Just picked up a new 16' car hauler. On my way back from Anchorage the back end of my truck had a serious vibration between 50 and 60mph.

First thing I did when I pulled into town was get the wheels on my truck balanced and rotated. Still vibrates. Today after work I am puting the track on a lift and checking u-joints, wheel bearings and rotors for any problems. The next thing I suppose I'll do if I dont find anything is balance the wheels on the trailer.

So, am I overlooking anything? Im driving down the Alcan Hwy in a week to Washington and I need to have this straightened out.

Adam

 

It COULD be the torque converter shuddering from being between gears. Do you notice at certain RPM's or is it jsut between 50-60?

 

Just between 50-60mph. It did it with and without the TC being locked up. Im really leaning towards a u-joint or rotor issue but I wont know for sure til this afternoon.

I think I noticed my truck doing it today on my way into work(without trailer). Im not sure. The roads out here are not the best.

 

Are you sure it isn't the trailer causing the vibration? It could be transfered through the hitch and frame.

 

do you have a LS rearend , i had a vibration from the rear when i first started to pull my 27' RV. after a month of this i took it to the dealer and they replaced the clutch pack in the rearend and the vibration stopped.

 

Well, Im not sure if its the trailer. I plan to balance the wheels on it if nothing else works out. Nothing seems bent or shifted. I havent measured the axles yet to see if they are square.

The little voice in my head tell me its the truck. I will know tonight when I get it on the lift. I hope it something easy like a u-joint.

I appreciate the help though--keep it coming.

 

Yeah, its a LS. What kind of vibration did you get? Did it only come at a certain speed?
I have reletively new 4:10 gears, so I hope it isnt that.

 

did you put the gears in, or have someone do them? I am assuming they are not stock. If they didn't put them in perfectly it could be causing the vibration.

 

Do you have vibration if you are carrying a load in the bed? If not, with the very stiff frame the F150 has, I would not be surprised if the trailer was transfering vibrations to the truck.
As far as LS, any vibration from it is normally just when starting out or in a turn.

 

Do you use your parking brake when parked? I had an '04 F150 before I bought my SD, and had a vibration issue with mine. The parking brake would not release completely and cause an extreme shudder at the speeds you are talking about. If I am not mistaken, there was a TSB on the parking brake issue.

Also, some other member here did a write up with pics when he fixed his. If I find it, I will link it.

Here it is.
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ght=rear+brake

 

Did you have a load on the trailer at the time. My 20' open car hauler will transfer transmitts vibrations/shudder back to the truck when empty, it seems to bounce due to it not being loaded. Once my jeep is on the trailer, the vibration/shudder completely goes away.

Robbie

 

Thanks for all the comments thus far.

I had the truck on the lift last night and everything checked out ok. The u-joints, hubs, rotors and driveine all seemed ok. I had the mechanic here at work take a look and he gave me a thumbs up.

The parking brake issue is a unrelated but real problem. I have had it not release completely and heat up my rotors until blued and needing replacment. I didnt know there was a tsb on it however. The freaking dealiership here is crap. They didnt even want to warranty the damn thing. Anyway, I digress.

The trailer is the problem now. It could have just been because it was unloaded. Or I still need balance the wheels on it. I appreciate the help.

stu