Suspension Question

[JOsworth]

First off, 2016 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4X4, V6 Automatic. 66k miles, not hammered but driven fairly aggressively, if that is a thing. Anyway, I have noticed recently a slight degrade in ride quality, one of the big plus's for me in getting this truck. It feels more "jiggly" on the highway. My commute every day involves a decent stint on the Ohio Autobahn (the Turnpike). At high highway speed I also feel a vibration, like the tires are out of balance. The tires are Continental all terrain and were smooth and quiet when new, and have not gotten noisy nor do they show any sign of wear. I have maybe 20k on them. I have been ensured that they are balanced and OK. So, next thought would be brakes. They are fine as well. Good pedal feel, and no vibration when I brake. Even did the light brake drag test when at highway speed to feel for any irregular pulse or vibration through the pedal. Nothing. Every morning I expect to feel some sort of vibration when I brake into the bend at my exit, but still smooth.

So, my alignment specialist (yes, I take it to a shop that just specializes in alignments and suspension work) that I trust also said they looked over the suspension when I had them do an alignment check, and balance check on the tires. They claim all is fine.

My question here, after trying to search, is what areas should I look at myself. I am no stranger to working on suspensions having rebuilt more than one front end myself (ball joints, tie rod ends, control arms, struts, etc) so I have some basic understanding. I just would like some guidance trying to track this down and getting my truck back to the same smooth ride it once had. Could it be bushings? Are there known weak points in the suspension? Shocks at 66k miles? Could they appear fine but transmit harmonic vibration from the road? Please help...

 

[tron67j]

Broken belt on a tire. Your description matches what I felt with the issue with my last Ram, finally found the bad tire. It was bulging ever so slightly in a spot but I think a belt could break and not show on outside. Good luck..

 

[Elevated 2013]

A couple things come to mind after reading your post. First, do you feel the vibration in the steering wheel or more in the seat only when there’s a vibration? Do you have any more tire noise than when you bought it? Like they sound like mudding tires vs more like normal street tires? What I’m thinking is that your rear shocks or front struts might be worn out but aren’t showing any signs physically (leaking out the seal) and maybe causing the tires to become wavey. The wear pattern causes tires to sound more like off road truck style tires. If you take your hand and run it over them (it’s a good idea to do this when they’re cold and not after driven and warmed up) from the front of the tire to the back along the treads, not across them. See if you feel even a slight wave in the tread. If so, you most likely have worn shocks or struts. It only has to be 1 tire that has this to give you a vibration but you would need to replace both shocks/struts and I like to replace the springs too at that time since you’re already right there.


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[kurek]

If you have an action cam and a good solid way to mount it, mount that under your vehicle pointing at various parts of your suspension and go for a few drives. If something's loose it should become visible.

 

[JOsworth]

Broken belt on a tire. Your description matches what I felt with the issue with my last Ram, finally found the bad tire. It was bulging ever so slightly in a spot but I think a belt could break and not show on outside. Good luck..

Will check this tomorrow AM with another visit to the tire shop.

 

[JOsworth]

A couple things come to mind after reading your post. First, do you feel the vibration in the steering wheel or more in the seat only when there’s a vibration? Do you have any more tire noise than when you bought it? Like they sound like mudding tires vs more like normal street tires? What I’m thinking is that your rear shocks or front struts might be worn out but aren’t showing any signs physically (leaking out the seal) and maybe causing the tires to become wavey. The wear pattern causes tires to sound more like off road truck style tires. If you take your hand and run it over them (it’s a good idea to do this when they’re cold and not after driven and warmed up) from the front of the tire to the back along the treads, not across them. See if you feel even a slight wave in the tread. If so, you most likely have worn shocks or struts. It only has to be 1 tire that has this to give you a vibration but you would need to replace both shocks/struts and I like to replace the springs too at that time since you’re already right there.


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The vibration is felt throughout the truck... both the seat and the wheel. More in the wheel.
There is no additional tire noise at all, despite running all terrain tires vs all seasons. Also the treadwear is fine, along with no cupping or feathering.
I suspect shocks/struts but not sure if they commonly wear out at right around 60k miles.

 

[canadiankodiak700]

Broken belt on a tire. Your description matches what I felt with the issue with my last Ram, finally found the bad tire. It was bulging ever so slightly in a spot but I think a belt could break and not show on outside. Good luck..

Belts don't break, they seperate. If it breaks, the tire lottery flies apart.

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[Lyle Longboat]

Torque converter shudder? Seat of pants and wheel. It’s known to do both. Just saying.

 

[tron67j]

Belts don't break, they seperate. If it breaks, the tire lottery flies apart.

