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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
now that I have had a chance to think about it, what about your pinion yoke? I would also throw it on jack stands and let things rotate slowly at first, should be able to figure out what's bent...
Is it possible the whole truck is bent slightly causing vibration. Look at all the body seams and panel lines. If anything is closer than normal or pulled out of alignment, try to figure out why. Check the bumpers reletive to the body. They might tell of a slightly tweaked frame.
Check your rear spring hangers/bushings, could they have been jarred loose? Even the shocks or sway bar? Is the axle slightly loose on the springs? U-bolts and plates?
Try removing the rear drive shaft completely and drive in 4x4 (front wheel drive) and see if your vibration lessens or goes away.
Your engine problems sound most likely to be fuel related.
A little update. I spent the majority of the weekend trying to figure this out. Did a few general maintenance things(plugs, wires, etc.) and after changing the fuel filer, Snot is running way better. It must have been coincidental.
I also had it up on the hoist at a buddy's shop, and there are a issues that I wasn't able to see with it on jack stands.
1. Trans cross member IS/was slightly bent up toward the floor board. I believe this is what caused some of the vibrations.
2. My frame IS/was bent. My rear axle assembly is about 3/8"-1/2" too far to the passenger side. Springs and shackles look fine. This is what I believe has caused the rest of the vibration and "dog tracking".
Using a few chains, a hydro pole and a skid steer, we were able to pull the truck a little straighter and we also replaced the cross member. I DO NOT RECOMMEND STRAIGHTENING YOUR FRAME THIS WAY!
Snot is driving way better, but is not getting anymore mods or repairs...I may use her for parts on my next RBV. Thanks everyone for the help.
Glad to here Snot is feeling better. Your not the first one to pull a frame straight using less then conventional methods. Is it worth the money to take snot to the frame shop for a little tweaking? Might not cost much for a couple hours on the rack.
Glad to here Snot is feeling better. Your not the first one to pull a frame straight using less then conventional methods. Is it worth the money to take snot to the frame shop for a little tweaking? Might not cost much for a couple hours on the rack.
I won't be taking her to a frame shop. She is mechanically sound (aside from the frame), but I am scared that she will be called in for a safety inspection if I take her to a frame shop. She has some cancer that I was going to cut out in the spring, but right now she would be pulled off the road. Oh yea, she's still shifting like garbage, but it is what it is.
My niece named her. I picked her up from school one day and she was disappointed that I didn't bring the Fiat. She said, I have to ride home in "snot". I asked her why she call my X snot. She replied so serious. "It's green, gross and ugly". Then the name just stuck...like snot. lol Being in the pink is ALWAYS a good thing! Thanks again everyone.
My niece named her. I picked her up from school one day and she was disappointed that I didn't bring the Fiat. She said, I have to ride home in "snot". I asked her why she call my X snot. She replied so serious. "It's green, gross and ugly". Then the name just stuck...like snot. lol Being in the pink is ALWAYS a good thing! Thanks again everyone.
The F.I.A.T. was a super fun car. I originally bought it for a winter beater so I wouldn't have to drive the Camaro, but it didn't have a block heater and wouldn't start if it was below 15 degrees Celsius. I no longer have either, just have Snot and the wife has the Grand Am.
Have you checked the rear drive shaft? The rear end shudder and the dog-legging sound like a rear end alignment and drive shaft problem. Check with that angel that saved your A** and see what he thinks.
Glad to hear you figured out the problems. Why would they pull the truck off the road for safety if you had it at a frame shop being repaired? That really wouldn't make any sence.
Either way you could always use it as a wheeler and get another for daily use.
How did you measure your rear end? I think there is supposed to be a little dogtrack in the design, at least this is how I interpret the service manual. The rear track is a little narrower then the front.
Glad to hear you figured out the problems. Why would they pull the truck off the road for safety if you had it at a frame shop being repaired? That really wouldn't make any sence.
Either way you could always use it as a wheeler and get another for daily use.
How did you measure your rear end? I think there is supposed to be a little dogtrack in the design, at least this is how I interpret the service manual. The rear track is a little narrower then the front.
I'm probably wrong in my thinking, but here it is. A shop legally is not supposed to let a vehicle leave their facility if the mechanic/shop feel a vehicle is unsafe. Besides the frame, my truck really needs inner rocker panels, as well as a few other things. Many shops here in Winnipeg are also provincial inspection stations. See where I'm going with this? I'm probably just being paranoid. lol
We measured the frame corner to corner using a laser and some pieces of masonite for the beam to bounce off of. I have always gone with the rule that if a frame is within a 1/4 inch corner to corner it is square.
Once it was established that the frame wasn't square, I measured from the center of the rear spring plate (I don't know what it's called, but it holds your axle assembly to the leaf springs with the u-bolts) to center of the transmission cross member. Then I chained Snot to a hydro pole and my buddy gave a couple of yanks with the bobcat. Measured again and repeated as necessary. I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS. IT IS ACTUALLY NOT VERY SAFE.
The frame isn't 100%, but I have been driving her and everything seems ok enough...no highway driving though. Oh and I am still having shifting problems. She has to hit about 4k before shifting, and it doesn't matter what gear she is shifting into.
I haven't been on in a while, and I have some very sad news...at least it's sad for me. My favorite RBV, "Snot" is no longer on road or off road worthy.
I have since been driving the 2wd F-150 I purchased for my 5.0l swap. It is actually a really decent truck. Got it for cheap because it had a bad clunk and shake at all speeds. It was the rear u-joint. Both u-joint and provincially safetied truck = $450.
The downside is the F-150 is 2wd. I would like to put a TTB axle assembly under it. I have read on a few sites that this is a straight bolt in procedure, bit I really don't know 100%.
I guess in a nutshell, I'm asking if anyone knows of a site for F-150's that is just as awesome and friendly as this one? I do plan to keep checking in here to look at projects on the go and giving helpful info when I can.
One more thing. I have a set of tail lights, a home made spindle puller (threads onto a slide hammer) and 2 manual hubs for the 91-94 Explorer. The hubs are spares I had kicking around just in case. They are used, but do work. I may also have the hardware for them if you are doing a manual hub conversion. If you are in the Winnipeg area and just want to come get this stuff, send me a PM. THESE ARE FREE ITEMS, BUT HAVE TO LEAVE MY PLACE AT THE SAME TIME.
Oh yea, she's still shifting like garbage, but it is what it is.
