My 2014 2500 has had a weird “shudder” after taking off from a stop and going low speed when shifting between 1st/2nd and from 2nd into 3rd. Seems to primarily happen when turning left. When I leave my sons daycare they have a large half circle drive and I really notice when driving on it during shifts around 20 mph. I originally thought it was a transmission issue, but had the dealership look at it to see if they could figure it out, along with an odd low pitch intermittent squeak coming from the back. They could not get the shudder to replicate but said I had a bad hub seal on the rear driver’s side and they thought the squeak was due to diff fluid being all over the brakes. It was going to be around $1,000 for them do replace the seal, rear brakes and both brake rotors. I told them to fill the rear diff to the correct level and I would get back with them. When I paid the bill for the inspection and Diff fluid the tech said he put almost a full bottle in the diff, so it was fairly low. I replaced the brakes, rotors and hub seal myself and made sure the diff was still full, which it was. So….. could the low diff fluid level cause some wear issues with the gears which is now causing the shudder? I’ve never noticed it at high speeds or just driving while in one gear, it’s always when shifting. Yesterday it started something new. I was on the highway slowing down from about 60 to make a stop and turn down another road. As I was slowing down it made a clunking noise. It did it again when I was leaving work while slowing down. I didn’t know of the lack of torque then sudden force on the gears in between shifts is causing an issue?
Also, the reason I first thought it was the transmission (which I actually haven’t fully ruled out) is because in February I had to have a shift solenoid replaced, and with the not so great reputation of Dodge transmissions I’ve been super aware of every odd noise or thing it’s done fearing that the trans is going out…. This includes really harsh downshifts that I don’t think were there before.
Also, the reason I first thought it was the transmission (which I actually haven’t fully ruled out) is because in February I had to have a shift solenoid replaced, and with the not so great reputation of Dodge transmissions I’ve been super aware of every odd noise or thing it’s done fearing that the trans is going out…. This includes really harsh downshifts that I don’t think were there before.