Kyle, I am also "one of the lucky ones" Not to jump into this mess, but are we not entitled to give an opinion on this web site? I think you are correct, but so can BB. Your post and his are giving opinions of the issue as well as mine.
What we will most likely never know is how large of a problem this drone/vibration is. Unless the majority of hemi owners have the problem and complain to Dodge. IMO, most posters post issues/problems/complaints. Forums would be rather boring if the only posts were "there is nother wrong with my truck".

Hope Dodge eventually helps those who have the issue.

 

Heres my two cents. I traded in a 2006 because it had this issue before I knew these trucks had an issue. My new $41000 2011 truck does this with only 200 miles on it yet it didnt do it during my 1 mile test drive. I love this truck and I have owned 4 F150s. I am however completely pissed. Their is no reason for this to be a continued problem in the year 2011. They could make a car in the 50's drive straight, ride like a cloud and have motors and transmissions that operated flawless. HEre we are in 2011 and quality is the most compromised thing there is with these new cars.

The problem with this truck is that it doesnt like idling around at between 1300 to 1500 RPMs. Theres a simple fix for this. Either gear the transmission or axles to gain 200 or 300 RPM or tune the truck so that lock up and MDS only happen in 5th gear.

In my opinion these trucks woukd run much better in the 1800 rpm range any way. Blame the freakin EPA for this BS.

If these tuners dont fix this in the next month, Im changing both axle gears to a steeper gear and calling it a day. It will be worth every penny.

 

I just got my 2011 Ram Sport last weekend that I ordered in mid March and am finished with the initial break in (800 mi) and am ready to tow my trailers this summer weekends. I followed this thread and others before I placed my order and even drove a new one with less than 100 miles on it. I could hear this MDS growel when the radio was off in the demo ride with the 3.55 gear and with the radio on it was very negligible in sound to me.

I ordered the 3.92 LSD in my Ram Sport and had it written in the contract that the dealer would switch out the 20” wheels with the 17” from the SLT or Outdoorsman “No Charge” which they did. I also had them rim up new Bridgestone 265/70-17 Dueler Revos and put the factory Goodyears on craigslist. This switch took me from a 33” tall tire to a 31.7” tire. The tighter gearing and shorter tire puts the motor in a sweeter rpm range and I don’t find the occasional MDS growl a problem, especially since I like listening to the SAT radio. I have a 5yr /100k mile warranty and am confident that if there is a mechanical drive train problem that it will fail in this period. My bet is that it won’t.

This new Ram is replacing my 2004 Hemi Durango w/3.92 and 545 trans that has been absolutely flawless for the 127k I’ve owned it. It pulled a 7,500 lb 24’ enclosed car hauler and a 3,000 lb 12’ enclosed trailer 6,000 miles every summer. I expect the new Ram to be every bit as reliable as the old Durango.

Just my 2¢

 

Sorry I ticked you off my Ram brother. I am sorry you're having this issue. I knew someone wouldn't be happy with my reply but it is what it is.


Misleading information? Really? I'm not going to waste the key-strokes to defend my post. I'll just say thanks to Mike2810 for agreeing with my right to post my opinion. My energy is better utilized to make a suggestion using my 35 years of experience as an engineer.

Engineers love data so give them all they can stand if you're serious about getting something done about this issue. Use that PC in front of you and start a log or a spread sheet on your specific issues. List the specs on your truck: when you bought it, rear-axle ratio is probably a good one to list, miles when this first started. Any mods you've done to it. Describe the driving conditions under which this occurs the worst. RPM & speed would be in there for me. Engine condition; warm or cold. I'd also list what gear the tranny is in since MDS kicks in all over the place. Also list how many times you've complained to Dodge, your dealer, etc., and who you dealt with.

I had a problem with a Ponitac many years ago back when warranties were 12/12. I killed them with this type of data and finally got them to pay for 2-repairs that were way outside the warranty. Thier regional rep told me he'd never seen anyone do this.

Yea, it sucks doing this but it's time better spent because it might lead to a fix.

 

[QUOTE=Bestbrown2011;2495926]Yes, test drive it especially if you haven't driven any hemi with the MDS. Some folks here are very emotional about this issue. I don't mean to belittle their opinions with my comments but I'm a mechanical engineer. I don't work in the auto industry but have been a DIY mechanic all my adult life.

In my 2011 Laramie, 5K miles as of today, its just the sound. The stock exhaust is throaty and we all love that sound. I don't know how anyone cannot expect to get some "feel" from a throaty exhaust system when half of the cylinders are not firing. I'm fine with it and this is the second hemi in my house. My wife drives a 2007 300C.

Test drive one yourself and form your own opinion.[/QUOTE

need to ask, as an engineer, how do you explain trucks have this issue and some do not or some have this issue but not to the extent as other that feel it is a problem? tks Steve just read the above posts, as i am not trying to add to the frey here, pm me if you want. also i am not having this issue.

 

I didn't read every post, but this is exactly what I was dealing with in my 2007 1500!

I'm sure I posted on here a few times.

How can a company produce trucks for 4 years with the same defect!

The handling of this issue directly encouraged me to replace it with the 'same truck' but much better engine.

If I EVER drive an MDS HEMI again, it'll be too soon.

 

To Chrysler it might be a 'defect'. Each driver,owner may or may not be bothered by 'drone shudder". I lug mine around low rpm constantly. I feel and hear every split second it drops four cylinders. Yes I feel a slight vibration and it sounds a little funky. I don't give it a second thought. Now I have had things that drove me up a wall on vehicles that might not have bothered the next owner. My 03 Dodge dually had a vibration in seat,floor,pedals low rpm and on shift. It was pretty bad. Then a new updated powersteering hose with a counter weight came out. Fixed it. Huge difference. Two buddies of mine drove theirs for two plus years that way. Because it was diesel they thought it was normal. I convinced both of them to get the updated hose on theirs. They were like WOW!

 

We're on the same page hounddogg. Everyone's perception on this issue is going to be a little different. If my truck changes and this turns into excessive vibration, then I would be just as upset as Kyle. I've been in a couple other 4th generation hemis and they are just like mine. Yes it sounds like crap when MDS is on , especially at low speeds, low RPMs. You also pick up some slight vibration but like mine, I have yet to ride in one that I personally perceive to be excessive. Just my opinion but it certainly sounds like many other owners feel the same way.

 

As hounddogg & I just said, some of it is probably perception but I also don't doubt there are some with a real defect.

Why some with, others without? As I said previously I don't work in the auto industry but I do work with manufactured products. Everything that is manufactured has tolerances associated with it. Some of the trucks with this issue could have some components near the extreme limits or even out of spec but were accepted or repaired by an engineering disposition. I'd love nothing better than to see the build record for my truck out of curiosity if nothing else. The manufacturers will probably never let us see this detailed information. It sure would be great if they did.

 

Now I believe that the SHUDDER on downshift that is talked about and was thought to be torque converter or clutch pack issue etc. is NOT normal. Hopefully a FLASH that supposedly in the works will remedy it. I have experience SHUDDER on a number of different make and year model vehicles. Nissan Maxima's customer would say they had a strange vibration,highway speeds. Had to two tire stores etc. Was told tires and wheels fine. Would say could not duplicate. Well get those hot and at interstate speed and come off gas and then back on and the worse SHUDDER you could imagine. Like at 70mph you just ran over really wide close together railroad tracks. Then it would go away. Improper clearences in a clutch pack.