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I don't have history with separated belts, but belts most definitely break and do not always result in immediate catastrophic failure. I had one and the tire shop opened the tire to show me. No separation there, only a break.

 

[canadiankodiak700]

Over 10 years in the tire industry. I can tell you, if it breaks, it's coming through the rubber. That tire will not be drivable. Belts seperate, they release from the rubber and move apart, unbroken, resulting in bulges and waves in the tire. It's not broken.

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[canadiankodiak700]

I don't have history with separated belts, but belts most definitely break and do not always result in immediate catastrophic failure. I had one and the tire shop opened the tire to show me. No separation there, only a break.

How did they show you the break? It has to be through the rubber.

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[JOsworth]

Torque converter shudder? Seat of pants and wheel. It’s known to do both. Just saying.

Hmm... would it be at a constant speed, and when accelerating?

 

[tron67j]

How did they show you the break? It has to be through the rubber.

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Not sure it matters to you how, just that you do not believe me and since I doubt I can prove it to your satisfaction, I say we just agree to disagree and hope that from all the suggestions here the original poster finds a solution to his problem.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

I o

Hmm... would it be at a constant speed, and when accelerating?

well it happened to me while
Driving highway speeds. Serious vibrations when hitting around 50-75. If I let up, it would calm
Down or if I slammed down on the throttle it would somewhat settle. But it was a vibration. One time well
Driving 55mph “boom” and smoke everything plus stink burnt trans fluid smell. Blew the seals in Trans. TC shudder for well over a year and a half.

 

[canadiankodiak700]

Not sure it matters to you how, just that you do not believe me and since I doubt I can prove it to your satisfaction, I say we just agree to disagree and hope that from all the suggestions here the original poster finds a solution to his problem.

I don't believe, because for them to show you a broken belt, it has to have punctured through the tire. Exactly as I said.

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[Sgambots91]

I o

well it happened to me while
Driving highway speeds. Serious vibrations when hitting around 50-75. If I let up, it would calm
Down or if I slammed down on the throttle it would somewhat settle. But it was a vibration. One time well
Driving 55mph “boom” and smoke everything plus stink burnt trans fluid smell. Blew the seals in Trans. TC shudder for well over a year and a half.

I have some highway speed vibrations in seat/center console at 55ish up through 75. It’s not constant, comes and goes. It’s starting to drive me insane. Had my tires road force balanced.

Had the problem with my stock Goodyear’s SRA but feel it more with my Nitto ridge grapplers. Dealership was useless and said my aftermarket exhaust can cause slight vibrations. Then went on to charge me diagnosis fee, even though they didn’t diagnose the problem.

I installed a 1.5” coil spacer in rear and I think the vibrations gotten worse. Wonder if it’s a faulty rear shock?

How can I check the torque converter?

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Here are some Tests your can do. I believe there is another, however you may blow the trans if not done correctly from what I have read. Also seeing your vibration stayed when changing tires and also got worse when adding the rear lift makes me believe it does have something to do with trans.

• Go for a long drive and pay attention to the way your car shifts. If it shifts slower than normal, this may indicate a problem with the torque converter
• If you hear clunking or clanging noises when you shift into drive, this might point twoards a torque converter issue
• Rev the car up twice (with your foot on the brake), wait for it to idle, and then place the car in drive. If you notice any odd noises, you may have a torque converter issue.

 

[Sgambots91]

Here are some Tests your can do. I believe there is another, however you may blow the trans if not done correctly from what I have read. Also seeing your vibration stayed when changing tires and also got worse when adding the rear lift makes me believe it does have something to do with trans.

• Go for a long drive and pay attention to the way your car shifts. If it shifts slower than normal, this may indicate a problem with the torque converter
• If you hear clunking or clanging noises when you shift into drive, this might point twoards a torque converter issue
• Rev the car up twice (with your foot on the brake), wait for it to idle, and then place the car in drive. If you notice any odd noises, you may have a torque converter issue.

I’ll give those a shot, thanks! Frustrating that I have this issue with a new truck. Not even 10k miles yet!

 

[ram1500rsm]

Get down the truck belly and grab your CV axel shafts, see how much play there is in them simply trying to wiggle on them. Little play is ok, but if they move quite a bit that could your problem. @hodge-xj went through this and that was the issue in his case.

 

[Sgambots91]

Get down the truck belly and grab your CV axel shafts, see how much play there is in them simply trying to wiggle on them. Little play is ok, but if they move quite a bit that could your problem. @hodge-xj went through this and that was the issue in his case.

Is this in regards to the original poster or my vibrations issue?