Driveline vibes or tire issue??

So I lifted my truck a few month ago (2.5"front and 1.5" back) and shortly after added some Duratracs - I had some balancing issues with the tires before but I had it rebalanced and yesterday double checked on a hunter road force balance and they checked out fine.

I only noticed the vibes after putting the Duratracs on...and I have them (not all the time) between 55-65.

I was 100% sure it was a balancing issue with the rear tires as I see my bed vibrating when empty at the speeds above 55...but since they checked out fine, I guess it might be my driveline now.

Tried to see if it happens more if the not under load it seems smother while under load than just coasting or decelerating.

To me that points in the direction of DL vibes so I placed a order for the OEM CB drop kit yesterday.


Again, the vibes are minor...don't have them at take off much just at speeds of 55+...any input, similar situations? What was the fix?

 

My tire shop just air wrenches the wheels on and they always have vibes after a visit. I have to come home, jack up the truck and loosen the lugs then tighten properly. Using a star pattern - torque all bolts to 30, then 60, then 90 (I go 100). Over torquing is not recommended.

If you do this and the vibes don't go away, they are in the drive line. Start by greasing the u joints if you haven't done that in awhile. then carrier bearing drop, then axle shims. If none of that works, leave it unlocked in a bad neighborhood.

 

Probably the best advice I've ever read

 

The roadforce machine is the cat's meow. But like other technology, it can't really work alone. The tech has to be both properly trained and diligent in his work.

It can be used as a 'regular' machine. Roadforce has extra steps that most techs don't take unless it fails the regular method. And some shops charge more for the Roadforce feature.

All that said, are you confident the RoadForce feature was used, as in you watched it being done, or you have great trust in the tech at hand?

Obviously you are on the right path, ie making sure the simple stuff (wheels/tires) is right before chasing more complex stuff.

Hope it's simple!

 

Do you have access to another set of wheels and tires. If you were close I'd let you try mine. Stock size but shouldn't matter. Surely that would eliminate the tire/wheel part of the question.

 

I did see them using it, they mentioned in the beginning that they might have to rotate the tire...but it checked out fine he said - I only heard good stuff about this shop but it was my first time using them since I moved to the area.

I was running the stock tires for 3 weeks on the lifted truck and it was fine (at least I thought), then switched to Duratracs...at first I lost a sticky weight on the front 5min after, they rebalanced but it was still off, I made them go to the clip ons and that helped a little...didn't notice it much when I was living in NC because most roads were under 45 and the highway at 65-70...now here it's a lot of 55 which is exactly in the zone. I'll get some pictures when I'm home. I might rotate the tires to the front and see if I get steering wheel shake to prove the point if the CB drop is not working out.

 

I had bad experience with duratracs. Goodyear went through 2 sets still wouldn't fix my vibration. Threw stock wheels on and problem went away.
Since then, I've been running copper st maxx and couldn't be happier.

 

that's my suspicion because I never noticed it that much before but again it might have been there all the time - I have the certificates, so I would get them replaced no problem - but would go to a different tire too if that doesn't fix the issue.

 

Update: I brought it back to discount after the other shop told me all tires checked out fine. They offered to re-check it after I pointed out the suspect tire. I told them to rotate it on the rim and rebalance and that did the trick (it needed half the weights now)...it's rides smooth now. Finally a store that was able to get that straightened out

I'm still going to install the CB drop and see how it feels...takes 10min to put in so I'll give it a shot

 

Yea it's really difficult to pin point the issue. Start with simple things first.