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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/'95 Ram, 4 wheel drive question

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Expert: - 12/16/2005


Question
Carl-
I have a question about my '95 1/2 ton Ram. When I have 4x4 engaged, there seems to be a too much vibration over 40mph or so. At speeds of 55 or higher, it skips a every once in a while, as if I hit a bump in the road (when there is no bump.) Is this a u-joint issue? What else could it be? All fluids are checked/changed regularly.
Thanks, Chris

Answer
Chris,

Definitely, check your drivelines, and u-joints.  Also, if you have a lift, check the driveline angles.  You may have to add some shims to modify the differential angles.  Another component to check, is your front axles, and the u-joints/cv-joints on the axles.  It is possible, that you have a bearing problem in your transfer case, which is not as likely as the u-joints being bad.

I'm assuming by what you said, that you don't have this problem in 2-wheel drive.  If you do, then you need to check out the front wheel bearings, and balance the front tires.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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