Gotta Vibration...

I've had a vibration in my truck now for quite a long time. It's sort of a pulsating vibration. It only happens roughly between 65-75 mph. It doesn't seem to be engine related as when I push the clutch in it doesn't go away.

Over the weekend I changed out the struts and shocks and now the vibration seems to be much more prevalent (shocks are a stiffer offroad type). I don't know if they're related or if it was just coincidence. I was thinking maybe the additional firmness was just transferring the vibration more?? A few years back I did replace both the rims and tires but that made no difference. And I have rotated the tires a bunch since the new tires-- none of this has helped.

Anyone have any ideas on where I should start looking? BTW- both CV Boots are torn and need to be replaced. Don't know how long they've been torn.
I was also thinking maybe wheel bearings??

Any help would be appreciated.

Joe

 

This is obvious, but have you had the tires balanced properly?

 

Yeah, I went to a specialty guy that does high end stuff and had them balanced once. No difference.

 

If the truck doesn't have manual front hubs and the boots have been torn for a long time they are probably the cause of your vibration. Once there isn't any lubricant for the CV joints they wear out. Play in the driveline=vibration.

 

I have auto hubs. And while I do agree with you and won't discount the fact it could be the cv joints, I do know the vibration was there before the boots were torn.

 

You could remove the front drive-shaft, to see if it has any affect.
If the vibe goes away, then the differential/ADD is the source of the problem.

 

I'm getting vibes at 40-45 and at 20 during takeoff. It's because of a bad U-joint in the rear prop shaft, I believe. So you could take a look at those. I'm also getting some squeaking though.

 

that means what ?

money is not a guarantee that this specialty guy knows anything

have yer wheels/tires spun balanced
using a lug centric backing plate.
wheel weights added to both side of the wheel.

If the vibration persists... it won't be tire balance.

aside from simple tire imbalance...

I'm thinking it's yer CV's w/torn boots that are culprit

but it could be several other neglected things.

 

Tacodell: this guy has all the latest and greatest equipment. Plus, as I stated earlier, the vibration has been there at the same speed through a wheel change as well as two sets of BFGoodrich All Terrain TA's. The tires are not the problem.

As well, the vibration was there before the boots were torn.

Lastly, the truck is not neglected. If it was, I wouldn't be on this forum.

 

^ ok... but you stated this...

this kind of comment seems maintenance neglectful to me.

sorry if muh comment was prejudicial

 

I don't climb under my truck weekly. If that makes me neglectful, so be it. When I said I don't know how long they've been torn, it simply meant I can't give a specific time frame. They had to have gone at nearly the same time though, as it wasn't too long ago I replaced the pads and saw no problems but did not inspect the boots closely.

Anyway, let's get back to the subject at hand.

 

If your new shocks changed the CV angles at all from even the slightest height difference it would make a problem with them more noticeable. Aftermarket CV shafts aren't insanely costly and you need them anyway. Why not swap a pair in and see what happens?

 

when replacing the brake pads...
did you replace or have the rotors turned ?

How many miles are on the current front brake pads/rotors ?

 

You bring up an interesting point. The previous owner had put a leveling kit on the truck that includes a 1.25" spacer that sits on top of the coil spring. I wonder if that had any effect?

 

the top load spacer hints as to why yer cv boots have failed.
that would throw the suspension travel's geometry perimeter's off.

tho' I can't say the spacer(s) stand alone would cause yer issue.

simple thing... take them off and see for yourself

 

I've been reading that lift kits/leveling Kits will cause vibration. I'm wondering if this is what is causing the vibration I have? The method they used is 1.5" in-coil spacer for front and 2.5" block in the rear.

 

No, I didn't replace or have them turned. There was no damage so I used some emory cloth to deglaze.

There's approx 15K on these pads.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but the CV axles only spin while in 4 wheel drive. If this is correct, then they shouldn't be causing any vibration while in 2 wheel drive which is my situation.

 

If it's an in coil spacer, you should be fine
doesn't change the CO/CA's travel perimeters

top load spacers are a different thing...
and just evil.

The rear blocks are a fail in my book.
so I'll say nothing more of those.