Front end vibrations

[Arfieroman]

Hi all and thanks for having me.

Now for my problem and i truly hope someone has ideas.
I have a 1997 XLT SOHC that I just put new hubs in and I have a horrid vibration while off throttle or keeping a steady speed, non upon acceration. No, they are not timken as I am just trying to get this truck going for my son to go back and forth to highschool. Replace first hub 2wks ago and vibration started so I figured the other hub was bad, which it was going. When changing hub, metal ring from seal "fell out" so I reinstalled to the best of my ability. I assumed this is just a dust seal to keep mud from back side of hub?
Motor was rebuilt last November with updated cam chain cassettes, what a pita! New flywheel installed at same time due to cracks in it. I gave him the choice between this 97 XLT 4wd and my 96 EB with ohv engine and hey, he's a teenage boy, what can I say.

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want a call at 10 to midnight saying it broke down on him because of this.

 

[Turdle]

welcome to the forum.
Could it be something as simple as a wheel weight being knocked off during the work?
Have you tried rotating the tires to see if the vibration moves?

You might also check the first replaced hub for early failure-

 

[Arfieroman]

double checked hub, swapped tires from other explorer. Nothing made any difference

 

[J_C]

Does it change any when turning? Is there any sound along with the vibration?

I'm wondering if it is something as simple has having turned the knuckles while the engine was off so you now have air in the steering system, need to turn the wheel a few times lock to lock L/R while driving to bleed the air out.

 

[Arfieroman]

Tried the air bleed out an no good, I am seriously thinking it is the axles. My eldest son had this truck before I got it back and he had lowered it without having it adjusted correctly. It has been put back to stock ride height but damage has already been done.

 

[Arfieroman]

So by crazy chance, while mowing the yard I come across a 12or M12x1.75 bolt where my son parks! The bolts were backing out the driveshaft to transfer case yoke.

 

[Turdle]

well, there's your problem

 

[Arfieroman]

I guess when they installed the new flywheel they did not torque or loc tite the bolts. I will be talking to the owner tomorrow.