the infamous "shakes"

[AaronE19]

Hey y'all-
well, it finally happened to me... my explorer now doubles as a highway butt massage. I suppose it's about time, with 190k on her. anyway, I know there has historically been a very thorough discussion of the shakes and rattles that seem to develop in the 91-94 models, and suggested remedies. however, I was wondering: are everyone else's shakes kind of intermittent? with mine, once I get above 65 or so it starts to get bad, but then it'll go away for awhile and come back, and go away and come back... it doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason about it - sometimes it'll shake around corners, sometimes when going straight; doesn't seem to matter what lane I'm in (most roads have a pretty huge crown on them here in Michigan and at high speeds that can throw things out of whack), it just comes and goes as it pleases. I was just wondering if everyone else has had the same experience or if your massage therapy is uninterrupted? this is really annoying - I finally had to take that $10 worth of spare pennies I had sitting in the cupholder over to the bank because they were making so much noise

I've also got another problem which is probably related: it really slobbers around in its lane at highway speeds (it was always bad about that, especially in a decent wind and without the front air deflector now, but it's gotten far worse). there seems to be a whole ton of play in the steering - maybe worn tie rod ends? other ideas? I just had it aligned about a week ago and had to replace one of the camber bushings.

any input, as always, would be greatly appreciated

thanks
Aaron

 

[kilroy]

Sounds like wheel balance AND worn front end parts, most likely the ball joints will cause the slobber you talk about. Best way to check is to get a mechanics jack and put it under the ball joint, lift the wheel off the ground and start tugging on the top and bottom of the wheel, if you feel ANY play that is your problem, you might want to have a friend do it so you can look at the joints or vise-versa. Depending on where you had the alignment done, most places dont check out the parts thoroughly and just align it to get it out the door, usually places like sears, Kmart, Walmart, and sometimes even Goodyear. I had taken my moms 95 Grand Marquis into Goodyear to have an alignment done, and after a few weeks my mom complained that the car wanders just as bad as before the alignment and sure enough there was a loose tie rod that Goodyear failed to catch.

Have your front end checked throughout and get the wheels balanced properly and the problem should go away. Except for the wander of course, I think they all do that, Mine does too, and there is nothing wrong with it.

 

[CHH777]

Hmmm...

I've been troubleshooting the 55-65 MPH shakes for a while now. It got so bad after my lift I decided to try something different. I clamped my USB camera to the t-case cross-member and hooked it to my laptop. Then I hopped on the freeway to check it out. The t-case began shaking laterally (violently) between ~60-65 MPH and would stop nearing 70 MPH.

It looks to me that the t-case overhangs the tranny mounting location too far and vibrates like mad.

Here are a couple things I plan to try next (one at a time):

1) Use ratcheting tie down straps to secure the t-case laterally

2) Temporarily replace rubber tranny mount with a metal mount

3) Mount the t-case to the cross-member near the rear shaft (will probably require adding a custom x-member)

I'll post my results...

 

[Richard Wise]

My Explorer tended to get the shakes at about 60MPH and went away when I got it to 65MPH. It did that until I bought new tires (Went from Goodyear to Dunlop) and then it started to do it again a few months ago. I fixed it by rotating the tires. I rotate the tires every other oil change and it hasn't happened again since.

 

[coloradobound]

Well, mine shakes also. It shook with the previous set of tires, and the new set. Had them balanced, and didn't help. Tried the ball joints, they are fine. WHAT IS IT???? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kilroy]

uhh out of balance driveshaft?

 

[MyExp]

I too have experienced the shakes in my 91 4X4 xlt with 130k miles. After getting really pissed at it and reading some posts on this site here is what I have done and it really truley has removed the shakes.

1) Change front upper and lower ball joints both left and right side.

2) Change both radius arm busings with polyurethane ones.

3) Alignment. You may also want to check your alignment cams, mine were loose and I stuck a shim in to tighten them up.

4) New shocks. front and back.

5) New stabilizer bar mounting bushings to the frame.

6) Added steering stabilizer

7) Gave engine really good tune up. New wires, plugs, clean all filters.

The new stabilizer bushings and engine tune were done together and that made a big difference. The new RA bushings will restore alignment and stop tire noise. I'm not sure the new shocks and new steering stabilizer did all that much or the new steering gear I had to replace.

