Low Speed Vibration

[RageRover]

This had started up earlier two days ago, at first I had thought it was misfiring, but it feels like something in the drivetrain. I sure as hell hope it isn't the transfer case, diffs, or CVs going bad. I read my manual and it said that it could be low transfer case fluid, dried out sliding splines and U-Joints, or off balanced wheels, but this occurs at low speeds. Then at high freeway speeds vibration is not felt. The wheels were balanced when I mounted the new rubber back in February or March.

So what do you guys think? I know it is something that needs to be taken care of, it scares me a little.

[Greg M]

Hey Pat, give us a little more info - is the vibration in the steering wheel, the engine, the whole truck, etc?

[RageRover]

This feels like the whole truck, but not in the steering wheel. I can feel it in the floor, and I can see the mirrors shaking along with it too. And this only happens at speeds below 45 mph.

[Greg M]

Hmmmm. Vibrations are hard to track down man. Just cause your tires are fairly new doesn't mean much. I usually need to take my new ones in after a few months to have them rebalanced. But if it were the front tires you would feel it in the steering. Could be the u joints - could be your drive shaft is out of balance (weights could have come off). I know this isn't much help, but I would start with the tires, then the u joints. Hopefully some else will weigh in.

[RageRover]

I hope so too man. I know something is up. And I also hope that "something" is something I can easily replace. Like U-joints, those are easy.

If a weight came off the driveshaft or the other, I will be so releived. It will be easy to reattach.

Now is there anything else that could cause this kinda vibration? Like bad CV joints in the front axle, bad gears?

I hope it isn't any of those.

[sven]

Check your rotoflex on the rear driveshaft. Its probably all cracked.

[onslow]

Originally Posted by RageRover

I hope so too man. I know something is up. And I also hope that "something" is something I can easily replace. Like U-joints, those are easy.

If a weight came off the driveshaft or the other, I will be so releived. It will be easy to reattach.

Now is there anything else that could cause this kinda vibration? Like bad CV joints in the front axle, bad gears?

I hope it isn't any of those.

the main cause of vibration is wheel imbalance check you havent lost a wheel balancing weight,also check the panhard rod bushes (the tie bar that connects the front axle to the chassis stops sideways movement) very common failure,loose wheelnuts can also cause vibration.

[RageRover]

Originally Posted by sven

Check your rotoflex on the rear driveshaft. Its probably all cracked.

Ya know I was told about that today, and I agree, I haven't looked yet.

I also installed a 2" lift, so I can assume that it can make this Rotoflex thing to wear even more. Also can these things break at all? Like fall apart and cause the driveshaft to fall off?

Where can I get one for cheap too?

Thanks guys!

[sven]

Originally Posted by RageRover

Ya know I was told about that today, and I agree, I haven't looked yet.

I also installed a 2" lift, so I can assume that it can make this Rotoflex thing to wear even more. Also can these things break at all? Like fall apart and cause the driveshaft to fall off?

Where can I get one for cheap too?

Thanks guys!

A new lift will definetely weaken the rotoflex. Especially the RTE lift, its more like 3 inches. I have the 3" RTE lift and its more like 4 inches of lift!
Instead of replacing the RF, I bought a used rear driveshaft off a 93 LWB (it has 2 ujoints) and got rid of the rotoflex setup. Its real easy to do.