Vibration in seat...

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
So this morning about 3/4s the way to work (32 miles one way) I accelerated from a stop light and got this odd yet some what strong vibration on my buttocks. lol

U joint on rear drive shaft?

If so... where the heck can i get a u-joint for it??

Talked to a few locals (autozone, advanced, etc) also talked to JerseyParts at Cherry Hill Nissan. No go for a part number. Any suggestions? And also... Headed out to Rooks Run at Rausch Creek for the weekend today, safe to wheel?

Thanks in advance!
 

AbuseTheElderly

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Founding Member
Location
Pearl, MS
What speed were you at when it started vibrating? Usually a failing U joint does not start vibrating until higher speeds as it's caused by the slop in the U joint paired with centrifugal force. Were you able to recreate the vibrating? Was it only noticeable during a certain speed or only on take-off? Any additional details would help narrow it down. I looked for a part number on courtesy parts but I was unable to find one, sorry.
 

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
Yea i also checked courtseyparts and flopped.

As far as the vibration it was doing it from the take off and stopped usually id say around 30mph. There was an occasional time or 2 where the vibration didnt happen during the rest of the ride. Every time the vibration happen it was the same strength of vibration never weaker/stronger.
 

AbuseTheElderly

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Founding Member
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Pearl, MS
Hmmm, did it seem as if the vibration was in sync with how fast you were going? Like, slow when you take off then progressively gets faster with the speed of the vehicle? If so, then it could very well be the U joint or even a severely unbalanced tire, check for missing balance weights on your wheels.
 

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
Na it pretty much disappeared once i hit over 30. A weight is possible. Im heading out for a smoke break now so i'll check em out. Smart thinking! ;)
 

Timrich

Super Duper Moderator
Founding Member
Location
Central FL
Did you have your tires rotated recently? I had a similar vibration a while back and it turns out a few of my lugs were cross threaded and the guy that tried to take them off couldn't so he torqed them back down. Well 2 days later they worked them selves loose and I almost lost my rear drivers side tire at highway speed. Scared the crap out of me when I looked back and saw my tire wobbling!
 

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
Well all wheel weights are still in tact. Ill have to run out on my lunch and see if its still doing it. If it is then i'll swing by the local shop here that i go to and see if he can just check the lugs for me seeing my X is packed for the weekend, my 2ton jack is at home and well the stock jack just doesnt do crap for my truck anymore.
 

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
I was out in the Pine Barrens a 2 weekends ago for the clean up there but there doesn't seem to be any build up of mud in em. Thought about that one too. I mean could it happen after wheeling two weeks ago?
 

Timrich

Super Duper Moderator
Founding Member
Location
Central FL
Doubt it but I was just throwing it out there. If you had mud built up on the rims you'd probably have noticed it before now.
 

AbuseTheElderly

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Founding Member
Location
Pearl, MS
I could have explained what I was asking a little better. What I am trying to narrow down is whether it is a vibration from an imbalance or a vibration from the engine. If it is a U joint the vibration speed will match the speed of a vehicle. Say you have slop in a U joint, when you accelerate from a stop it would start off slowly and get faster as the vehicle speeds up. If the vibration is the same speed the entire time or does not match the speed of the vehicle then we can rule out the propeller shaft, U joints, axle and wheels.

Consider each ^ being an individual bump of the vibration:
A bad U joint or unbalanced wheels would feel something like this from a stop while accelerating
^__________^_________^________^_______^______^_____^____^___^__^_^^^^^^^

If the vibration was the same speed the entire time then It will point to an entire different area of the vehicle (unless the rear diff is slipping under load).
 
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SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
Na Southern Jersey hasn't gotten snow yet. :(

As far as the vibration it accerlates as i do up to the point of about 30mph. Then it stops completely. It doesnt just get faster so that i dont feel it as much. You can also sort for hear the vibration. Its not loud at all but you can just hear it.
It's def coming from the rear end area. Tires are balanced, alighnment is slightly off to the passenger, doesn't matter how many times i get it alighned.. always pulls slightly to the right. lol


FYI- I was informed that the 2nd gen front DS u-joint fits the 1st gen rear DS u-joint. Duralast 1-0153DG for a part number.
 

AbuseTheElderly

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Founding Member
Location
Pearl, MS
Ok, then you are on the right track. Your tires are balanced, so that is not it. U joint failure seems probable. The next step would be to inspect the U joint for slop or damage.

I never would have guessed those U joints were interchangeable.
 

granitex

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Columbus OH
Both joints in the drive shaft are spicer 1310's. if anyone else has this issue just tell the parts guy it is for an 03 Frontier, and you will be set. Chevy also used them in the front shafts for forever and a day so most parts stores have them sitting on the shelf.
 

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
Thanks Granitex. I picked up mine and as soon as they were put on my passenger seat the damn vibration stopped. I think I scared the vibration away. Which is funny bc the same thing happened when I picked up my new lower ball joint. The damn squeak that i had for a few months just vanished. Before I know it i'm gonna have an entire X inside my X. lol
 

Creepy Cruiser

Sliders
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6 Feet Under
My mind went a completely different direction with, SnickerDoodle, vibration and seat, all in the same thread name, lol.

Sorry, must just be me, lol.
 

Jmac289gt

Sliders
Founding Member
Location
Dickinson, TX
My mind went a completely different direction with, SnickerDoodle, vibration and seat, all in the same thread name, lol.

Sorry, must just be me, lol.

Trust me it was not just you but I have already had words stricken from one of my post and I was trying to behave, You know, incase the man is still watching me im trying to keep a low profile right now.
 

bm2004x

Test Drive
Location
United States
Just wondering if the u joints fixed the low speed vibration? I had the exact situation.
Driving 20 miles on thruway and after the first green light, vibration at 25 mph. Stops after I speed up and comes back when deceleration hits 25.

Just swapped the rear I joints which had almost no play. Spicer 1310. No leaks, no missing weights and no trans/ t-case issues. Still has same vibration at 25mph?!?!

Last question, does the front shaft spin if not in 4wd? I didn't think so but I've heard it all on the forums. Skids make it hard to diagnose front shaft. I am going to change the diff fluid later. I think it's never been done and u joints in front shaft. Thank you.
 

bm2004x

Test Drive
Location
United States
Thank you Prime. I just needed to be sure. Also no play in front u joints either. I even tried it up on jackstands idling and felt a slight vibration when it hit 25-30. So I don't think it's tires or anything to do with the front of the truck suspension or driveline. Could it be a mount for transmission or t-case? Or worse, something in each? Or could it be a bearing in the rear pumpkin or transfer case out put? I will try one more quick fix, like a drive shaft balancing.

It's odd that it came about after a long ride on the thruway with no changes or modifications?
 

bm2004x

Test Drive
Location
United States
seems to be less now that the u joints and rear diff fluid was changed but its still noticeable. Its definitely speed dependent. 20-25mph on acceleration and deceleration. One other thing i noticed a while back that i may check out is the rear drums have a weight attached about an inch out from the studs. I noticed one of them looked like it was coming off when i checked, cleaned and painted the brakes a few months back. didn't think much about it then but maybe its finally come off?
 
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