Severe Vibration

[1fotonut]

I have a 2006 Forest River Lexington 255 GTS on a Ford E450 chassis. We purchased it used 2yrs ago from a private owner with only 20,000 miles. It had a slight vibration which got worse over 60 mph. All tires were replaced and road balanced. We drove the home some and the vibration got worse starting about 40mph. We took it to a local truck repair shop that does driveline work. They have replaced the transmission tailhousing with a bearing in it, had the drive shaft rebuilt including new u-joints and retubing the front driveshaft. The vibration now is worse than ever..so bad that it's not driveable over about 30mph. Can anyone help please.

[Bama Rambler]

I know it's probably hard to describe, but what does the vibration feel like?
Is there any sound associated with it?

Have the motor mounts been inspected?
Has the harmonic balancer been checked?

[Kenny kustom]

Feel it in your seat, or in the steering wheel?

I don't know what your unit is....

But " front driveshaft"?


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[TURBS]

Carrier bearing for the drive shaft.

[Kevin & Judy]

Possible that the rear end has moved and changed the pinion angle.

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by Kevin & Judy

Possible that the rear end has moved and changed the pinion angle.

That would be difficult.
The springs have a pin, that locates it to the perch.


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[1fotonut]

You feel it in the seat and floor.. Up on jack stands at the garage the owner/mechanic says you can still see the drive shaft quivering. Will be checking with mechanics about carrier bearing and angles. Since they do driveline work and said they replaced u-joints, front driveshaft was retubed, I would think/hope carrier bearing was checked.

[1fotonut]

Same goes for motor mounts. I would think these things would have been checked.I will ask these questions tomorrow when I am there.
What is the harmonic balancer???

[dan-nickie]

harmonic balancer is at front of engine on the end of the crankshaft.
All pullys and belts run on it.

If it is the harmonic balancer it should vibrate by revving the engine.

[Kenny kustom]

Usually seat vibe is coming from the driveline, rear end.

I'm with turbs, carrier bearing on the two piece rear shaft.

Explain the " front driveshaft "
As your rig is rear wheel drive.


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[Bama Rambler]

It's a dampener that's on the front of the crankshaft. It has a rubber bushing built into it and I've seen them sling out and the ring get one sided and cause a vibration. It also has the belt pulley built into it.

[Kenny kustom]

Harmonic balancer would be more rpm dependant.

His, is speed dependant, so more like to be driveline.


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[1fotonut]

duh....I should have known what harmonic balancer was....no...it does not vibrate when revving engine...front drive shaft meaning from section in front of carrier bearing..I would think it would have been checked. I will ask these questions tomorrow when I am there. I greatly appreciate everybody's responses. This had been a very frustrating. This unit only has 21,000 miles on it. We've used it very little in two years (1,000miles)because of this problem.

[1fotonut]

My motorhome is at
D & D Truck Repair & Towing, Inc
16803 D Notley Road
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Fleetcare/Freetpride Affiliate Since:
5/20/2008

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[B and B]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Usually seat vibe is coming from the driveline, rear end.

I'm with turbs, carrier bearing on the two piece rear shaft.

Explain the " front driveshaft "
As your rig is rear wheel drive.


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

x3. I replaced a couple on my Econoline E250s..

[rsscully]

Originally Posted by 1fotonut

My motorhome is at
D & D Truck Repair & Towing, Inc
16803 D Notley Road
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Over near the valley mall?

[Kenny kustom]

Why or what are you meaning when you say " retube" the driveshaft?

What was the reason?
Did you damage it?
Is it out of balance?

Biggest question...
IS IT OUT OF PHASE?
You said it got worse, after they messed with it.

My advice, take it to another shop, tell them to install new driveshaft.
That one has been ruined, most likely.


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[1fotonut]

as I understand...retube means replace the steel tubing between the end fittings because it was slightly bent....then balance. This assembly has a front and rear shafts with a carrier bearing in the middle. My understanding is they sent the entire assembly to a facility that was able to balance the entire assembly...but the vibration is even worse..I am invested at this repair facility because I have given them $2500 so far. So I'm trying to make then fix it so I can make good on my $2500 invested.

[1fotonut]

At this point if can find a solution through the experiences and (help)abilities of others, maybe I can help them find the problem. So, all suggestions/solutions are greatly appreciated.

[Kenny kustom]

I wonder what you hit to bend the driveshaft.

I still feel the issue is with the shaft,
As you say, it got worse after they " fixed" it.


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK