violent (serious) shaking and vibrations

[snowxplorer]

Hello everyone. Last night, I changed my front brakes and rotors (probably about the 7th or 8th time in my life that I have changed them, so I'm not a complete rookie).



I have a 2000 Ford Explorer sport. Everything seemed fine, except last night, when I took it for a spin around the block, I noticed that whenever I turned, I felt a pretty good vibration/shaking on the front of my truck.



I took the wheels off again, made sure everything seemed tight, put them back on, and went for another ride. Same thing happened.



This morning, on the way to work, whenever I hit a slight bump in the thruway (and I mean slight), my truck started shaking violently. As soon as I slowed it down to about 25-30 mph, the vibration went away. I was able to get the truck back up to 55 mph and the truck didn't shake again...........until I hit another bump.



Whats going on?

Please help!

 

[NHale623]

Did turn your wheels from side to side while the truck was on jackstands and not running? You may have gotten air into your power steering.

 

[snowxplorer]

Yes, I did turn the wheels with the truck not running. So air in the power steering system could well be the case. That would explain the vibrations when turning, but would that cause vibrations while hitting small bumps and driving straight?

Thanks for the response, I'll try and get the air out.

 

[NHale623]

Go to a big parking lot and drive the truck while making big S turns. It's take of itself in no time.

 

[snowxplorer]

You were right.
It ended up being air that got into the power steering system that was the problem. While changing the brakes, I turned the steering wheel without completely starting the truck. I thought that might explain the vibrations when turning, but was surprised that it would that cause the violent vibrations when hitting a bump on the thruway.

But after turning the steering wheel from left to right about 40 times with the truck running, the problem disappeared.

Thanks for the help.

 

[NHale623]

Glad I could help.

Check your power steering fluid level. Sometimes you'll push fluid out, now that the air is gone from the system your fluid level may be low.

Good luck with your truck.