I have a 1999 Dodge ram 3500 2wd with nv4500. I get a bad vibration at speeds above 55mph it all started when I put a set of old used tires on it. So I thought it was the tires, I had them balanced multiple times, tried balance beads these all changed the vibration one way or another. Changed bead amounts from 3oz all the way to 10 oz. I've done u joints, carrier bearing,tail shaft bearing all with little to no effect. The vibration feels like it's right under my seat and or towards the rear end. The shifter handle will shake badley when I'm on the highway at 55-70mph. Its intermittent it will some times go away for 30 seconds or some then slowly come back and start shaking like a *****. Acceleration and deceleration seem to have no effect on making the vibration worse or better when it is happening. Also I will mention my rear diff has a spun bearing on the ring gear side and I recently tried putting a new bearing on but that one slid right onto the shaft as well. I just got a set of brand new tires about a week ago and thought I had fixed the problem hopped on the highway got up to 70 and it was smooth as glass. Only went one exit so didn't get to go for long. The next day on my way to work the start of the highway was smooth then it started to get worse the longer I drove. It has always seemed to make the vibration worse the longer I drive. Sorry for the long winded post there's a lot of other details I could add but im at my wits end ive tried everything.

Have you checked the wheels for being true?

Have you pulled both driveshafts and had them checked for true and balanced?

Have you checked both front and rear wheel bearings for any sloppy bearings?

No slop in the front or rear wheel bearings, wheels spin true, have not had the drive shafts balanced. This all started when I installed those 10 year old Firestone transforce at tires a few months ago. I figured it was a bad balance so I had town fair tire balanced them, after being balanced I immediately got a horrible brake pulse if I stopped 60-0 by the time I was at a stop the rear end was about hopping off the ground, removed weights and it immediately stopped. I didn't mention that it was only rear tires that got those Firestones, front got brand new tires and has always rode beautiful. They balanced again and it was better but vibration still came and went. That's when I swapped for balance beads it again got a little better but not great. Ended up changing the amounts of beads numerous times slowly increasing which made it slightly better. I now have brand new tires on the rear and problem is still there. Like I said in first post new u joints, center support bearing, tail shaft bushing. Which the tail shaft bushing helped quite a bit for a little bit and the vibration slowly came back and my bushing was worn again with slop in the slip yoke.just replaced bushing again today and vibration still present

Would I be able to run the truck up to speed first with axles removed in the rear, then with the tail end of the drive shaft removed then with the whole drive shaft removed to see if the vibration goes away when wheels aren't spinning, then when diff isn't spinning then when back half and front half of drive shaft aren't spinning? Then I could narrow down what's actually causing this

2 minutes ago, daav544 said:

Would I be able to run the truck up to speed first with axles removed in the rear, then with the tail end of the drive shaft removed then with the whole drive shaft removed to see if the vibration goes away when wheels aren't spinning, then when diff isn't spinning then when back half and front half of drive shaft aren't spinning? Then I could narrow down what's actually causing this

That would work, just be sure to be on stable ground like asphalt or concrete. I wouldn't do this on dirt. Yes, you are correct if you pull the shafts in the rear axle, yes, then it's just the driveshaft. Stuff a rag in the axle tubes, it might push gear oil down the shaft ends while you are running the driveshaft. It's a good idea, and I'm waiting for the reply.

Edited yesterday at 01:21 AM1 day by Mopar1973Man

I can remove just the rear section of my two pieces drive shaft too right? So I'll test without axle tubes first eliminating wheels and tires. Then with back shaft disconnected eliminating differential. Then if possible remove front half of drive shaft so it's just the trans. I recently did main shaft shims since it was out of spec and I could move the shaft up and down a little. Counter shaft needs to be done as well, should have ordered the shims for it at the same time as the main shaft but I wasn't expecting that

Smooth as glass with axles removed, so it's tire, wheel, or drum and or wheel bearing issue id say

Now to figure out which side or both sides? Assuming rear axle. How about the from axle?

Ran it for quite a little bit to the point where the coolant temp got a lil above 190 so I stopped. Very minimal vibration, some but not anywhere near what it's like while on the highway at the same speeds. The amount I was feeling while at a stand still sitting in the cab was what I'd consider normal if I was cruising on the highway in this thing. When the vibration happens, door panels are shaking, side mirrors become blurry and useless, shift handle vibrates like a sob. I really hope that ive narrowed it down.

• The diff was spinning and everything seemed pretty manageable in my eyes from what I've been dealing with I'd be in heaven if this was the amount of vibration I had all the time. One thousand times better than what I feel come and go on the highway. Feels like when the truck smooths out for a few seconds before it starts vibrating again so I really hope I have narrowed it down to tires and or brakes. A while ago I spun it up on jack stands with tires on and without tires on and it vibrated more without tires on just brake drums and lug nuts on. Tires had balance beads in them at the time. They have beads in them now as well. Possibly my drums or something? And the balance beads helping balance out the drums at points ? Could something have broken in the drums and be spinning around in the drum throwing it off balance and sometimes not?

Id assume axle is fine, I'd like to think it's these brakes, they need replacing anyway