My 2011 Explorer Limited has a high frequency vibration on smooth highway surfaces that starts somewhere around 65 mph. We planned to use the Explorer was for long highway trips so this is a significant issue for me.
Before I ordered my Explorer, I took a Limited demo out on a very smooth part of the interstate. For an objective, not subjective test, I put a plastic bottle filled with water up to the part of the bottle where it begins to narrow. The purpose was to see, as best I could, if there was any constant vibration over and above any slosh caused by road surface irregularities. Sure, the water sloshed around a little as I drove, but no constant vibration. It was a smooth riding vehicle for a crossover with 20” wheels so I ordered one.
(I had a set of 15” wheels for street tires and 16” (and also an inch wider) wheels for track tires on a sports car I used to take to track events so I am aware of the ride quality differences that go along with lower profile and/or wider tires. In other words, I don’t think my issue is with 20” wheels.)
When I got my new vehicle home about 6 weeks later, I noticed 10 wheel weights right beside each other on one back wheel and ten beside each other on the other. I chalked it up to a quick wheel balance job at the factory and wasn’t too surprised when I picked up vibration at speed on the highway.
I took the car into the dealership and they used their Hunter machine to do a road force balance.
The next time out on the highway, I did my water bottle test which I didn’t need to do to feel the vibration, but it helps make the test objective. I still get a consistent high frequency vibration. By that I mean the surface of the water vibrates rapidly. Of course I also get some sloshing movement of the water from road surface irregularities even on smooth interstates, but it is the vibration that makes the ride uncomfortable on road trips. When I was a passenger on a 400 mile trip last weekend I could feel the vibration in my feet. It felt similar to the feeling you get when your feet “fall asleep”, but mine weren’t. It makes a long highway trip seem longer and less enjoyable than it should.
By the way, other than this issue, I like the Explorer a lot. I like the ride around town at speeds up to 50 mph or so and have enjoyed learning the capabilities of SYNC. But I don’t look forward to long highway trips.
I plan to take the next demo Limited the dealership gets out to the highway to do the water bottle test just to make sure I was right about the demo I drove a couple of months ago.
Until then, any ideas about what is causing the vibration?
