4wd vibration

[Zero]

Here is my issue. In 2wd there is no drive line vibration. If I switch the truck into 4wd, there is a slight increase in vibration at idle. Not much, but if your anal about it, u know its there.

2nd issue is when I start accelerating there is a lot of vibration in the front end of the vehicle. Again, only in 4wd. Once I get up to road or highway speeds, the vibration goes away.

Today my boss and I checked the cv's and U joints on the drive shaft from the transfer case to the front diff.....there appears to be no extra play, and no signs of failure. The only part we came across that needed to be replaced was the upper ball joint on the drivers side.
The boots are fine, no cracks, and now grease slung around the under of the fender.

I am also due for a tire balance and rotation. I will have the alignment checked at that time as well. Hopefully I will have Marks new front end lift kit early january.


I will be taking the truck back into the shop to work on it Monday, Id really like to try to get a better sense of what is going on here.


Z

[Trail X]

The whole front-end is turning even when in 2WD... so the only thing I can imagine is that the front driveshaft may be out of balance - however that doesn't make sense considering you said you feel it vibrate more when stopped.

[Zero]

No, the vibration is minimal at an idle in 4wd, just more than the vibration at idle when in 2wd......the vibration really comes out when I start to accelerate until I get up to cruising speed.

Maybe I should just replace the u joints anyways, since they are only $20 a pop. Is there a ton of things to take apart to be able to get at the front drive shaft?

[Zero]

No one else care to chime in here? wheres the forum love?

[fishsticks]

No one else care to chime in here? wheres the forum love?

Stumped. The fact that there's a vibration while idling as well as in motion eliminates any of my ideas.

If it was just while moving in 4WD, I'd suggest a wheel bearing that is failing in such a way that it only groans/vibrates when the front axles are live.

[Zero]

Noted, I will check wheel bearings as well. thanx bud. Another thought i had was to check the motor mounts.

[bdp1978]

Noted, I will check wheel bearings as well. thanx bud. Another thought i had was to check the motor mounts.

Motor mounts arent going to be affected by the switch to 4wd. At idle nothing should change to cause a vibe by just switching to 4wd since none of the added components are turning.

My guess as far as the moving vibe would be driveshaft or CV halfshaft assembly. And of those 2 I would lean towards the half shaft. When my CV went out about 2 weeks ago I had no grease escaping from the boot, but could feel the vibration accelerating. Pulled it and the bearings were shot on the inner CV joint.

[Trail X]

Keep in mind the CV axles are turning even when in in 2WD.

[Zero]

Ok, I thin I am just gonna replace stuff and see if the vibration goes away, and keep the stock stuff as spares for the trail.

what is the best cv to buy? doorman or cardone?


b

[bdp1978]

Keep in mind the CV axles are turning even when in in 2WD.

Very true, my vibes were significantly worse in 4wd though with the added stress.


As far as half shafts go, I know everyone around here is a big fan of the cardone's. Me personally, I just went to autozone, paid $60 bucks for a re-manufactured dura-last with a lifetime warranty.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Ok, I thin I am just gonna replace stuff and see if the vibration goes away, and keep the stock stuff as spares for the trail.

Roadie isn't this shotgun blast of throwing parts at an undiagnosed problem one of your pet peeves?

I have a wicked vibration in 4x4 on pavement, but never feel it offroad. I know our transfer cases are not designed to be in 4x4 on a surface that is not loose, ie snow or dirt, that is why there is the auto setting for 4x4 use on pavement.

I have replaced the wheel bearing due to needing them and a cv due to trail damage, but since I don't use 4x4 onroad, I don't mind that it vibrates. I see no ill effefts and don't have vibrations in 2wd. I actually think that it could be my worn ball joints and the stress of the torque when in 4x4 on them front, but that is just a guess really.

[The Roadie]

It is, but I've been reduced to using it as a tactic in rare cases of very subtle problems that didn't respond to the usual process. Like my intermittent P0171 code that ended up being the CPAS. And my idle vibration that ended up being the motor mounts. I thought the two issues were related for the longest time with only ONE root cause.

And Zero's justification of using the process to generate his own trail spares is actually a pretty good one, as rationalizations go. Much more trail-worthiness involved to learn about the vehicle and avoid paying a dealer to misdiagnose it.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Good Point on the spares.

Zero...What is plan for parts to replace? Are you going to do a bunch at once or one thing at a time to figure out what the problem is?

[Zero]

Yes, I am dignifying this parts swap as a way to have a trail spare. Which I should have anyways hahaha.

The current plan is tomorrow to meet my boss at the shop and replace the badly worn upper ball joint on drivers side, as well as the cv on the drivers side, and rotate my tires. then I will swing over to goodyear and have my alignment checked, and my tires re balanced on their "road force" balancer. It costs a bit more but holy crap, ive never had a machine balance my tires better. There is just no comparison to the standard balancers.

Another reason I want to do the cv was to take the 4wd disconnect off and give it a thorough cleaning and re greasing for peace of mind, and just to check for wear. I have 130000kms so i figured the grease is probably time for a change anyways.

As usual i will take pics, and post them up.

[Zero]

Has doorman finally produced a 4wd disconnect rebuild kit yet?

[fishsticks]

Negatory on the rebuild kit.


My last parts shotgun netted me an spare ignition switch and relay. It's cool.

[Zero]

hahaha 2 things I should also have on hand, but will in the future.

[Trail X]

Yes, I am dignifying this parts swap as a way to have a trail spare. Which I should have anyways hahaha.

The current plan is tomorrow to meet my boss at the shop and replace the badly worn upper ball joint on drivers side, as well as the cv on the drivers side, and rotate my tires. then I will swing over to goodyear and have my alignment checked, and my tires re balanced on their "road force" balancer. It costs a bit more but holy crap, ive never had a machine balance my tires better. There is just no comparison to the standard balancers.

Another reason I want to do the cv was to take the 4wd disconnect off and give it a thorough cleaning and re greasing for peace of mind, and just to check for wear. I have 130000kms so i figured the grease is probably time for a change anyways.

As usual i will take pics, and post them up.

The disconnect is on the passenger side.

[Zero]

I realized that shortly after I posted, while reading your 4wd disconnect write up

[bdp1978]

You've got a good plan going for the issue you have. Throwing parts at a problem isnt fun as far as $$$ goes, but if you havent torn it all apart before, you def. learn a lot.

I had never torn my front end apart until my lift went on. Now (After several tear downs) I can basically re-do the entire front end- both sides in under 2 hrs, and I'm a lot more confident in my understanding of how everything works.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!