warped rear brake rotors.