Excessive sway...Bearings or Shocks??

[mckinnsc]

I have a 2002 Explorer XLT 4x4 with 135k miles. It's been a great vehicle. About 3 months ago my wife noticed a sway when driving at around 45 mph or faster. It feels like you are driving on grooved pavement-when not. The sway is slightly worse when turning to the right. Naturally I was out of town when the sway first started-and it freaked her out-so my wife took it to the Ford dealership. After a test drive they told her it was likely worn tires and bad front ball joints. We definitely needed tires (this I knew) and I had seen that the ball joint boots were torn when i had changed the front brake pads and rotors a month or so earlier...so it all made sense to me from afar. After new tires and balljoints and $1300 lighter in the pocket the sway was still there. The mechanic wanted to bang my wife for shocks ($800) too at the time-but I didn't want to change a bunch of things at the same time and not know what the real problem was--ok I was being cheap too! I was going to take it in for shocks this week (to a local shop I trust more than the dealer) when I noticed a bunch of posts about bad wheel bearings. I know it is hard to diagnose problems with threads and posts but could a bad bearing/hub be causing this sway. It seems strange to me that there is more sway when turning to the right-that part doesn't add up to worn shocks. There are no rubbing or squeeking sounds heard. Before I take it in for shocks-I am going to jack it up and try to wiggle the tires. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

SteveO

 

[unclemeat]

My 05 had a little sway at highway speed. It turned out to be a bad rear bearing. The sway came before the bad bearing noise.

 

[Robsbrd99]

Struts usually go about 50k or less. If you have 100k+ on the origional ones, they're probably gone. The truck bouncing when you go over bridges and speed bumps is the biggest sign. I think the reason why the right side is worse is because it has no rebound left,so, you're riding on the springs. If you do get new ones, dont forget to algin the front end. The tars will wear much better!

 

[mckinnsc]

First thing this morning I jacked up the rear end and sure enough the right rear wheel was wobbling - bad bearing. It's in the shop now being changed out. I will post back if the sway issue is resolved with the new bearing. I do plan to replace the shocks over the next month or so either way.
Thanks for the posts.
SteveO

 

[Fox Fader]

I wish I was your mechanic... $

 

[Robsbrd99]

was wondering if you all have state inspections down there. If so, find someone else.