Front End Vibration, Driving me Crazy!

[mbrando1994]

Hey all,

This has been a developing issue for about a month now (as I try and figure out what is to blame).

Whenever I drive my 03 Explorer over 55-60mph there is this horrible vibrating almost shaking feeling that resonates through the footwell and door, the entire front end basically shakes. There is however, no abnormal moving/vibrating of the steering shaft or wheel.

I also get this strange vibration in the foot well when going over bumps and bridge joists. It is not the normal feeling of going over a bump, there is a bit of vibration after the fact that lingers for about a second then goes away, and is constant at highway speeds of 60mph or greater. It also gets worse with speed.

I have already checked tire pressure, wear, and visually inspected all front end suspension parts. There is minor, and I mean extremely minor play in one of the front lower ball joints, hardly any movement at all. Both front upper arms and ball joints are brand new, two new rear struts were also just installed. (This vibrating occurred before both installs, this is me trying to remedy it).

I am taking it in for a balance, alignment, and possibly new tires tomorrow.

If this does not resolve this issue what am I looking for? My drive shaft looks awfully rusted but hasn't given me any issues hence far. Anyone out there who's experienced this and knows what it might be? Please let me know!

Thanks,

Brandon

 

[dirtcrew51m]

Check cv shafts and the ujoints on the drive shafts. You will not feel them through the steering but it will vibrate everywhere else.

 

[mbrando1994]

This is what I was thinking, how exactly do I check them though? What am I looking for?

 

[dirtcrew51m]

With the truck in park, grab the driveshaft and start moving it, look at the ujoints, if there is any play they are junk, I think the same applies to the cv joints.

 

[mbrando1994]

Okay, Now this truck has a front and rear drive shaft as well as the cv axles. Should I be looking at the cv axle itself or the inner/outer cv joints? This is an expensive problem to fix isn't it? Since it could be so many things.

 

[bizzs]

I bought CV joints from Advanced auto with coupons. I bought the inner and outer and both came out to be about $68.00 per side. Excellent deal! Advanced had a hard time finding the inner ones locally and I had to wait a few days before I could pick them up at my local advance

Good luck
bizzs

 

[mbrando1994]

So are we in agreement that this is something in the CV axles? Or would it be better to start with the U joints on the drive shafts?

 

[dirtcrew51m]

The joints themselves. jack the front up, rotate the wheel, feel for any binding or looseness. Cv shafts are not that expensive, and the ujoints are about
$20.00 or so. And even the ujoints any little wear will cause it to vibrate.

 

[mbrando1994]

ok Thank you, I've been working on this explorer but the drivetrain is all new to me, its that sort of 'scary' thing that you don't want to touch in fear of breaking it

I've mostly done work on the suspension and body but how hard is it to pull these shafts and replace the joints? Is this something I should take it to a shop for? I have a good deal of tools but not a torque wrench for the axle nut.

 

[mbrando1994]

In review the shaft if purchased as a whole around $80, should contain both joints? then the inner end fits into the front differential? I was mistaken, I thought the joint normally sat inside the differential. So that's what's underneath the two boots?

 

[dirtcrew51m]

The cv joints are incorporated with the shaft, they are non servicable, which just slides into the differential, the ujoints you have to remove the driveshaft and either press or bang the old joints out.