Freightliner Columbia shaking above 60

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Pilot53, Oct 3, 2025.

  1. Pilot53

    Pilot53 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 3, 2025
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    Ive been chasing an issue with my columbia for 4 years now, its driving me nuts. The truck has a tire frequency harmonic shake above 60 mph, worst around 67. Its perfectly smooth for a max of around 10-30 seconds then starts shaking the back of the sleeper rattling the cabinets, and progresses from there like a wave through the floor, then into the seat, then into the steering wheel and the dash. Then it stops completely for another 10-30 seconds before it repeats the cycle. Letting it off the throttle vs full power makes no difference, coasting down vs pulling a hill makes no difference. The only thing that changes is its much less noticeable when loaded with 45k in the box. But with light loads or empty its a pain.

    200k miles ago I replaced the following with no change to the issue:
    1. Kingpins
    2. Front brakes
    3. Front wheel bearings
    4. All 3 Driveshafts plus balanced with new carrier bearing and new u joints
    5. All shocks
    6. Cab mounts
    7. Engine mounts
    8. Rebuilt trans and both rear ends
    9. New air bags
    10. Leaf spring bushings
    11. 3 axle Alignment
    12. New brake drums and shoes
    13. Leveling valve and adjusted ride height
    14. Torque rods i think you call them?
    15. Put balance beads in tires
    16. New clutch

    This past month I did some more work and replaced:
    12. All 10 tires with new bridgestones
    13. All Steel inners and checked aluminum outers for out of round, no issue found
    14. 1 bad scam with worn bushing plus shoes and drum
    15. All 4 drive axle hubs and bearings
    16. Messed with Ride height about a milion times with no change, set it to stock, low, and high with no change, its back to factory height.
    17. Ditched the bead bags and installed cemtramatics on all 3 truck axles.
    18. New trailer hubs, bearings and tires (recaps)

    None of that made any difference at all, during that process I found 3 out of 4 bent drive axle shafts. All 4 were replaced. This took out 50% of the shake to where its barely noticeable when loaded at max gross only, and more intermittent as explained above. Before this it would shake loaded or empty all the time.

    This is taking all the joy out of trucking, please help!
     
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  3. JB7

    JB7 Heavy Load Member

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    Has anyone checked the phasing of the driveshafts? Some trucks have a 45 degree offset on the shaft between the axles. You don't say what year the truck is.
     
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  4. Pilot53

    Pilot53 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 3, 2025
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    Yes, they are all in phase and the driveshaft is balanced. Its an 04
     
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  5. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Sep 25, 2007
    Rosamond, SoCal
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    I had a simular issue with a 2013 Cascadia back in 12/2013, turned out to be the output shaft of the steering gearbox, after repeated trips into the shop for the vibration, the shaft finally broke in half, it had a metal fatigue problem which could be seen after the fact. Caused loss of steering at 60 mph, resulting in a roll over accident. California Highway Patrol listed it as cause for the accident, did not charge me for it.
     
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  6. Pilot53

    Pilot53 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 3, 2025
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    Wow thats crazy, ill definitely keep an eye on the steering gearbox but I dont think its the issue as 90% of the shake is in the seats and the floor. Also it shakes when its on stands so that pretty much rules out the front
     
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  7. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    The vibration travels thru the frame and throughout the cab. tap on the output shaft with a hammer make sure it has a ring if its failing it wont
     
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  8. Kenworth6969

    Kenworth6969 Road Train Member

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    Trying to chase down shaking in a Freightshaker would be like trying to chase down the beginning of a rainbow.
     
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  9. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    That is simply not true any longer. The Cascadias are quite nice to drive. As far as driving the Volvos are the best in my opinion, although I really like W900's and 379.
     
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  10. Kenworth6969

    Kenworth6969 Road Train Member

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    They still suck.
    I was in a 2025 a few months ago while my truck was in the shop and I was shaking all over the place.

    :bounce:
     
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  11. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Aug 8, 2015
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    You don’t mention what year it is. Check the motor mounts. Especially if it’s over 6-7 yrs old.
     
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