Broken/Bad Engine mounts??

[OzMaToz]

My 94xlt has just started to shimmy real bad at highway speeds. The alignment was my first guess, but that did not take care of it. Right around 65 I start to get a really annoying lateral shake that is so bad my drinks fly out of the center console. I went to the government site and there was something posted about bad engine mounts creating a problem like mine. Has anyone else had to deal with this, and how much might this cost me?

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The Oz Man -94XLT-
ozmatoz@hotmail.com

 

[Tony91Sport]

Oz Man,
Get a cup that fits in the console.

Tony 91 Sport

 

[davidh]

vibration was/is a big problem in 94 & older models (suspension was changed in 1995). check out this site for addl info:
Dead Link Removed

 

[Ira]

Hey, I just had the same problem and it took me 3 months to figure out why. I had a vibration that ran from about 62-68 MPH with 65 being the worst. I first noticed both of my front tires were cupped in the tread areas (high and low spots). One tire was worse than the other. I went to a tire shop and had the tires trued. They put my tires on a machine and the machine actually shaved the outer layer of rubber and you would not believe how bad they were. When they put the tires back on and still had the wheels off the ground, I grabbed each tire at the top and bottom and worked it back and forth to see if they had any play. Both tires had some looseness to them so I retightened my wheel bearing adjustment nuts to remove the play. I also replaced the radius arm bushings at the same time.

As soon as I pulled off the lot when I had the tires trued, I could tell a big difference...no more noise that I did have at low speeds and no more vibration at the higher speeds.

Check your tires and see if you have any cupping or feathering. If you do, I would say this is where your vibration is coming from. Another possibility is the wheels could be out of balance.

Hope this helps you.

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Ira

91 XLT 4x4

 

[OzMaToz]

thanks for the input! I'll check it out once finals are over.

 

[sluke]

Oz
I had te same problem with severe vibration at 65 or so.....Several dollars later after front end alignment,balancing,etc. it ended up being a flat spot on one of my front tires. The vibration was as you described. Have that checked before you spend too much $$$$.

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shawna l.

 

[S.Matsushige]

Oz-It seems that cupping of the front tires on '91-'94 models are very common. I have had the same problem. The only way I've managed to avoid it is by balancing and rotating my tires often as well as having an alignment check once every year. I'm very lucky to have found a local dealer which will check the alignment for me and not charge me if the alignment is okay. I was told that the larger the tire pattern in combination with the twin I beam front suspension causes this uneven wear. By watching the wear closely as well as doing the balancing and rotation routine, I've managed to avoid the cupping I experienced earlier.

 

[dave zavetsky]

I also saw that reference to engine mounts and vibration, but I thought it was referring to vibration/shimmy after hitting bumps, etc.....?

I have noticed a little vibration around 63-65 mph, but then my 92 4x4 Dakota has the same thing since forever.....not too worried, really......As long as it doesnt kock my drinks out of the cupholder, like yours!