randrball

Where did you guys get your drive shafts from?

All you high mileage guys replacing axles please spend the extra coin and replace your axle bearings & seals. I just finished up a truck (86000miles) this am that only had .015" and .009" flange "wobble" measured off a dial indicator, but had approximately .060" play each side when trying to lift up and down on the axle flange. I understand a couple of thousands would account for axle wear so the rest was in the bearings. There should be some play, but .060" is too much. Another honorable mention was the amount of wear noted on the carrier pin.

I believe the root cause of all our shakes and vibrations are mostly contributed to poor tolerance stacking. No one probably did a good job at Advanced GD&T on a completed assembly or component parts - ( Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, often referred to as GD&T, is a symbolic language used on engineering drawings and models to define the allowable deviation of feature geometry). All these problems are causing our trucks to resonate (vibrating) at a frequency and amplitude that varies based upon changing / variable conditions. Under the right circumstances, multiple components begin resonating sending harmonics (vibration waves) until we begin experiencing unacceptable conditions. I understand we have stiff frames with high durometer frame to body bushings that aren't helping absorb these vibrations. Some of us have stopped enough of these resonating components to deem the vehicle repaired. Believe me there is still and always will be resonating vibrations, but only at an acceptable level. My truck has been deemed acceptable (smooth) for over 1,000 miles, but it took me replacing the rear ring gear to achieve this level. Others may find changing axles, truing drive shafts, balancing tires, & ect to get their truck to an acceptable level. My point is to identify some of these components by removing them from the equation and you to may get your truck to an acceptable level.

I don't recall my rpm's at 80, but it should be around 2100. However at 70 mph, I am turning approximately 1876 rpm's running 34.3" tires. I can't believe I waited so long to regear the truck.

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My vibrations are now gone to, but it took replacing the rear ring and pinion. I went from 3:08 to 4:10's.

07Softail, Do you mind sharing who and where in Mississippi fixed your drive shaft. I need to pay them a visit. Thank you in advance.