Vibration when reaching 5th gear

Broo · Dec 1, 2016

For a few days I noticed that when the transmission shifts to (or downshifts from) 5th gear, a vibration is felt through the truck. Kinda like hitting rumble strips at high speed. This only occurs during shifting, so a fraction of a second, but long enough to be noticeable. It does not occur on other gears changes.

Truck is a 2006 long bed, 3.0L automatic, around 70K miles.

Any idea what's happening ?

RonD · Dec 1, 2016

In automatics gear shifts are driveshaft and wheel speed driven

i.e. you won't be in 5th at 30mph, so high driveshaft RPM and wheel speed is when you feel the vibration

So I would look at driveshaft balance and u-joints first

Could be transmission issue but that would require some static testing. i.e. wheels up, by axle not frame, and putting it thru its paces

adsm08 · Dec 1, 2016

The description kinda sounds like a torque converter clutch shudder.

Broo · Dec 2, 2016

Thanks for the pointers, I'll check these out in the coming week.

Transman304 · Dec 3, 2016

adsm08 said:
The description kinda sounds like a torque converter clutch shudder.

I'm with ADSM08, perfect description of converter clutch shudder. May want to get a tube of shudder fix. It is a friction modifier that may help smooth out shudder.
View attachment 21553

Twister · Dec 6, 2016

My moms E350 had a shutter when it went into 4th gear. It was remidied with a fluid change. I would start there.

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Broo · Dec 6, 2016

Ok, so after a quick checkup, it isn't the u-joints. My mechanic also thinks about the torque converter clutch. He proposes a first try similar to what Twister said : on the day we change the fluid, that very morning I will put in the transmission a cleaning additive. As written on the bottle, this additive isn't meant to stay in the transmission for long for if there is gunk, it will float around soon. I will then take a 20 minutes drive to his garage, flush out the ATF, change the filter, refill and add a second additive which will stay in there.

If that doesn't work, I will try Transman's fix, else I have to go all the way to a torque converter fix/replacement like adsm08 suggested.

Broo · Dec 15, 2016

Changing the ATF didn't fix the problem.

Broo · Dec 28, 2016

Hey Transman304 thanks for the suggestion, this additive seems to have done the trick. I was very skeptical, but at that price, might as well try it.

For the first ride, it kept shuddering like it used to, but on the way back after a few dozen miles it kept getting fainter until the vibration disappeared.

Now we have to see how long this additive holds. I might just have bought some time before replacing a much more costly part.

Vibration when reaching 5th gear

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