Vibration issue

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RyanwjSmith

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2018
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V6
So I am new here. I’m not a mechanic so I may fumble the technical terms. This is a bit long so I’m sorry. I’m hoping someone in this forum has either dealt with this issue or might know what’s going on. I have a 2018 ram 1500 tradesmen 4 x 4 with the V6 engine. For the better part of a year I’ve been having this issue where I feel a vibration sometimes it’s less noticeable than others. There’s really no rhyme or reason. Sometimes I’ll feel it a lot going slow, sometimes barely at all. It’s usually more noticeable when going fast say above 60 mph. But sometimes it’s not too bad then either. It never is not there at all.

About nine months ago, I brought it to get new tires, balance and alignment at Sullivan tire. They told me it also needed a new front passenger CV axle which they said was going to cost about $5000. I had a family friend who owns his own shop look at it. He thought that was probably true. He could do it for less money with a used axle. We did that. I noticed a slight difference, but nothing crazy. After a few weeks, the vibration was back the same as it had been before. I brought it back to him. He said he could take the CV axle out to see if that was the problem and I could drive it that way it just would not have the ability to go into four-wheel-drive. Tried that I didn’t notice a crazy difference, so he put the CV axle back in I didn’t have any more money to put towards it so that was that for a while, but the vibration wasn’t awful.

About one month ago, the vibration became worse so I brought it to my mechanic near my house that I trust. He worked on it for almost a full day trying to find the issue. Now, at this point the tires are less than a year old. It has been balanced and aligned. There is a new front wheel bearing within this year also. He changed the U joint, balanced the tires, he drove it. He felt the issue thought it was from the front passenger side, which I had thought as well. He had the truck on the lift had me come out and look at it to show me the CV axle on the drivers and passenger side there was a lot of play in the passenger side so he said he’s not sure if this is the problem, but he said this needs to be changed anyway it might also need an intermediate piece and while he’s doing that, he will have to open up the front differential and he can see if that is in good shape.

I had him change the front passenger CV axle. He also changed the intermediate piece and while he had the differential open he looked and said it was fine. After this, I drove it and it was much better but I could still feel a slight vibration. Now it could be in my head because he made the suggestion but it felt like the vibration was more so coming from the back end. He said, even though he balanced the tires, there could be a slight warping of the rear rims that he wasn’t able to tell. He could get new rims and see if that helps. I haven’t gotten the new rims yet to try that, but I’m thinking about it. I’m wondering if anyone has had the same problem? Is this maybe an issue where it is a CV axle problem but there’s a different issue causing the CV axle to wear quicker? Any possible answers are appreciated. Thank you.
 

crash68

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Now it could be in my head because he made the suggestion but it felt like the vibration was more so coming from the back end.
Does this truck have a two piece rear drive shaft? It could be the carrier bearing that supports the driveshaft or the driveshaft itself.
 

B250

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I just had an annoying vibration which shook my steering wheel at about 30mph. It was barely noticeable when the car was cold but after a while driving it got worse. It seemed to be coming from the front so I checked the wheel bearings, tires for flat spots, missing balance weights, sticking brake pads, etc etc. Just by chance I was working on the rear axle and spinning the rear drive shaft around when I noticed the front U-Joint spun 'irregularly' (not smoothly round the shaft). It turned out that one of the four needle bearings had worn completely away so there was a tiny gap between the cross and the cap. It was only noticeable by looking along the shaft while spinning it, and then it only 'wobbled' occasionally.

Another thing that can cause a vibration is a defect on the tire itself. Sometimes a manufacturing defect that only comes out after driving for a while. Other times it can be a repair that is now failing. Try swapping tires with your spare and see if the vibration changes at all
 

jws123

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get your tires road force balanced and ask them to see if they are bent most tecs wont care if they are bent as long as they 'balance' so ya gotta ask.
 
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RyanwjSmith

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No I believe it is one piece
I did look into this a little and many places do say many of the 2018 Rams, especially Quad cap and above have a two piece driveshaft. Mine does not. And either way it’s not making a noise. It’s just a vibration that you can feel.
 

mogwai

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I have a 2014 ram 1500 currently dealing with this issue. Just replaced the CV axle last year cause of shaking and now it’s loose again. My shake starts around 60mph. I’m thinking of trying a intermediate shaft and cv axle to see if that works for me. I know you already swapped those. Hope you find the answer.
 

yogibear18

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Possibly radial or lateral runout, requires the tire(s) let the air out mark the tire at valve stem on the tire break the bead on tire rotate tire 90° to180° re mount tire and rebalance tire, road check, if still present may have to repeat or may have a belt in the tire shifted
 
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