2013 3500 diesel pickuo

My 12 Ram 2500 CTD does. Just figured it was the nature of the beast.

Sounds like axle wrap to me, due to the pinion flexing up under hard throtle. This can be fixed by installing a longer leaf spring perch, or even a torsion bar on the rear axle.
My 03 2500 has never done this, and I would think only a high hp tuner would cause this.
If it happens braking too it's got to be a weak leaf pack I would think.

Our '08 3500 DRW has launch shudder and not all of time. I notice most when one I brake to fast coming to full stop or two I'm on a slight incline. When I feel the shudder I let of on the throttle and then lighlty accelerate and it does away. My mechanic said nor much they can do to fix this.

It's called launch shudder. Our DRW Ford and Dodge 3500's shudder too when towing. It's physic's and I won't even begin to try and explain it. IMHO there's two ways to eliminate launch torque shudder; one's free and the other will set ya back a few bucks.

First, slowly ease into the throttle from a dead stop. That's a lot of mass and weight your engine and tranny has to overcome from a dead stop...give both some time to get the load up and moving before rolling into the throttle to accelerate.

Second, I found that adding a set of traction bars and a tranny brace also helped. I had them painted to match the truck...and they look kinda cool too.


Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

They all shudder some. Generally, the more load; the more shudder.

The mechanics of it are tricky, but the simple explanation is that the rear wheels move forward a tiny fraction of an inch (remember, they are mounted on springs) before the mass of the load can start moving. This tiny change in position tweaks the driveline geometry enough to cause the shudder.

It doesn't hurt anything (unless it continues for two or three blocks down the road.)and goes away as soon as the springs pull the rear axle back into position.

Some large box-truck driveshafts have one or two sets of intermediate bearings to hold everything in alignment as the power comes on.

JMHO there is nothing about 2500 vs 3500 to say one shudders more than another. My 2500 Dodge was worse than my 3500 Chevy, but the Silverado is long bed which changes the basic geometry.

donn0128 wrote:
I get on the throttle hard when I have the fiver hitched and it does it. Pull away with a light foot and it does not. 800 lbft of torque does not help compared to your old 500 lbft truck

The only shudder I had was from bad middle rear ujoint. Truck has not been stock since 3k miles on the odometer. Running extrude honed injectors and Smarty programmer. Your not driving a sports car.

Auto tranny? Tires chirping? Too much suspension flex? Suspension unloading during heavy acceleration? Have you considered Torklift Stableloads?

nremtp143 wrote:
It is called "launch shudder" and all of the Big 3 trucks are prone to it. No, not everyone of them does it, but a lot of them do. Both of my two diesels have had it but it is easily remedied. If it is worse when loaded say, with the weight of a fifth wheel, then you have it. Most easily cured by adding air bags to the vehicle. I know, I know, that's the reason you bought a 350/3500 to begin with is to be able to tow whatever you wanted to! The shudder comes from changing the pinion/drive shaft angle of the rear end. It has been widely documented among all 3 manufacturers as I said. Another way to fix it is to shim the rear end, however that makes it worse when unloaded. I have Firestone Ride-Rites on my dually and an onboard compressor so I can adjust on the fly. Both of my trucks were cured by using the bags as the pinion angle doesn't change as much.

Correct answer here. It is due to driveline angle, and you are feeling the U-joint oscillation. You can't have a perfect driveline angle at all various loads, unless you change the ride height. It doesn't hurt anything.

I know, OP, you fought it out with your dealer and now it hurts to find out you were wrong. You're going to have to find a way to deal with the pain. Publicly badmouthing Chrysler is one way I guess.

I get on the throttle hard when I have the fiver hitched and it does it. Pull away with a light foot and it does not. 800 lbft of torque does not help compared to your old 500 lbft truck

This isn't a lot of info. Truck configuration? Empty? Loaded? Dually? SRW? Check plastic injected Ujoints? Are the tires round (not a trick question)? Check carriage bearing? Was rear axle filled correctly at manufacturer?

It is called "launch shudder" and all of the Big 3 trucks are prone to it. No, not everyone of them does it, but a lot of them do. Both of my two diesels have had it but it is easily remedied. If it is worse when loaded say, with the weight of a fifth wheel, then you have it. Most easily cured by adding air bags to the vehicle. I know, I know, that's the reason you bought a 350/3500 to begin with is to be able to tow whatever you wanted to! The shudder comes from changing the pinion/drive shaft angle of the rear end. It has been widely documented among all 3 manufacturers as I said. Another way to fix it is to shim the rear end, however that makes it worse when unloaded. I have Firestone Ride-Rites on my dually and an onboard compressor so I can adjust on the fly. Both of my trucks were cured by using the bags as the pinion angle doesn't change as much.