Truck shudders under load only when warm....

[MuddHungry]

First off, Greetings and Encephalitis,

Got me a question looking for advice as to what it could be.... I have a 92 explorer with the 4.0 and a4ld. I ( a few months ago) under load or acceleration especially up hills my truck starts to vibrate. I cant really hear anything in the engine but I do hear the noise the vibration causes. It is a dull sort of sound almost like a misfire. No engine codes have been thrown after all this time either..

I havent done a tune up in a while so would that have anything to do with it possibly?? I am not sure because it only seems to do it when the engine is at operating temperature it seems.

I recently replaced my servos and vacuum modulator which were hard as steel and and full of fluid was the modulator. So it was time. Given such things needing to be done I havent been driving it at all since I moved other than > than 5 miles at a time.

If it isnt one thing it is another. It shifts well now although it doesnt run right once again.... not super stoked... any suggestions of things to check would be awesome and greatly appreciated.

 

[IZwack]

Could be anything at this point really but just to throw this into the mix, it could be a torque converter shudder (slipping).

 

[MuddHungry]

First off, thanks for the reply and possible symptom man. I appreciate the input.

So.. new development in the case.. I decided to go ahead and repack me wheel bearings and what did I find upon disassymbly?? The lock nut on the left axle was finger tight and pushed away.from any other part in the whole unit. Plus my rotors grease seal wasn't even set inside the rotor anymore.. so root of all the evil? Don't know just yet.. well find out tonight . Ill post as to what the out come is for others just incase this issue happens to befall someone in the future.... Fingers are crossed.

 

[MuddHungry]

Bearings repacked and new pads and a freshly turned rotor. All to no avail for the initial problem only unforeseen ones at the time.. good and bad I suppose..

So I think IZ has nailed it with the torque converter. I took it for a test drive and it was doing really well up hill and down. Just the normal ball joint play in the wheel as comes with bigger tires.. UNTIL...

I started coming up one more slightly steep and long hill and here came the shake. My motor was at about 2500-3000 and I was only doin about 15-2 molest an hour with definite lack of power. Then the hill coming home is steeper and not as long yet it did just fine with plenty of power only 1minutes time after the first issue... Torque converter sounds like my next step.. any other suggestions??

 

[rhauf]

my suggestion don't jump into the big job of changing the torque converter just yet....

first, see when exactly it shutters.. overdrive only? drive? does it only shutter when the torque converter clutch is locked? does it shutter when locked into first or second gear? do the RPM's rise or fluctuate while it shutters? is there shift flare on gear changes under throttle? how is full throttle acceleration? is the transmission fluid brown, does it smell burned?
is the check engine light on?