Quote:
Originally posted by CYCLONE 123
I've been posting vibe problems under WHEELS & TIRES for several months and just now found I have company here at this topic. I also have had vibration problems since day one. I've got a 2003 2WD. I've been to 2 different dealers MANY times
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Cyclone:
Most of the vibrations under discussion apply to 4wd trucks.
I recognize what you described because I can feel it too on my 4WD.
Dude Boy mentioned setting the caster at +2.0 degrees. That applies to a 4WD truck. In the case of a 2WD, the caster should be set at about +2.75 degrees or whatever is specified as a maximum value in Volume 1 of the Shop Manual for your particular model truck.
I doubt that most people realize there are 12 different alignment specs for 02 2WD trucks and 19 different alignment specs for 02 4WD trucks. I suspect the same is true for the 03 models.
Here's something you might try: Put 400 pounds of weight in the bed up against the tailgate. If you have the same rear springs I do, this should increase your caster angle by about + 1 degree. Then drive the truck and see if the vibration changes or is gone.
I discovered this quite by accident. Like you, I thought that the buzz was due to the R&P steering. When we received our first snow, I put 120 pounds of sand bags in the back of the bed to improve rear wheel traction. That's when I noticed the buzzing had subsided quite a lot. Then I added another 160 pounds which helped even more.
If this works for you, then the caster setting of your front wheels is WRONG...no matter what the dealers have been telling you.
Chances are that your camber and toe-in settings are out of whack too.
To put it as delicately as possible. screw the dealers. Go to a good alignment shop that has a Hunter 611 with a CAMM display. Have your truck aligned to DJ's specs, with the exception that the caster should be set to the factory specified maximum.
BTW, do you have a printout from an alignment machine indicating the caster, camber, and toe-in for each front wheel?
Having that data along with a copy of the factory specs would be helpful in diagnosing and solving your problem.
Herb