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Truck vibration

Hammerboy
Explorer
Explorer
My truck in my signature has a random vibration that has been popping up the last couple months. It will slowly come up to a moderate vibration and then slowly go away over a course of 2-3 miles. A couple months ago it did this a few times and have not had this happen since then until yesterday. It feels like going down a washboard road except not as severe and totally random as to when it will show up and not something I can get it to do. Tires appear fine and are rotated every oil change. It's not the roads as I travel these roads all the time and would know. Only thing I can think of is something is loose or some slop has built up somewhere.

I mention to my local mechanic when I had my wife's car in for service and he was a little stumped although he hasn't looked at it yet.

Any thoughts?

Dan
2019 Chevy crew LTZ 2500 HD Duramax
2017 Wildcat 29rlx fifth wheel
14 REPLIES 14

Hammerboy
Explorer
Explorer
1ed wrote:
What about tire balance?
Can you duplicate the sound at any speed?


OP here,

There isn't any sound with the random vibration. I did have it at the dealership this week for this and another small issue. He said the driveline looks great but think it's a brake getting hung up. I now am starting to hear a squeak occasionally coming from the drivers side rear wheel and noticing a lot of brake dust on that wheel and not the others. They were not able to do any work at that time as some part needed to be ordered so it's going back this Monday. I'll have them dig into that wheel a little deeper.

Dan
2019 Chevy crew LTZ 2500 HD Duramax
2017 Wildcat 29rlx fifth wheel

Bedlam
Moderator
Moderator
1. Rotate tires left to right or front to rear and see if the vibration changes. This will rule out balancing or tire issues.

2. Apply the brakes when feel the vibration. If it changes, it a tie rod or wheel bearing.

3. If the vibration is only speed sensitive, it can be a u-joint, drive line bearing or out of balance drive shaft.

Host Mammoth 11.5 on Ram 5500 HD

1ed
Explorer
Explorer
What about tire balance?
Can you duplicate the sound at any speed?

colliehauler
Explorer III
Explorer III
His was the gas truck so different transmission under the TSB.

colliehauler
Explorer III
Explorer III
I would check for a recall of the torque converter, GM had a issue with some. Friends new GMC had the same issue and was replaced. I don't know what years were affected.

Just googled it and was from 2014 to 2018 they had a issue. GM should have a TSB on it, known problem.

macjom
Explorer
Explorer
Getting them road force balanced can solve the vibration issue most of the time.

Super_Dave
Explorer
Explorer
My 2 guesses are a bulging sidewall on a tire or a U joint. My one personal experience with a mystery vibration was a bad tire sidewall.
Truck: 2006 Dodge 3500 Dually
Rig: 2018 Big Country 3155 RLK
Boat: 21' North River Seahawk

zenasboy
Explorer
Explorer
I've had the random vibration just like that on my 02 F350 on a couple of different occasions.

First time it was bad wheel bearing hub...literally felt like I was driving on the rumble strips and would usually happen after driving over a something like a bridge transition. It would last a couple of miles and then go away. I pulled the hub and the bearing rollers just all fell out.

Second time it happened it was the exact same feeling but would just happen at random times. Ended up being rear brake cable had come unhooked. That was a hard one to track down because it felt just like it was coming from left front end, but was caused by rear left brake. Had to take it to mechanic to find the trouble and he said it fooled him too.

zenasboy
Explorer
Explorer
I've had the random vibration just like that on my 02 F350 on a couple of different occasions.

First time it was bad wheel bearing hub...literally felt like I was driving on the rumble strips and would usually happen after driving over a something like a bridge transition. It would last a couple of miles and then go away. I pulled the hub and the bearing rollers just all fell out.

Second time it happened it was the exact same feeling but would just happen at random times. Ended up being rear brake cable had come unhooked. That was a hard one to track down because it felt just like it was coming from left front end, but was caused by rear left brake. Had to take it to mechanic to find the trouble and he said it fooled him too.

honda1
Explorer
Explorer
whats the tsb numer so i can see if my truck needs repaired ? ..

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
Check the steering box to frame bolts for tightness as well as the Pittman Arm to tie rod joints. Manufacturers like to use no grease plastic insert joints that don't last very long and being a Michigander myself, I know what the roads here are like....bad to worse. Government Motors has had some ongoing issues with the steering box itself on pickup trucks, yours may be one with the issue. You need to check the TSB's to find out.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

Hammerboy
Explorer
Explorer
mich800 wrote:
Have you been able to isolate it to a general area? Front/back, left/right. Can you feel it or just hear it?


It's not something I can hear other than some minor rattling inside the truck. Hard to tell where but would guess the front end somewhere.

Dan
2019 Chevy crew LTZ 2500 HD Duramax
2017 Wildcat 29rlx fifth wheel

Hammerboy
Explorer
Explorer
mich800 wrote:
Have you been able to isolate it to a general area? Front/back, left/right. Can you feel it or just hear it?


It's not something I can hear other than some minor rattling inside the truck. Hard to tell where but would guess the front end somewhere.

Dan
2019 Chevy crew LTZ 2500 HD Duramax
2017 Wildcat 29rlx fifth wheel

mich800
Explorer
Explorer
Have you been able to isolate it to a general area? Front/back, left/right. Can you feel it or just hear it?