New vibration

[joney]

I've got a new vibration, seems to come from directly underneath the Ex, at idle and all speeds. Mine is a 4x4, does the driveshaft(s) rotate at idle, in park? I was told I have a torn CV boot a month ago, and wonder if that's the problem. Trying to plan for necessary maintenance, not sure how serious this problem is! I believe I've put on a max of 300 miles so far, mostly short trips (with a few 40 mi. round trips thrown in). No mud or off roading so far. Need some advice!

 

[1998Exp]

No, you can't have a driveshaft rotating and the wheels sitting still -- unless something is seriously wrong with the differential - but then it wouldn't move when in gear. How bad is the vibration? Perhaps it's nothing more than a loose heat shield on a catalytic converter. This is quite common when the vehicle gets old and is easily fixable with a stainless clamp. Worth bending down and checking. Which engine do you have?

 

[joney]

It's rather a low pitched, somewhat heavy sounding vibration, not a rattle like loose sheet metal. I have the 4L SOHC.

 

[CDW6212R]

Did you replace the CV yet, the one with a torn boot? Was that a front axle or the front driveshaft CV? Those CV have to be fixed as soon as the problem is discovered, the vehicle shouldn't be driven if you find a boot cut early. The CV joint is ruined very fast after the grease is slung out, which happens very fast after a boot is torn.

I have caught one torn axle CV boot, and replaced just the boot(slight cut in the boot). That was much harder to do than a whole axle, but it saved about $50. The axles cost around $70, not bad at all. The driveshaft CV joint is a different animal, the kits are not great brands and many people don't like their lifespan. A new rebuilt shaft I found this Spring was $350ish, there seemed to be three common OEM lengths.

 

[joney]

Thanks for the warning! Will be getting it fixed, will have to refer to report where it is. Don't know if it was early or late but will be getting that done very soon! As to the noise, at idle and all speeds, I did get the exhaust fixed some weeks ago, wasn't noisy then.. Stumped as to source of vibration under the vehicle so far.

 

[CDW6212R]

The front axle CV boost you can see from the front easily, just kneel down and visually inspect them. If the boot is cut open, it should be obvious that there is grease slung all around that area. The CV which is under the driver's seat, you may not be able to slip under the truck to see, without lifting the truck a few inches. That also should either be obviously clean of grease coating the area, or you'll see it on everything around the rubber boot. Good luck, hopefully it's just a CV axle, the labor is a good 90 minutes, but it's a lot cheaper than the driveshaft.