Out of control vibration - HELP

*halo15* · 06-25-2008, 09:56 PM

My 1999 ford explorer SOHC can not go any faster than 65MPH (maybe 70) without starting to vibrate violently. It can be felt in the steering wheel as well. This just started recently. It feels like something in the front end. The car felt like it was going to come apart before I backed off to 60 and stayed in the right lane of the highway all the way home.

Any ideas/help appreciated....

Thanks Dave

4x4firefighter · 06-25-2008, 10:37 PM

i had that problem...it was the upper ball joints....lowers werent bad just the uppers. im told it was a common problem with X's.....take my advice and get it looked at asap..it will mess up the wear on the tires and u will have to buy new tires.........if it is the ball joints REPLACE THEM NOW!!!! when i had my truck i blew a upper balljoint while driving and it ripped the whole front axle out from underneath me.....not to scare you but if it is ur problem, dont ignor it!

*halo15* · 06-26-2008, 05:59 AM

I replaced the upper and lower ball joints last year with the new Moog greasable ones. I was told that these were better than the stock. Never want to do that job again.

I checked under the car and everything seems tight/normal. Any other ideas before I throw in the towel and hand over some cash to my local garage?

Djsynystr · 06-26-2008, 06:34 AM

i had a similar problem and i rotated my tires and it was solved. check your front tires for feathering or uneven wear.

duke16 · 06-26-2008, 09:08 AM

Are you sure you don't just have a tire out of balance?

*halo15* · 06-26-2008, 01:03 PM

Tires have around 40K on them. Hope it's just that. I was looking into a new set but wanted to get a little more out of these. Had the car in for an alignment after the upper/lower ball joints were replaced a year ago. Dealer told me that I should get a new set b/c they had to put extra weights on two of the tires due to uneven wear. Never had a problem until now though. Thought at the time that they wanted to add to the bill. I'll probably have to spring for tires now.

Was looking at the Mich LTX m/s - Anyone else have a preferance for a mostly highway driver??

duke16 · 06-26-2008, 01:05 PM

Why new tires? Can't you just balance them again (assuming that's the problem).

*toypaseo* · 06-26-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halo15

Was looking at the Mich LTX m/s - Anyone else have a preferance for a mostly highway driver??

Those will be an excellent choice for highway driving. I got a set after having the dismal Goodyear Wrangler RT/S from the Firestone recall. ALOT better ride, and ALOT quieter.

Lankhimself · 06-27-2008, 01:43 AM

Something like this can be caused by one or more tires being out of balance. Bring your truck to a local tire shop, have them rotate them and also get a rebalance done. See if that helps.

*halo15* · 06-27-2008, 08:26 AM

Had a closer look at the tires. On the last rebalance, they moved the fronts to the rear. They wore unevenly with extra balance weights added. Rears look uneven and worn. Fronts look OK. I'll bring the car in to the shop and see if a rebalance will work.

Thanks

Dave

french-jeremy · 06-28-2008, 06:51 AM

Hello,

I'am french and i have a similar problem, when i drive at 80 mph, i have vibrations in the sterring, and i feel a resistance in the steering, when i want to turn at the left or at the right.

I have change my lower ball joint, since 2 weeks, i will change the sway bar bushing this week.

If i put the front tyres to the rear, and i mount the rear tyres on the front, the vibration can disapear ??

Thank's.

Bye, bye.

duke16 · 06-28-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by french-jeremy

Hello,
If i put the front tyres to the rear, and i mount the rear tyres on the front, the vibration can disapear ??

Possibly, but it's better to get all 4 tires balanced.

*Blacksheep Josh* · 06-28-2008, 06:57 PM

if the tires are unbalanced, i know that some places can sahve the tires so the tread is evened out. i know this seems like a waste of money, and it is. but it can be done if the wear is that bad. but if can't hurt to have them all balanced/rotated.

06-25-2008, 09:56 PM	#1
halo15 Elite Explorer PA 1999 Explorer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 46 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Out of control vibration - HELP My 1999 ford explorer SOHC can not go any faster than 65MPH (maybe 70) without starting to vibrate violently. It can be felt in the steering wheel as well. This just started recently. It feels like something in the front end. The car felt like it was going to come apart before I backed off to 60 and stayed in the right lane of the highway all the way home. Any ideas/help appreciated.... Thanks Dave

06-25-2008, 10:37 PM	#2
4x4firefighter Wannabe Elite Explorer Oneonta, NY 99 Eddie Limited Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 106 Vehicle Specs	i had that problem...it was the upper ball joints....lowers werent bad just the uppers. im told it was a common problem with X's.....take my advice and get it looked at asap..it will mess up the wear on the tires and u will have to buy new tires.........if it is the ball joints REPLACE THEM NOW!!!! when i had my truck i blew a upper balljoint while driving and it ripped the whole front axle out from underneath me.....not to scare you but if it is ur problem, dont ignor it! __________________ 4x4firefigher.....99 Eddie Limited.... TT/ WORRIOR shackles, BLAZER off road roof lightbar http://www.myspace.com/axn6254_4x4firefighter

