04 XLT Driving me nuts - Literally

[astpman]

Ok there isn’t a better bunch of people than this forum to help solve my unique problem.

1st) Driving an 04 Explorer XLT 4 Door 4.0 4x4

Problem: For the last month I have noticed a noise that "seems" to be coming form my Drivers Front wheel or suspension item that has started to get louder. My steering wheel and gas pedal are now producing an annoying vibration. I figured before I took it to the big bad dealer I would try to do a self fix.

I replaced the lower front ball joints, tie rods ends, and Wheel hub and bearings. Rotated tires good tread life, Noise and Vibration is still there. Any one has the same issue or knows a fix?

**UPDATE** recently when I drove and reached about 70mph on the highway the steering wheel starts to shake a lot worse than at low speeds.

 

[muzzymaniac]

Did you replace all those things in an attempt to fix the problem or were the parts bad?

 

[JTX]

Have you gotten an alignment recently? Im assuming if you went through changing all those parts that was the first thing you did.

 

[muzzymaniac]

an alignment issue shouldn't cause vibration. Why did you only replace the lower balljoint? They should always be done in pairs per side. The uppers aren't much more work since everything is already apart anyway.

 

[SIKDMAX]

an alignment issue shouldn't cause vibration. Why did you only replace the lower balljoint? They should always be done in pairs per side. The uppers aren't much more work since everything is already apart anyway.

You kidding? An alignment can most certainly cause vibration! What if you have a bent tie rod and the tires aren't parallel to each other? You would definitely get a shimmy.

Check to see that your upper balljoint is good and seated in the arm, and then Id say an alignment.

 

[astpman]

I replaced the parts becasue I thought that might be the root of the problem and I have 70,000 miles on the car so I thought it would be "preventant maintance".

 

[astpman]

**update**

Well I just went to Firestone and they said the tires looked very worn out so I purchased 4 new tires and balanced them. Still same problem. I didnt change the upper ball joints becasue of cost $130 each and they looked to be in good shape. I am at wits end with this problem.

I must say I have not done an alignment on the truck becasue the truck drives straight doesnt pull to one side.

Does everyone think my next step should just do an alignment?

 

[Curtis]

sounds like you have spent some $$$ on this....
If I were you, I'd pull the front drive shaft and see if the noise is gone. It could be a transfer case noise.

 

[astpman]

drive shaft

When you say pull the drive shaft you mean replace it?? Can you explain what you meant?

 

[Curtis]

No Dont replace it, Just remove it. Then take it for a ride
That will isolate if the noise is in the transfer case or still in the front end

 

[jrford]

On my old jeep I too had a vibration at 50-70mph. Then the transfercase locked up in part-time and made a terrible noise, not same as yours but the way they confirmed it was the xfr case might help you. What they did was put it on a hoist and lifted it in the air so that all 4 wheels where off the ground (watch out for safety issues etc). Then they ran it up to 70 mph and could feel the vibs. Then they took off the Front Drive shaft and tested again still there. Next Rear Drive shaft came off still vibs, next the Transfer case came out VIBS gone. It was still on the hoist the whole time. So they rebuilt the xfrcase and the vibs were fixed. May not be the same as yours but it may help nail it down.
Jim

 

[astpman]

drive shat

I don't mean to sound dumb but I can't drive the car without the drive shaft, right? So I could I tell if the noise would be gone?

 

[Joe Dirt]

You have two driveshafts- one for the front and one to the rear in a 4WD application. If you remove the front driveshaft, you can still drive the vehicle with the rear driveshaft, it will be like a rear wheel drive application. The purpose is to eliminate or isolate the vibration. If you pull the front shaft and the noise is gone, you know where to concentrate your efforts.

 

[Curtis]

you'll only take out the front drive shaft.

You will still have power to the rear wheels and be able to drive it.

 

[astpman]

drive shat

I don't mean to sound dumb but I can't drive the car without the drive shaft, right? So I could I tell if the noise would be gone?

 

[muzzymaniac]

You kidding? An alignment can most certainly cause vibration! What if you have a bent tie rod and the tires aren't parallel to each other? You would definitely get a shimmy.

Check to see that your upper balljoint is good and seated in the arm, and then Id say an alignment.

Um, Thanks for backing me up on that. Worn, BENT, and broken parts cause vibration not alignments.


How will pulling the front driveshaft affect things with auto 4x4? Assuming he has it that is.

 

[05MONTY]

You have something bent or a bad bearing cv joint etc... Normally ball joints and alignment will not cause shake. A shake can be worse with bad parts but not the cause usually.. Most of the time its a tire. Sometimes a bent rim..Then you look at axle and driveshaft..Once in awhile it can be a frozen caliper heats the rotor and pulsate when it gets hot. You would feel it in the brake pedal also and feel heat from the rotor area.
Good luck!

 

[astpman]

Yes I do have the 4x4 auto and I am about to leave to try and remove the front drie shaft and see if that might be my issuse.

 

[astpman]

Brakes rotors and pads are pretty much brand new. I am not getting any noise or vibration when I brake.

 

[ghoster]

You have something bent or a bad bearing cv joint etc... Normally ball joints and alignment will not cause shake. A shake can be worse with bad parts but not the cause usually.. Most of the time its a tire. Sometimes a bent rim..Then you look at axle and driveshaft..Once in awhile it can be a frozen caliper heats the rotor and pulsate when it gets hot. You would feel it in the brake pedal also and feel heat from the rotor area.
Good luck!

I'm w/ him..theres something bent..my first guess was unbalanced wheels and/or alignment...obviously its not.
Have you gone off-roading or hit any pot holes hard lately?