Seriously, try some of these and let me know if it works for you because I would swear that some or all of these will definatly help.

Good luck

BC

 

[AaronE19]

yeah, I'm pretty familiar with the usual culprits... my radius arm bushings are already poly ones- replaced about 2 yrs ago. ball joints are all pretty new, but I'll check that out just to make sure- passenger's side upper and lower were replaced in october, but the driver's side are a bit older. it was just aligned (might be that they did a crappy job, but the place I took it to is pretty reputable). shocks are Bilsteins. the sway bar might be part of the problem... the frame mounting bracket on the driver's side is bent all to hell (damn, that was a big rock) and the bushings are the crappy rubber McFactory ones. I'm sure that's not helping things, anyway. I thought at first that it might be the out-of-balance-driveshaft thing, but the way my vibes come and go (speed is constant here, forgot to mention that) it seems to me that it's some goofy front end thing. like I said, most of the parts up there are new, so I don't quite know what the deal is... might even be a tire issue- they've got decent tread left, but as many times as they've been spun to get me un-stuck, they might be out of round. balancing is hopeless with the rims having taken a fair beating on the trail too... it probably all adds up to yet another big fat bill I have swallow to keep her on the road- it's time for me to start driving a vehicle that hasn't logged enough miles to have traveled the circumfrence of the earth eight times over.

BTW, CHH777- dude, that's the coolest "troubleshooting" method I've ever heard of, way to go! I hope it proves to be a good solution.

thanks
Aaron

 

[fordnut]

I've been chasing the shakes on our 92 4X4 XLT. Tried tire balancing, worked for a little while. Replaced radius arm bushings with polyurethane ones. That helped a little too. However at 65 mph to 70 mph it would still shake. Turned out to be U-joints. Just a little play in the rear joint. Almost not noticeable when I checked it. Replaced them both and now no more shake. Hope this helps......Joe

 

[Sschultz]

After lifting my truck I also started getting the shakes. I've completly rebuilt the front end. ball joints, every bearing in the wheel assembly, rotor/hub assemblies, Axile and drive shaft u-joints, camber bushings, both drive shaft assemblies, radious arm bushings with washer spacers, tie rod ends, shocks, tires, rims, ballanced several times. I've also rebuilt the transfercase, replaced the tranny, and had the rear end re-angled. Guess what? I still have the random vibration starting at about 65 and ending at 70. It doesn't matter if it's wet, dry, The best thing I've hurd so fare is the tranny. mount idea. Thats probably the only thing I haven't replaced yet. and we have a visiable problem.

CHH777 please keep us posted!

 

[kilroy]

Did your lift increase the distance between your axles and frame? If so, it increased the angle your driveshafts are at, and your vibration can come from that, even after replacing the ujoints. Only a balancing that incorporates the new angles will eliminate the shakes.

 

[Sschultz]

Kilroy,

Even after all of the mojor repairs were done, and it didn't solve the problem. I considered that inbetween repairs that tire wear could be the problem. So I did have the tires reballanced again, With no change. With all of the major repairs done and bringing the truck into several driveline shops, and four wheeler specialty shops, to have the driveline and lift inspected, I would have to say that it's not just a wheel, or drive shaft ballancing issue. I would agree that because of the degree of the vibration, that my tires are taking a beating, and balancing is now a routeen maintanance issue. Your point of driveshaft angles is improtant, but you also have to consider the other people on this thread that are experiancing the same problem but don't have a lifted truck.

 

[CHH777]

Hey all, sorry for the delay. My 4" front coils are sagging and I'm out of alignment now. I'm going to buy coil spacers and get it aligned before I do the troubleshooting.

 

[CHH777]

UPDATE

Coil spacers installed, tie rod ends replaced (ball joints checked okay) and aligned to specs.

Last night I used 2 heavy duty ratcheting tie down straps to secure the t-case and I hit the freeway. Absolutely no t-case movement all the way up to ~85mph BUT I still have the infamous 60-65mph shakes. Seems to be coming from the front end. Perhaps it's due to the Dana 35 bearings being too close together.

Has anyone upgraded to a solid D44 front axle and alleviated this problem?

Anyone else got any ideas?



BTW, my t-case died this morning. Grrrrrrrr!!!