Hunting down a few vibrations

FoxLakeTahoe · February 3, 2014

Hi all,

Looking to pick your brains about two vibrations that are staring to drive me nuts:

2000 Tahoe, 185k miles, 4WD.

Vibration 1: speed related vibration, most noticable at speeds of 65 plus. Present in neutral, on load, off load, and on brakes. Notice it in my seat at first, and I can feel it in the steering at its worst.

Vibration 2: speed related deep rumble at speeds from 0 - 10, present in neutral, on load, off load, and on brakes. I feel it in my seat and floorboards.

Of course, I thought tires at first, but I have reason to believe that they're not entirely to blame. Here's a timeline for reference:

100k: tune up, rear diff fluid change.

130k: trans fluid change.

140k: passenger side wheel bearing change, rear driveshaft u-joints changed, front shocks changed, and I think that rear shocks were done as well (don't quote me on the rear shocks, my brother had the truck at the time).

160k: trans fluid changed again (looked good, nothing in the pan to suggest it was falling apart), brakes changed. Driver side wheel bearing changed.

170k: new tires

182k: rear diff checked, one axle bearing replaced. Ring and pinion looked great. One rear u joint changed, other was fine.

183k tires re-balanced, replaced both front CV axles.

Just recently, I noticed a little play in the passenger side wheel bearing, and my tires are a little chopped (nothing significant though).

Vibration 1 has been around, and gotten louder, since 150k.

Vibration 2 if I recall only surfaced sometime after the new tires were put on at 170k, and the first rotation I did seemed to change it just a bit, so I'm hoping that its just a chopped tire.

Considering the work I've done, what would you suggest I check next? Driveshaft balance? I've never pulled the front driveshaft to check its u-joints (which I have a good feeling I should), but I'm barely ever in 4WD.

Thanks in advance!

02suburbanZ71 · February 9, 2014

The front and rear drive shaft could need to be balanced. Theres a lot of diffrent things it could be. Mine does it too and i have no idea what it could be.

FoxLakeTahoe · February 9, 2014

Just had my rear driveshaft balanced, that cleared a lot of it up - give that a try.

02suburbanZ71 · February 10, 2014

How much was that and where can i get it done? Did you get just the rear?

FoxLakeTahoe · February 11, 2014

$90, rear driveshaft, think I had a dent or few chips on it from the rust and dirt roads. Mine was at a driveshaft/diff shop. You could just drop the driveshaft and bring that or bring the whole truck in.

efritz · February 12, 2014

Good to hear it was partially solved, for the remaining little vibrations, I have had the same issues as you and i have the same powertrain. Vibration 1 is most likely driveshaft related. The front output shaft spline on the autotrac transfer cases gets sloppy over time (ALWAYS rotates whether in 4wd or not) and causes the driveshaft to ride to one side. Even if the shaft is perfectly balanced it will still do it, not really a problem, HOWEVER, pull the shaft anyway to check u joint condition, and if they are stiff or rough, replace as necessary, otherwise just ignore it if they are fine. Vibration 2 is very likely front wheel bearings if you say they have play. Easy fix. All you need is a 15mm wrench, CV nut socket, and a BFH.