Shimmy on Highway

[collegeexplorer]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the site and somewhat new of an X owner also. I tried to search this topic, but couldn't find anyone else with the same issue. I've noticed that my ex shakes or has a shimmy to it on the highway. I start to notice it around 50mph, and it builds to 70mph or so, but then it seems to not be so bad if i get around 80. I had it in for tire balencing and that didn't really help, but they also told me that my rims have small dents in them, and that could cause it. Is that true? I also just had my ball bearings and wheel bearings replaced. Thanks for any help on what might need to be done. I've loved using this site so far.

 

[collegeexplorer]

more info

also wanted to say that it seems to be worse if the air pressure in my tires is higher, around 35-38, then if i keep it around 30-32.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

bent wheels usually show problems through all speeds - however, I have a similar vibration. I believe it is tire related. What kind of tires are they?


-Drew

 

[collegeexplorer]

tires

they are michelin LTX M/S

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Try rotating your tires, and see if that makes any difference. Maybe you might have a slight belt shift in one tire that is throwing everything off. Do you hear any rumbling road noise from any of the tires? That is usually a dead give away. If your tires are worn on one side, but not the other, then your alignment is off.

 

[collegeexplorer]

wow, DMB, you have a nice looking ride. looks like your tires are quite a bit larger than mine. haha. thanks for the response. if you find anything out about it let me know.

 

[collegeexplorer]

Try rotating your tires, and see if that makes any difference. Maybe you might have a slight belt shift in one tire that is throwing everything off. Do you hear any rumbling road noise from any of the tires? That is usually a dead give away. If your tires are worn on one side, but not the other, then your alignment is off.

When they were balanced they were also rotated, and it didn't help. There's no unusual road noise that I notice. They are pretty new tires (put on shorty before I bought it), so I haven't noticed any wear at all on them yet.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Michilins are GREAT tires - especially those LTX m/s -- I doubt you have a tire issue, unless they haven't warn right.

-Drew

 

[collegeexplorer]

Thats good to know! Thanks. The dealer had said they were when I got the car, but I didn't really know. Just out of curiosity, do you think I got a good deal on the x. It is a 99 XLS 4x4. Really clean, runs smooth, smooth transmission. I knew it had the ball joints and wheel bearings to be done, but the wheel bearings were covered under its warranty. I paid $6700 for it. oh yea, it had 72,500 miles on it at the time (about 3 months back). everything is stock in it.

 

[collegeexplorer]

i think i might take it in sometime this week or next for an alignment and see if that helps

 

[ExplorerDMB]

that does sound like a good deal. I know my '00 is priced at around 9,500 on KBB (without the accessories)

-Drew

 

[collegeexplorer]

just wanted to say that this site is awesome. i have so much to get done to this x now that i have seen and heard what can be done. just need to save up some $$ now. thanks for all of your help so far. im sure ill be posting more problems again soon once i start in on her

 

[jimcom]

welcome to the site, glad to see another MD explorer here, we are getting quite a few now.

 

[collegeexplorer]

Alignment?

Just so that I have an idea when I take it in, how much should I expect to pay for an alignment? I don't want to get ripped off.

Thanks

 

[sdrone]

$100 would be a pretty good deal.

I'm starting to be of the opinion that my Explorer needs a front end alignment every year.

 

[jimcom]

I went to firestone and got the lifetime alignment on sale for $130 IIRC, I can go back as many times I want, at any firestone in the nation. Not a bad deal, considering I need a an alignment every year, if not every 6 months.

 

[Larry2010]

I went to firestone and got the lifetime alignment on sale for $130 IIRC, I can go back as many times I want, at any firestone in the nation. Not a bad deal, considering I need a an alignment every year, if not every 6 months.

That sounds like a good deal on alignments. Do you remember if they have any exclusions? For example if I'm experimenting around with lifts/shackles/springs (exactly what I want to do) will they do the free alignment 3 or 4 time even if I caused the need? Thanks for the info, but if you don't happen to have your alignment warranty handy don't worry about it I'll find a dealer.

 

[Papa]

I had a vibration like that, between 50 & 65 MPH, on my X when I bought it from Auto Way. They replaced two of the tires and put huge weights on the back two rims and the vibration seemed to disappear. It turns out that I had tree bad rims and balancing would only help for a few hundred miles. Sorting it all out trashed two tires and I ended up replacing two rims and getting two new tires. Bottom line if the rim is bent replace it soon.

 

[jimcom]

That sounds like a good deal on alignments. Do you remember if they have any exclusions? For example if I'm experimenting around with lifts/shackles/springs (exactly what I want to do) will they do the free alignment 3 or 4 time even if I caused the need? Thanks for the info, but if you don't happen to have your alignment warranty handy don't worry about it I'll find a dealer.

No exclusions that I know about, I asked several times and they said all I have to do is bring it in whenever I want, 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, whatever.
I play with my torsion bars, up-down, up-down, up-down, I'm suprised the damn things haven't fallen off, thats why the lifetime alignment is a good deal. I'd imagine that if they needed to add a shim kit they'd charge you, but I don't really know. I know when I last went my right side was like -8 or something insanely drastic, I don't have the printout here, but they brought it back to -1 or something like that. Don't quote me on those numbers though, coulda been fractions of that for all I know, my memory aint to good, lol, but I do seem to remember the tech made a joke and kinda laughingly said "so, you've been drifting to the right just a smidge huh?". It would drive in circles if I let go of the steering wheel .

Of course I don't go in the shop parading the fact I play with my torsion bars, just say you went through a work zone or over several large potholes if they ask, but I doubt they will even ask you.

They put you in their computer system so that way it's good nationwide, you don't need to carry any paperwork with you. I imagine it's just like the ESP waurantee I had from ford when I bought the truck, go to any dealer and they pull your name/VIN and go by that.

Not sure if the deal is still on, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[Larry2010]

Thanks for the info!!