Shudder/vibration at low speed turning or backing

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Mountaineer83

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Posts
290
Reaction score
218
Location
Charleston, WV
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.4
Ok, so I've searched and searched and have come up pretty much empty. My scenario is as follows:

2016 Ram 2500 4wd w/6.4

When pulling out from a stop with the wheel cut either direction or especially when backing or pulling into a parking space, I get a shudder or vibration. It almost feel like when you are in 4wd and it crab walks, but not nearly as severe.

I have pinpointed it to the rear while walking beside it as my wife pulled into our driveway from the street. I just can't pin down the exact culprit.

This issue has occurred more than once, but has been very noticeable the past few days. I did just have my gears swapped to 4.88s, but it was happening before hand on occasion as well, as long as a couple of years ago. I chalked it up to my tires and went on my way.

But, my ocd is now getting the best of me and probably made me more aware since my gear swap due to paying more attention overall.

Anyone else have this issue?
 

Halligan

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Posts
230
Reaction score
234
Location
Massachusetts
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 6.4
You sure it's in the rear? I would almost bet a front axle u-joint is the culprit. But if your sure it's in the rear then I'm not sure. A bad rear driveshaft U-joint would not worsen when turning. Only other thoughts would be the rear axle carrier or LSD acting up.
 

crazy jerry

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2016
Posts
1,164
Reaction score
800
Location
WY
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4
some after market gear vendors require conventional 80w-90 for new gear installs . that oil typically has no friction modifier. if you have a clutch style traction device it likely needs friction modifier or they chatter. find out what oil you have and if you have any traction device. i suspect thats whats making the noise
 

Halligan

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Posts
230
Reaction score
234
Location
Massachusetts
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 6.4
some after market gear vendors require conventional 80w-90 for new gear installs . that oil typically has no friction modifier. if you have a clutch style traction device it likely needs friction modifier or they chatter. find out what oil you have and if you have any traction device. i suspect thats whats making the noise

Good point. If the gear installer put in a non factory LSD that uses a clutch pack you may need friction modifier. The factory LSD however does not require the additive as it is not a clutch style.
 
OP
OP
Mountaineer83

Mountaineer83

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Posts
290
Reaction score
218
Location
Charleston, WV
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.4
Thanks guys. I have the factory limited slip and verified with my installer that it indeed has no clutches.

I take it back in about 500 miles for fluid flush and refill. Hopefully after that it stops ig it is in fact related to the rear setup.
 

RamCares

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
3,782
Reaction score
1,513
Location
Michigan
Ram Year
n/a
Engine
n/a
Thanks guys. I have the factory limited slip and verified with my installer that it indeed has no clutches.

I take it back in about 500 miles for fluid flush and refill. Hopefully after that it stops ig it is in fact related to the rear setup.

Hello Mountaineer83,
We are happy to hear your fellow forum members have assisted you. However, please keep us updated when you head to the dealer. If any additional assistance is needed throughout that process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We're always happy to assist.
Laura
RamCares
 
OP
OP
Mountaineer83

Mountaineer83

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Posts
290
Reaction score
218
Location
Charleston, WV
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.4
Hello Mountaineer83,
We are happy to hear your fellow forum members have assisted you. However, please keep us updated when you head to the dealer. If any additional assistance is needed throughout that process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We're always happy to assist.
Laura
RamCares

Thank you!
 

Hydraplane

Senior Member
Joined
May 12, 2019
Posts
112
Reaction score
32
Location
Navarre, FL
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.7
Ok, so I've searched and searched and have come up pretty much empty. My scenario is as follows:

2016 Ram 2500 4wd w/6.4

When pulling out from a stop with the wheel cut either direction or especially when backing or pulling into a parking space, I get a shudder or vibration. It almost feel like when you are in 4wd and it crab walks, but not nearly as severe.

I have pinpointed it to the rear while walking beside it as my wife pulled into our driveway from the street. I just can't pin down the exact culprit.

This issue has occurred more than once, but has been very noticeable the past few days. I did just have my gears swapped to 4.88s, but it was happening before hand on occasion as well, as long as a couple of years ago. I chalked it up to my tires and went on my way.

But, my ocd is now getting the best of me and probably made me more aware since my gear swap due to paying more attention overall.

Anyone else have this issue?
I have a stock 2018 PW with 20K been doing the same thing for awhile. I will write it up on my next trip to the dealer to fix the radio...
 
OP
OP
Mountaineer83

Mountaineer83

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Posts
290
Reaction score
218
Location
Charleston, WV
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I have a stock 2018 PW with 20K been doing the same thing for awhile. I will write it up on my next trip to the dealer to fix the radio...

It's hard to pinpoint for sure! My guy who put my gears in told me he would help me figure it out when he does my oil change on my gears. I will say, he has went above and beyond just installing my gears.
 

Jason Horn

Junior Member
Joined
May 29, 2020
Posts
7
Reaction score
1
Location
Bakersfield
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Hemi 6.4
did anybody find a resolution, I have a 2018 and its doing the same thing. Slow speed turns such as parking and the whole truck vibrates bad. I took to dealership they said it was power steering, they also said I contaminated the fluid and it would not be warranted. Nobody has ever removed the lid much less add fluid however I replaced the pump and it still vibrates, 300 out the window still have a problem. I have no faith in my dealership!!
 

68PowerWagon

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2015
Posts
1,666
Reaction score
976
Location
Dayton, Ohio
Ram Year
2022 Laramie 3500
Engine
6.7 CTD
It's hard to pinpoint for sure! My guy who put my gears in told me he would help me figure it out when he does my oil change on my gears. I will say, he has went above and beyond just installing my gears.