06-26-2008, 09:08 AM	#5
duke16 Wannabe Elite Explorer NW Raleigh, NC 1997 5.0L AWD XLT Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 907 Vehicle Specs	Are you sure you don't just have a tire out of balance? __________________ 1997 Explorer 5.0L AWD XLT Torque Monster Headers \| BFG A/Ts (30/9.50R15) \| Rancho RS5000s Shocks Remote Transmission Filter/Mobil 1 Transmission Fluid \| Class III Hidden Hitch Mac Performance Intake \| Engine Rebuilt \| Warrior Shackles/TT Lift \| Flo Pro Muffler (FP736)

06-26-2008, 01:05 PM	#7
duke16 Wannabe Elite Explorer NW Raleigh, NC 1997 5.0L AWD XLT Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 907 Vehicle Specs	Why new tires? Can't you just balance them again (assuming that's the problem). __________________ 1997 Explorer 5.0L AWD XLT Torque Monster Headers \| BFG A/Ts (30/9.50R15) \| Rancho RS5000s Shocks Remote Transmission Filter/Mobil 1 Transmission Fluid \| Class III Hidden Hitch Mac Performance Intake \| Engine Rebuilt \| Warrior Shackles/TT Lift \| Flo Pro Muffler (FP736)

06-27-2008, 01:43 AM	#9
Lankhimself Wannabe Elite Explorer Shirley, MA 1997 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 235 Vehicle Specs	Something like this can be caused by one or more tires being out of balance. Bring your truck to a local tire shop, have them rotate them and also get a rebalance done. See if that helps. __________________ Pete '97 XLT - SOLD! Shackles, Add-a-leafs, TT, Energy Suspension bushings, 31x10.5 General Grabber AT2's, Brush Guards, Yakima Load Warrior, 4 Hella 500's, Flowy Exhaust, K&N FIPK, and more. New ride--> '06 GMC Sierra SLT

06-26-2008, 05:59 AM	#3
halo15 Elite Explorer PA 1999 Explorer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 46 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I replaced the upper and lower ball joints last year with the new Moog greasable ones. I was told that these were better than the stock. Never want to do that job again. I checked under the car and everything seems tight/normal. Any other ideas before I throw in the towel and hand over some cash to my local garage?

06-26-2008, 06:34 AM	#4
Djsynystr Wannabe Elite Explorer Bethlehem 1997 4 Door AWD Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 31 Vehicle Specs	i had a similar problem and i rotated my tires and it was solved. check your front tires for feathering or uneven wear.

06-26-2008, 01:03 PM	#6
halo15 Elite Explorer PA 1999 Explorer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 46 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Tires have around 40K on them. Hope it's just that. I was looking into a new set but wanted to get a little more out of these. Had the car in for an alignment after the upper/lower ball joints were replaced a year ago. Dealer told me that I should get a new set b/c they had to put extra weights on two of the tires due to uneven wear. Never had a problem until now though. Thought at the time that they wanted to add to the bill. I'll probably have to spring for tires now. Was looking at the Mich LTX m/s - Anyone else have a preferance for a mostly highway driver??

06-27-2008, 08:26 AM	#10
halo15 Elite Explorer PA 1999 Explorer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 46 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Had a closer look at the tires. On the last rebalance, they moved the fronts to the rear. They wore unevenly with extra balance weights added. Rears look uneven and worn. Fronts look OK. I'll bring the car in to the shop and see if a rebalance will work. Thanks Dave

06-28-2008, 06:51 AM	#11
french-jeremy Wannabe Elite Explorer Orleans, FRANCE '98 Limited Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 43 Vehicle Specs	Hello, I'am french and i have a similar problem, when i drive at 80 mph, i have vibrations in the sterring, and i feel a resistance in the steering, when i want to turn at the left or at the right. I have change my lower ball joint, since 2 weeks, i will change the sway bar bushing this week. If i put the front tyres to the rear, and i mount the rear tyres on the front, the vibration can disapear ?? Thank's. Bye, bye.

06-28-2008, 06:57 PM	#13
Blacksheep Josh Slinky+Escalator=Fun Statesboro, GA 1993 Ford Explorer XLT Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,566 Vehicle Specs	if the tires are unbalanced, i know that some places can sahve the tires so the tread is evened out. i know this seems like a waste of money, and it is. but it can be done if the wear is that bad. but if can't hurt to have them all balanced/rotated. __________________ "Thunder" Registry R.I.P. 2005-2012 2001 Ford Ranger (New!!) "You can hear me when I'm coming" - Yung Joc