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Topic: Driveshaft Imbalance? (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic
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Driveshaft Imbalance?
Yahoo Message Number: 58165
Greetings, From the start, our new (July) 26.5 MB has had a vibration at highway speeds. It is DEFINITELY not tire imbalance - it's much higher frequency - plus I've had that checked. The vibration is like a rumble that is most pronounced amidship. I had to disassemble the power converter to put some dampers on the sheet metal as that was making quite a racket with a noisy resonance in response to the vibration. I'm thinking improper driveshaft balancing from the factory (Ford). Has anyone ever experienced this? Thanks.
Rob
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58182
[snip] "From the start, our new (July) 26.5 MB has had a vibration at highway speeds.[snip] I'm thinking improper driveshaft balancing from the factory (Ford). Has anyone ever experienced this? Thanks.
Rob"

Rob, thankfully, not with our LD, but with a '93 Ford Aerostar van.
Check message #54824.

Sharon N.
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58194
Rob

Have you had Ford take a look at you new LD? They can put in on a lift and run the run the engine in gear up to highway speeds. A radically out of balanced drive shaft shaft will be visible. Another possible cause of your vibration is the intermediate bearing, which supports the two driveshafts, where they meet. A bad or loose bearing can produce a similar vibration.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58195
Quote
Greetings, From the start, our new (July) 26.5 MB has had a vibration at highway speeds. It is DEFINITELY not tire imbalance - it's much higher frequency - plus I've had that checked. The vibration is like a rumble that is most pronounced amidship.
Rob
Hi Rob,
 In a word, yes, someone else has experienced driveline imbalance- me! My '98 30IB experienced this from day one.  LD was magnificent (as you might expect) going so far as to replace the extended jackshaft (the 30' frame is lengthened, hence the need for an additional shaft- total, 3) twice, making a total of 3 different shafts.  Result was to change the vibration, but never to eliminate it.  On to Ford, not magnificent (as you might expect)- always blaming LD, since the modification came from them.  After many visits, threats of contacting the WA AG to invoke the lemon law, Ford finally agreed to replace the long shaft.  Result was an improvement, but still only marginally acceptable.  I then had a Seattle shop balance it all- again, only marginal.  At that point, I was tired of it and chose to live with the remaining irritation.
 Fast forward to 2 months ago:  I was in Iowa and had a friend of mine there (3rd generation mechanic on the farm) do some maintenance on the LD.  Since I now have 85,000 miles, I chose to also replace the u-joints (now I have grease zerks!).  As long as the drive line was out anyway, we replaced the hanger bearings. Then decided to take the whole shebang to a local machine shop, where they spun and balanced the entire unit as a single piece.  Guess what- the result is a far better result than I have ever had!  Am I totally vibration free?- no, not quite, but the tiny remainder is no bother at all.
 Since your unit has all original Ford drive line parts, my suggestion to you is camp on their doorstep until they accept the responsibility and fix your rig.  They may not spin balance the whole 2-piece unit as a whole, choosing to simply replace all the parts.  If my experience is any indication, however, this could be a long and arduous process.
I wish you the best of luck in this quest, and hope your result is as satisfactory as mine turned out to be(belatedly!)

Bill Burcham Seattle
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58198
======================== "bilburch"  wrote:
 
Quote
  > From the start, our new (July) 26.5 MB has had a vibration at highway speeds. It is DEFINITELY not tire imbalance - it's much higher frequency - plus I've had that checked. The vibration is like a rumble that is most pronounced amidship.
================ My '98 30IB experienced this from day one.  Ford finally agreed to replace
 
Quote
the long shaft.  Result was an improvement, but still only marginally acceptable. ...... a local machine shop,  spun and balanced the entire unit as a single piece.    Am I totally vibration free?- no, not quite,   but the tiny remainder is no bother at all.
If my experience  is any indication, however, this could be a long and arduous process.
==============================
 Since your LazyDaze is not even 2 months old, can it be returned for a new one?  I can't even imagine owning a unit with a major problem that will cause all kinds of $$$ to repair in the future.  That is devastating.
 After paying THAT MUCH for a new LazyDaze, to wind up with a unit that has such a defect..... And, the correction appears to be a very disagreeable line of events that doesn't even eliminate it.  The lost time, $$$,  and such,  just having someone find a solution is mind-boggling..
 I am also thinking of the long term annoyances that can pile up from that very vibration.
Loose screws in everything...loose nails, loose fittings, loose pipes, loose engine parts...all caused by this insidious vibration.
 A few years ago I had a vibration felt through the steering wheel in my  car and I was advised and cautioned to find the cause at once,  because of the damage the vibration would do to the engine and elsewhere.   I had a crackerjack mechanic take one drive in the car, pinpoint the problem immediately (being the right rear wheel),  and had it fixed then and there.
 Do keep us informed on the outcome here.  I'd certainly want to know.  This is a great 'head's up' for people like me, looking for a late model used LD.  It will be one of the first things I'll question.  Bye.  FRANCES
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58252
Quote
Rob

Have you had Ford take a look at you new LD? They can put in on a lift and run the run the engine in gear up to highway speeds. A radically out of balanced drive shaft shaft will be visible. Another possible cause of your vibration is the intermediate bearing, which supports the two driveshafts, where they meet. A bad or loose bearing can produce a similar vibration.

