96 Ford Explorer w/ a bad Vibration/Shake....Help!

[krazy13]

I have a 96 Explorer 4x4 4.0 V6 and in the last couple weeks I have acquired a vibration. I have tried many things and am still coming up short. Here is a list of things I've tried and found so far:

-Balanced tires and checked for ply separation
-Wheels spin true when it's on blocks
-New fuel filter, plugs and wires
-U-joints look/feel good
-CV joint seem to be fine
-Engine doesn't vibrate/shake when reving in neutral
-It only vibrates/shakes when I'm accelerating and maintaining speed
-Vibration goes away when I let off accelerator or am coasting
-The vibration increases with speed of vehicle, but doesn't change with gear shift

Any suggestion? Where do I look now?

Thanks....Karl

 

[Doubt Incarnate]

the only other things are ball joints and hubs. there should be a 3rd shock in the rear, mounted from the axle center section to the passenger side frame, is it still there? possible that has gone bad but I woulndt think so. How many miles?

if you've been off roading, maybe you bent the driveshaft.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Double check the CV on the front drive shaft (transfer case end). I will almost garantee this is your culprit.

If the boot has torn there will be no grease left in the CV. I know from experience. I fought the same thing for six months until I discoverd the boot was torn.

 

[rob17san]

Also check your transmission mount.
Rob

 

[CougarSE]

I hate to bring up a thread from the dead, but my truck has the exact symptoms as this guys! Its horrible and makes me think that something is just going to flat out break! Can I remove the front driveshaft in my 5.0 AWD mounty to check if the vibration goes away if its the fault of the CV on the front driveshaft?

 

[lilbeefy]

I had the same exact problems that both of you are describing about 6 months ago. I checked everything over and found nothing I went ahead and r&r'd my front and rear u joints and wouldnt you know it problem solved. With the u-joints on the vehicle they looked and felt solid. but they were shot as soon as i took them off. give it a try with the front first, I think it only cost 10 bucks at pepboys. if you have them do it it will probably run you 150.

 

[CougarSE]

You know I've checked the U-joints probably 3 times now on the lift here at work. They always seem fine, even with the truck in neutral so I can rotate the shafts. I think I'm just going to go ahead and replace the U-joints. The CV joint I have to figure out as I have never done one of those.