I asked this question last week and did not get a reply so I'm trying again. I have an 02 CC LB Dmax auto, when towing or carrying a load in the bed I experience a shudder at take off until 10-15 mph then it smooths out and is fine. The more throttle that I apply or weight I pull the worse it gets. what can cause this and how do I fix it? U-joints, mid shaft bearing, rear diff, transmission. I 've heard of a 1 piece drive shaft for these problems. I have a dealer looking into it but they don't have any previous expierience with anything like this. Any info would be great thanks. :help2:

The one piece shaft is only for cc/sb and ec/lb models. You would probably benefit by shimming the pinion angle down. However, you could then experience a shudder when unloaded. Airbags in the rear could help you out alot, by keeping the ride height constant you can eliminate changes to the shaft angles. You might still experience a lauch shudder on hard takeoffs though, as the spring wrap lets the pinion point upwards under heavy throttle/load.

Ford had some shudder problems with two piece drive shafts in the early 80's. The fix was to shim the Center carrier bearing down about 1/2". I had installed a 1" shim on a few trucks. Also make sure your slip yoke is free. It's easier and quicker than changing pinion angle. Worth a try, good luck

Thanks for the info. I spoke with a drive shaft shop an he suggested shimming the mid shaft bearing also. I don't understand why, with a nearly stock truck (285's) I would have problems with angles on the drive line. I was hoping someone else with this problem might have something interesting to say.

Dodge had this problem as well. I shimmed the center bearing on my Ram 2500 and it did absolutly no good.....I just lived with it.
Keith

Pull the driveshaft and check the u-joints for binding. Have had a handfull of them in the CC/LB with a shudder at launch and the joints were binding, didnt have any play in them.

Referring to the u-joints binding. Were there any other sign/symptoms to help me determine if they are the actual cause. I am still working with the Dealer and GM customer service to get them to fix the problem, but they won't just throw parts at it trying to fix it. It is a shame that I have to diagnose and research solutions to problems and they are the PRO'S!

It's funny I bought the truck solely to use as a tow vehicle and that is the only time I have a problem. :mad:

Thanks for the replys

If they pull the shaft and try and move the joints around, they will feel the binding, if they are the problem that is. Those joints should flop around with no resistance.

The CC/LB is the only ones I have been having any of the U-joint problems with, some times they would have a vibration at other speeds.