My Second Load.....Bad Vibration in Tractor.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by VeganTrucker, Jun 20, 2015.

  1. VeganTrucker

    VeganTrucker Medium Load Member

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    So I'm delivering my second load as a solo driver today. I'm driving along and notice this pretty significant vibration in my sleeper. It isn't constant. It goes away for about 2-5 minutes then comes back for two to five minutes. The vibration starts out lightly then gradually picks up to where it's shaking the entire sleeper. It's not so much in the cab as the sleeper but I can feel it in the seat. My steering wheel isn't shaking or anything. Then it slowly fades and goes away for another 2-5 minutes where it picks up again. And it goes on and on like this.

    My first load from Illinois to Baton Rouge I didn't notice it. It seemed to start when I picked up this trailer I'm hooked to now. I am driving a 2014 Cascadia. Any ideas? Seems my shop doesn't have a clue. Oh yeah. I also had a new rear drive tire put on yesterday. But the shop said it probably isn't that if its not a constant vibration which I agree. Could it be something about the trailer? It's literally driving me crazy. The sound and rattle for 11 hours a day is killing me.
     
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  3. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Maybe you've got a loose U-joint. But probably a bad tire somewhere on the tractor. It could be something REALLY bad on the trailer, but you will need to bobtail or get another trailer to know for certain. If it is confirmed to be a tractor issue, make the shop foreman drive it down the highway and back to verify your account.

    I would refuse to drive something like that.
     
  4. Kalin72

    Kalin72 Light Load Member

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    I agree with STexan, stop somewhere, disconnect the trailer, and drive only the bobtail for couple of miles on the highway, same speed as you drive the composition before. That way you can determine if comes from the trailer or bobtail.
    Also, do you feel the vibration when stop? What about when you lower your speed?
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2015
  5. VeganTrucker

    VeganTrucker Medium Load Member

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    I hadn't noticed it when I was driving with another trailer or while bobtailing. It seems to happen when I get between 60-70mph. I think I'll deliver this load and when I hook to a new trailer I'll see if it continues. If it does, I'll have to take further steps. I inspected all the U joints and tires. Everything "looks" to be on the up and up. As stated, I just put a new tire on the rear drive, but didn't notice the vibration after I put it on and with my last empty trailer. It seemed to start with this loaded one.
     
  6. 2Girls_1Truck

    2Girls_1Truck Medium Load Member

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    Any broken u-joints once had will always produce the vibration at a specific rpm/speed. A shimmy that comes and goes sounds like a square tire on the trailer, we have all kinds of those. One trailer pulls like a dream and the next causes vibrations that come and go from out of round tires.
     
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  7. Kalin72

    Kalin72 Light Load Member

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    So could be the trailer then. Just drive carefully, how many miles left to the drop of the trailer?
    Hm, one more thing. Do you drive in area of the road where is construction? Could be the surface of the road...
     
  8. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Perhaps a bad wheel bearing.
     
  9. VeganTrucker

    VeganTrucker Medium Load Member

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    I
    ts not the road surface. It happens on smooth road. And rough roads. I have 850 miles to my drop. I'm gonna run to TA and disconnect my trailer then run her up to speed and see if it still happens. Shop told me to take her to TA tire shop to see what they say. Just what I need.
     
  10. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    Was the tire they put on the truck a (recap) or a brand new tire look close at tread where it curves into sidewall of tire for a seam where they bonded new cap onto old tire?
     
  11. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Had a truck which gave the company a lot of problems, it would vibrated so hard and then just go away, doing this every 3 to 4 minutes on the freeway. It turned out to be a bad ujoint and a bad carrier bearing - the ujoint from what I was told was dry but you could not tell that it was bad by just checking it on the truck.
     
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