BBBBbbbbbbrrrrrr vibration.Could shocks cause this?

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lynrick

Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Threads
6
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31
Location
Sydney, Australia
After installing offset caster bushes, I'm getting an intermittent loud BBrrrrr vibration noise in the front end.
The sound is like you are running over a ripple strip, designed to slow you down when entering a slower speed zone!
I have had a wheel alignment done and the numbers came out favourably.
I initially decided to install the offset bushings because I had a problem with "waivering steering" because my vehicle has a 2" lift. The bushings fixed this steering problem but this new problem has arisen.
I have checked steering linkages and all seem firm to me. I have replaced a few swaybar bushes but hoping for a miracle (and clutching at straws) they did not fix the problem.
This vibration is extremely intermittent. I can drive for 200 kilometers and this vibration will only happen maybe 5 times at unpredictable speed, sometimes at 50kmHr or 90kmHr. Nothing is physically touching under the front and you don't feel this vibration through the steering wheel very much.
It must be quite loud outside the vehicle though because pedestrians have turned around to find out where the noise is coming from. It only lasts for about 100 metres at most.
I accelerate and it stops or I slow down and it stops. It's got me stuffed! I put a brand new steering damper on, also to no avail. I have Bilstien shocks all round which have done at least 100,000 kms. Could these be causing the problem? Should I have these rebuilt?
Could it be a frequency problem, like the vibrations in a tuning fork as it is so unpredictable when it happens. Pie in the sky stuff.
The truck is driving the best it ever has. This is extremely frustrating. I can't take it to anyone to look at because chances are that they wouldn't drive it enough for the noise to surface and they'd tell me nothing's wrong. (Not to mention I'm not working at the moment.)
Anyone know if shocks could cause this?
Please advise. :mad: :bang:
 
Last edited:
What bushings did you use?
 
hmmm... Interesting, had not heard of those. Possible the correction went to on the positive side to much and created the vibes in the drive line?

Have you measured the caster after the install?
 
retrofive said:
hmmm... Interesting, had not heard of those. Possible the correction went to on the positive side to much and created the vibes in the drive line?

Have you measured the caster after the install?
Click to expand...
Yes. These are the figures -
Castor: L+5.14 R+5.02 Camber: L+0.59 R+0.07 Toe: L-0.3 R-0.4
I thought these were OK.
 
landtank said:
you might check your spindle bushings.
Click to expand...
If the Spindle Bushings are anything to do with the birfields' setup, I have had them done. Paid around $AUS 1600.00 for the job.
Just as a point of interest, I drove the vehicle to work today, 40 kilometres each way. The vibration raised its head at 50 kms an hour 3/4 of the way through the trip. Only vibrated for 20-50 metres and then it was all over. Happened once on the way and once on the way back. Other than that it was peerrffectttt!
Noise like described above!
Dunno......!@#$%
 
landtank said:
you might check your spindle bushings.
Click to expand...

Yup, I'd bet it's dry spindle bushings. If you just had them done, then I would suspect that they forgot to lube the spindles properly when they repacked your birfs. Take it back and tell them what you are experiencing. The rumble strip sound is a classic spindle bushing indicator.
 
could also be a u-joint. maybe.
but those tend to be more predictable in their vibrations... ie: happen at a given speed.
 
Yes, but if it's the spindle bushings, wouldn't there be vibration noises more frequently!
The noise is so intermittent...... Yesterday it happened once in 80 Kms of driving.
If it is the spindle bushings, is it a major to get grease in there?
 
lynrick said:
Yes, but if it's the spindle bushings, wouldn't there be vibration noises more frequently!
The noise is so intermittent...... Yesterday it happened once in 80 Kms of driving.
If it is the spindle bushings, is it a major to get grease in there?
Click to expand...

How you described the sound on your first post is exactly the same sound I was getting. It was also very intermittent at first then started to happen more frequently. It would only happen when I let up on the gas or brake slightly, when I would accelerate the sound would stop. My spindle bushing was so dry that there was fine brass dust all over the spindle and birfield.

I think when you had your birfs done, they didn't pack enough grease into the birfield, steering knuckle and spindle. It is pretty easy to remove the spindle and check yourself or have the shop take a look.
 
redlinewins said:
How you described the sound on your first post is exactly the same sound I was getting. It was also very intermittent at first then started to happen more frequently. It would only happen when I let up on the gas or brake slightly, when I would accelerate the sound would stop. My spindle bushing was so dry that there was fine brass dust all over the spindle and birfield.

I think when you had your birfs done, they didn't pack enough grease into the birfield, steering knuckle and spindle. It is pretty easy to remove the spindle and check yourself or have the shop take a look.
Click to expand...

Do you think that running dry for a period is very detrimental to the long term wear of the other components? Any permanent damage to the spindle?
I will go to the shop tomorrow and see what they say and post later their explanation. mmmmmmmmmmm :wrench:
 
lynrick said:
Do you think that running dry for a period is very detrimental to the long term wear of the other components? Any permanent damage to the spindle?
I will go to the shop tomorrow and see what they say and post later their explanation. mmmmmmmmmmm :wrench:
Click to expand...

Absolutely! The soft brass in the bushing, when dry, wears rapidly. The bushing is press fit into the spindle and should not move. Some have had their bushings fall right out of the back of the spindle when removed due to so much wear. You don't want to have to replace the spindle if you can avoid it, because they are like US $200 each. Or, maybe you do. The new product improved version now has bearings instead of the bushing, to address this very issue.

The sound you are hearing is likely the spindle. It is a fairly common issue in the 80. Also, as the weather warms up, or I guess for you, begins to cool down, you will notice it more. When mine began making noise, it was when the weather was coldest.

It really isn't that hard to remove the spindle to check. You will need snap-ring pliers, torque wrenches and a 54mm hub-nut socket. The hardest thing will be resetting the pre-load on the wheel bearings when you put it all back together. But it's really not too bad. Just follow the front axle tutorial in the FAQ.

This is of course, if the shop that did your axle doesn't step up.
 
Thermodyn said:
Absolutely! The soft brass in the bushing, when dry, wears rapidly. The bushing is press fit into the spindle and should not move. Some have had their bushings fall right out of the back of the spindle when removed due to so much wear. You don't want to have to replace the spindle if you can avoid it, because they are like US $200 each. Or, maybe you do. The new product improved version now has bearings instead of the bushing, to address this very issue.

The sound you are hearing is likely the spindle. It is a fairly common issue in the 80. Also, as the weather warms up, or I guess for you, begins to cool down, you will notice it more. When mine began making noise, it was when the weather was coldest.

It really isn't that hard to remove the spindle to check. You will need snap-ring pliers, torque wrenches and a 54mm hub-nut socket. The hardest thing will be resetting the pre-load on the wheel bearings when you put it all back together. But it's really not too bad. Just follow the front axle tutorial in the FAQ.

This is of course, if the shop that did your axle doesn't step up.
Click to expand...

Been to the shop and they have no explanation of what the vibration could be. When I mentioned a lack of grease on the spindle bushes they assured me the mechanic who did the job woudn't have neglected to grease these....:doh:
There is no way they'd pull it apart as a warranty issue on account of the suggestions from imudders gurus! Wish it was that easy!
I suggested leaving the truck with the boss mechanic for a week (while I go on holidays) he can drive it to and from work and hopefully the noise will rear its ugly head while he is in control! Something may be done about it then.
I just don't have the confidence to tackle the job by myself.
 
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