3/4 ton Dodge ?

[SS MAYFLOAT]

My BIL just stopped by to have me drive his truck. When I got to about 40, I could feel a vibration coming from the rear of the truck. The faster I went the more violent the vibration was. I told him that I think either the universals are going, driveshaft bent, or it lost a balance weight.

We got back to the house and I checked the rims to see any fresh marks of a wheel weight being throwed off. None, they were all in tact. Crawled underneath and did the test for loose universals. Nice and tight and no play in the carrier bearing. I had him put the truck in neutral and moved the truck to rotate the drive shaft. On the front drive shaft, there is a fresh mark about 4"long, 3/4 inch wide where a balancing weight could have been. It is the only fresh mark on it as the rest of it is rusty from many years of winter salt.

He said he wants to get rid of the truck and not worried about it. I told him that it will tear up the rear tailshaft bearing in the tranny and eventually the seal will start leaking. I suggested taking a 4" long bolt, 3/8" dia, and saw the head off it. Then take two radiator hose clamps and clamp it in place. If it is too much weight, then use a 5/16" bolt or saw off a half inch at a time of the 3/8. I've done this before and while it is not perfect, it helps a bunch until a driveshaft is obtained.

Just checking to see if anyone else has a quick fix for a driveshaft that has thrown a balancing weight......Thanks,,,,,,,,,,SS

 

[bjcsc]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

I may be out of line, but I have ethical problems with that type of fix. I think he should either fix it right or leave it as is and disclose it to the prospective buyers...

 

[JB]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

I have an ethical problem with Dodge selling it that way (needing a weight to balance it) to begin with.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

I have an ethical problem with Dodge selling it that way (needing a weight to balance it) to begin with.

Many drive shafts of different makes and models have them. How else would one be balanced?

Still trying to talk him into getting one from the junk yard. He just needs a temporay fix so that it doesn't destroy the tranny or carrier bearing til he gets one. His only other transportation is a old Chevy 1 ton box truck he pulls his concession trailers with.

 

[Coors]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

All manufacturers balance the shaft that way. Just take the shaft to a balance shop, and have a new one welded one, better weld this time.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

All manufacturers balance the shaft that way. Just take the shaft to a balance shop, and have a new one welded one, better weld this time.

I thought that route, but it has some serious rust. Its been thru 11 winters in the Cleveland area. So it has seen lots of road salt. He had the brake and gas lines changed last year because they rusted out. The drive shaft has really bad pitting and I'm sure the shops around here would decline to do it.

Think I'l get him to call a few shops to see if they can re-tube it using the old ends. Just don't know if the tightwad will get off his wallet. I told him to look at the bright side,,,,,,,,,its only a 2 wheel drive

 

[Bass Tracker TX17]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

A quick way to check that balance weight is to take 2 hose clamps ( worm style) and install in that clear space on the drive shaft with the screw sections even with each other. Road test and see if the vib is better or worse. Then you can slowly reposition the clamps evenly at different clock positions, away from each other, and tweak the adj. If there is a difference then you should have balanced and be done with it. If there is NO difference then it's possible the losing of the weight is the result and not the cause of the vibration indicating another problem. I would suggest FIRST pulling the shaft and checking the joints full range of motion, they can be seized and your "on truck check" can only check for a loose joints. A tight joint will give you a vib like you are experiencing and it would feel fine still in the truck.. good luck

Mike

 

[Coors]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

A quick way to check that balance weight is to take 2 hose clamps ( worm style) and install in that clear space on the drive shaft with the screw sections even with each other. Road test and see if the vib is better or worse. Then you can slowly reposition the clamps evenly at different clock positions, away from each other, and tweak the adj. If there is a difference then you should have balanced and be done with it. If there is NO difference then it's possible the losing of the weight is the result and not the cause of the vibration indicating another problem. I would suggest FIRST pulling the shaft and checking the joints full range of motion, they can be seized and your "on truck check" can only check for a loose joints. A tight joint will give you a vib like you are experiencing and it would feel fine still in the truck.. good luck

Mike

Yeah, just like an outdrive; feels good, but.
Probably 8 clamps.
Call around, it's not that expensive.
But it will destroy 2 seals, one in the rear is expensive.

 

[rwise]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

put a grease zert in it and pump half a tub of grease inside it,
or
take it to a drive shaft shop and have the tube replaced and rebalanced
or
get another drive shaft
or
sale it and let the new owner fix it

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: 3/4 ton Dodge ?

Just food for thought but could you have a separated tire?