Larry
Thanks Larry - good advice. I haven't yet pursued with Ford. I first wanted any opinions on the likelihood of the driveshaft - or bearings as the source. My first challenge will be to find a competent Ford repair facility that works on trucks.

Rob
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58253
Thanks Bill - I'm not looking forward to engaging Ford on this. I had considered bypassing Ford all together and just yanking the driveshaft and having it balanced on my nickel. How much did it cost you? If it's south of a couple of hundred bucks it's probably a good trade against toughing it out with Ford.
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58266
Quote from: Larry"

Rob

Have you had Ford take a look at you new LD? They can put in on a lift and run the run the engine in gear up to highway speeds. A radically out of balanced drive shaft shaft
will be

Quote
visible. Another possible cause of your vibration is the intermediate bearing, which supports the two driveshafts, where they meet. A bad or loose bearing can produce a similar vibration.

Larry
Also for Rob...

One of the NE LD group had a similar problem with their '05 MB.
They took their LD to Rowe Ford, near Portland, ME, who we had recommended to them as very competent.  There was evidently much debate between Rowe and Ford, and in the final analysis, Ford said that while the driveshaft was not quite right, it was within limits, and declined to fix it.  Our friend had Rowe send the driveshaft out for balancing, nonetheless, and the problem was fixed, the last I heard.

Good luck and be pleasantly persistent.

Dianne NE 02 02 Red RB NH
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance?
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58278
Quote
Thanks Bill - I'm not looking forward to engaging Ford on this. I
Hi Rob,

If you can find a competent shop that will balance your shafts as a unit, I would agree that less than $200 beats arguing with Ford.  In '98 I stopped counting after spending $2000 on my problem- and it went beyond that, counting two balances and a lot of fooling around at a frame and axle shop-before Ford finally agreed to replace one shaft.
And remember-that's 1998 dollars in Seattle.  My recent Iowa experience was much, much more satisfactory as to results. The balance (all three shafts balanced as a unit) cost $300, not including the new u-joints and hanger bearings.  My suggestion is to harrass Ford until they stand behind their product.  Again, my condolences- and best of luck with this.  I know how frustrating it is,

Bill

Quote
considered bypassing Ford all together and just yanking the driveshaft and having it balanced on my nickel. How much did it cost you? If it's south of a couple of hundred bucks it's probably a good trade against toughing it out with Ford.
  --- In lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com, creakyace

wrote: Greetings, From the start, our new (July) 26.5 MB has had a vibration at highway speeds. It is DEFINITELY not tire imbalance - it's much higher frequency - plus I've had that checked. The vibration is like a rumble that is most pronounced amidship.
Rob

Hi Rob,

In a word, yes, someone else has experienced driveline imbalance- me! My '98 30IB experienced this from day one.  LD was magnificent (as you might expect) going so far as to replace the extended jackshaft (the 30' frame is lengthened, hence the need for an additional shaft- total, 3) twice, making a total of 3 different shafts.  Result was to change the vibration, but never to eliminate it.  On to Ford, not magnificent (as you might expect)- always blaming LD, since the modification came from them.  After many visits, threats of contacting the WA AG to invoke the lemon law, Ford finally agreed to replace the long shaft.  Result was an improvement, but still only marginally acceptable.  I then had a Seattle shop balance it all- again, only marginal.  At that point, I was tired of it and chose to live with the remaining irritation.

Fast forward to 2 months ago:  I was in Iowa and had a friend of mine there (3rd generation mechanic on the farm) do some maintenance on the LD.  Since I now have 85,000 miles, I chose to also replace the u-joints (now I have grease zerks!).  As long as the drive line was out anyway, we replaced the hanger bearings. Then decided to take the whole shebang to a local machine shop, where they spun and balanced the entire unit as a single piece.  Guess what- the result is a far better result than I have ever had!  Am I totally vibration free?- no, not quite, but the tiny remainder is no bother at all.

Since your unit has all original Ford drive line parts, my suggestion to you is camp on their doorstep until they accept the responsibility and fix your rig.  They may not spin balance the whole 2-piece unit as a whole, choosing to simply replace all the parts.  If my experience is any indication, however, this could be a long and arduous process.
I wish you the best of luck in this quest, and hope your result is as satisfactory as mine turned out to be(belatedly!)

Bill Burcham Seattle
 
Re: Driveshaft Imbalance? - Follow -up
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 59296
Well, I went to a Ford truck facility identified by the Ford motorhome hotline. They put a vibration analyzer in the coach and ran it up to 65 MPH - the speed where the vibration was very clear. They were not able to correlate driveshaft frequency to the vibration frequency. I tend to believe them that they did a good analysis. I spoke to the service representative at some depth. They spent a couple of hours on diagnosis and did not charge me. If they wanted to recoup their time, they could have by throwing parts and warrantee work at the truck.
That's good and bad. It's good that we've ruled out a defect of the driveshaft. It's bad because it's the end of the road on trying to diagnose the vibration. It definitely is not an unlivable situation.
Time to move on...