I had my gears done shortly before yours. I have also noticed what you are explaining. It is like the limited slip is tighter after they did the gear swap. It's not a full blown posi traction but does seem stiffer than it was before. If this is what is happening I am sure we will be going through tires much quicker! I will be interested in hearing what your tech says. Fluid change was not included in my gear swap, so I will be doing mine here myself in a few weeks.
 

Hydraplane

Senior Member
Joined
May 12, 2019
Posts
112
Reaction score
32
Location
Navarre, FL
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.7
I had the same type of vibration and noise in the rear differential. I took it in a few weeks ago for this ( and a couple of other oddities) as I mentioned in an earlier post on this thread. They contacted FCA. The fix was to R2 the diff lube and add the friction modifier that is used in the clutch type diffs. it made a huge difference, although don't know if it was a problem with the factory fill fluid or not. Truck had about 22K when this was done and had been "grunting" in slow turns for quite some time. I have not determined if adding the friction modifier has affected the operation of the "limited slip" operation or not. Truck seems to act the same as always when off road. I reckon I will look at it for myself in 20K or so to see the amount of steel on the locker magnets and such.
 

Dieselhorses

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2019
Posts
104
Reaction score
39
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Ram Year
2019
Engine
345 cid
Wow, same thing happened to me with 2019 Ram 1500 Classic 4x4. Took it to dealer at 7k miles because from a dead stop and taking off mainly turning left, it felt like my emergency brakes were on. Anyway all they did was change diff. Fluid and lubricate all brake caliper assemblies. Afterwards, the sound was very minimal. (I did have a leveling kit installed but sound was there before.) Ironically when I installed 20” wheels and 305 AT tires I don’t hear it anymore. Very puzzling. I will check and see if dealer has discovered anyone else experiencing this issue!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Hydraplane

Senior Member
Joined
May 12, 2019
Posts
112
Reaction score
32
Location
Navarre, FL
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.7
Wow, same thing happened to me with 2019 Ram 1500 Classic 4x4. Took it to dealer at 7k miles because from a dead stop and taking off mainly turning left, it felt like my emergency brakes were on. Anyway all they did was change diff. Fluid and lubricate all brake caliper assemblies. Afterwards, the sound was very minimal. (I did have a leveling kit installed but sound was there before.) Ironically when I installed 20” wheels and 305 AT tires I don’t hear it anymore. Very puzzling. I will check and see if dealer has discovered anyone else experiencing this issue!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think tire size, axle ratio, transmission 1st gear ratio (mine has the 6 speed) rate of turn and acceleration all are factors contributing to the severity. When I inquired about it on this site when it first happened, several posts said it was normal with the thorsen differential.
 
OP
OP
Mountaineer83

Mountaineer83

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Posts
290
Reaction score
218
Location
Charleston, WV
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I had my gears done shortly before yours. I have also noticed what you are explaining. It is like the limited slip is tighter after they did the gear swap. It's not a full blown posi traction but does seem stiffer than it was before. If this is what is happening I am sure we will be going through tires much quicker! I will be interested in hearing what your tech says. Fluid change was not included in my gear swap, so I will be doing mine here myself in a few weeks.


It went away after the fluid change, but has started back up again. He said there will be some normal noise due to how the limited slip unit is constructed. But I haven't had a chance to look into it further. It almost sounds like a brake grabbing at the same time. I've wandered if it is something in my brake system. Maybe a caliper dragging after coming to a stop or something.

Anyway, it was still worth the gear change! I love my truck even more now.
 

Jason Horn

Junior Member
Joined
May 29, 2020
Posts
7
Reaction score
1
Location
Bakersfield
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Hemi 6.4
got my Power Wagon in to the dealership today, turns out the differential on older models required fluid change at 20k now its 50k and its the exact diff and fluid as before?? the mechanic claims he runs into this a couple times a month and feels a simple fluid change and additive for the limited slip will resolve the issue.
 

Dieselhorses

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2019
Posts
104
Reaction score
39
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Ram Year
2019
Engine
345 cid
It went away after the fluid change, but has started back up again. He said there will be some normal noise due to how the limited slip unit is constructed. But I haven't had a chance to look into it further. It almost sounds like a brake grabbing at the same time. I've wandered if it is something in my brake system. Maybe a caliper dragging after coming to a stop or something.

Anyway, it was still worth the gear change! I love my truck even more now.

Before I went to dealership a couple of months ago, I was crossing an intersection (barely had wheels turned) and I heard/felt an obnoxious "shuttering, binding" noise. Got out at gas station to try to feel if any calipers were hot and sure enough-right front caliper I couldn't even touch! The rest were just warm. So re-capping at dealership, they did change diff. fluid AND lubricate all calipers. You just don't expect this stuff on vehicles with less than 10k miles!
 

Thomas James

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2020
Posts
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Tx
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
Has anyone figured out what this is? I have a 2017 Ram 2500 5.7 Tradesman. I thought it was tires at first but that can’t be it. Only does it when starting to pull out or back up from park. It lasts mere seconds (1-2 seconds at most). Here lately it’s been doing it more. I believe I have the factory gears and don’t have the clutch. I checked my rear end and the fluid was full. I did have minor metal flakes on the magnet.
 

Thomas James

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2020
Posts
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Tx
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
How much is it for them to put in the larger gears? What difference can you tell with the larger gears then with factory?
 
Top