I believe my drag link is wore out? The auto parts store website calls them the tie rod ends?  There is some play in my steering wheel,  but it doesn't wander around on the road.

 

What I'm trying to figure out is if this is causing the vibration that I am having. It only happens between 30mph to 45mph. I don't really feel it in the steering wheel, just mainly in the floor board. The vibration is there weather I am braking, cruising, or accelerating. But like I said Its only between 30 and 45mph. Between 0-29mph and 46-above, its very smooth.

 

Any ideas? I plan on going with moog parts.

 

If I uploaded it right, I added a video of the drag link movement.

tierod end.MOV

I can push the drive shaft on either side of center support bearing almost 1/2" up, the rubber seems shot. Time for a new center support?

I have to agree 1/2" is a lot of movement in a carrier bearing

I dropped it off at the shop...the rear end needs to be rebuilt. The bearings are shot in the diff, and the slip yoke and drive shaft are bouncing around causing my drive line vibration...here come's another $1000 bill

I wonder if you would spend less money on another rear end and just swap them out? The only 'problem' would be knowing what you get.

That's exactly what I was thinking, upgrade to a dana 80 maybe too. I've been peaking around on craigslist and people are asking obscene amounts for a used unit, like $1200. Shop quoted me $1400 for everything, ring and pinion and bearings.

Mines the same between 30-45mph. Doesn't matter what the road conditions are.Lower then 30, or higher then 45, smooth as can be.

 

Hopefully tomorrow I will get a chance to drive it and see if the tie rod ends helped any. If not then I'll rotate the tires. If that doesn't help I'll pull the front drive shaft and see what that dose.

 

I was planning on checking the brakes while I was rotating the tires.

I would check the tires for tread separation or blisters.

For our trucks they are inner and outer tie rods basically but there are 5 pieces to the puzzle. There is a Tie rod at the pitman arm, Left hand  tie rod end, right hand tie rod end, Cross link tie rod and then the track bar. If your planning on replacing these parts definatly look into the 03 and newer upgrade parts. It will eliminate some of the really bad wear and tear these parts go through. I used the BD Track bar kit on mine. like this one

 

http://www.dieselautopower.com/product-p/bd%20track%20bar%201032011.htm

 

I have a very slight shimmy at about 40mhp also and none of these parts fixed it. But the front end is nice and tight again. The one thing I haven't done yet was pull the drive lines out and have them checked for balance or wear. This is the next thing I will try to see if it fixes my vibration or shimmy.

Look at the first photo, to the rear sway bar, it looks bent and the bushing attachment looks broken. Repairing this would be a good place to start.

My torque converter is slipping and it shakes the whole truck. It gives a little shudder on shifts then in 3rd lock and 4th lock you can feel it catch and slip. Also, my sway bar end links were loose at the bushings, same with my shocks and it lead to cupping tires and a small vibration.