Tire wear and shaky front end

[Walnut777]

I have a 96 Explorer 2wd. I bought a new set of tires for it a little over a month ago. I tarveled 20 miles on I-85 and it rode just fine. Three weeks later I took the same route on I-85 and anytime I got over 60 or 65 the front end would feel unstable, as if it were shaking side to side. Since then I haven't really drove to far and the problem doesn't occur unless I go over 60. Then I noticed that my driver's side tire was wearing funny. It was "feathered" on the outside edge.
I took it to the alignment shop, they said that nothing was wrong with it. They said that it was a bad tire. I took the truck to the tire shop and he said that he had to be a mechanical problem. He gave me a new tire and paid to have it put on. I went down the road I hit 75 and it was riding great! Then when I applied the brakes the front end shook violently! Anyone have any ideas?
The lower balljoints, sway bar links and shocks are all about 1-1/2 years old. They said that they inspected all of the suspension and didn't find any problems. They said that they drove it an said that they were suprised that it rode so good with 156k miles on it.
Any ideas?

 

[yogi_pahl]

I'm having about the same problem with my 98 but mine will only do it if i have been driving a good bit and its warmed up.

 

[96eb96]

I have a 96 Explorer 2wd. I bought a new set of tires for it a little over a month ago. I tarveled 20 miles on I-85 and it rode just fine. Three weeks later I took the same route on I-85 and anytime I got over 60 or 65 the front end would feel unstable, as if it were shaking side to side. Since then I haven't really drove to far and the problem doesn't occur unless I go over 60. Then I noticed that my driver's side tire was wearing funny. It was "feathered" on the outside edge.
I took it to the alignment shop, they said that nothing was wrong with it. They said that it was a bad tire. I took the truck to the tire shop and he said that he had to be a mechanical problem. He gave me a new tire and paid to have it put on. I went down the road I hit 75 and it was riding great! Then when I applied the brakes the front end shook violently! Anyone have any ideas?
The lower balljoints, sway bar links and shocks are all about 1-1/2 years old. They said that they inspected all of the suspension and didn't find any problems. They said that they drove it an said that they were suprised that it rode so good with 156k miles on it.
Any ideas?

how old are your rotors?

 

[Walnut777]

Rotors are a year and a half old. I have the fron t wheel off right now. I'm looking at every thing but found nothing yet. The upper balljoint boots look horrible, but the alignment shop said there was nothing wrong. I wonder if they even looked? Also, if my sway bar link is not fully torqued what would that do?

 

[joecrna]

If it only does it when you hit the brakes, sure points to rotors. The original feathered tire on the other hand is alignment. With the new tire now on, pay strict attention to what it does and when. For accurate "guessing", we have to know the exact symptoms and what causes them.

 

[96eb96]

Rotors are a year and a half old. I have the fron t wheel off right now. I'm looking at every thing but found nothing yet. The upper balljoint boots look horrible, but the alignment shop said there was nothing wrong. I wonder if they even looked? Also, if my sway bar link is not fully torqued what would that do?

Test your Balls joints by supporting the lower control arm and shaking the wheel. (not up and down!)

A boot can be torn and the ball joint for the time being can be perfectly in spec. My tbird has similar UCAs with ripped boots, and I check the joints at every oil change (3 months) and they are soild. I put some grease in there but if I feel any play I will change it.

Sway bar will either make a banging noise or affect handling during turning. Your 96 may be eligible for a free swaybar repair from ford. Check a ford recall site or dealer, have the vin handy.

Again, I had vibrations with warped rotors on different cars, even when not braking. Vibrations when you hit the brakes is a big clue. My local harbor freight has a sale on a runout gauge- like $25 bucks. The other thing is to bring it to a brake shop, some will do free inspections. Ask specifically to check rotor runout. If I had your problem thats the next place I would look.