Wobble/shack when Accelerating

[Bouluki]

Hi,
I have 1994 Explorer 4x4 with 120,000 when ever i accelerate past about 20 and up my front end shacks, you can feel it in the steering wheel. I checked the whole front end and nothing seemed to be loose. Then i jacked it up and played with the wheel and there seemed to be some play in it, so i took it off and looked at the U-joint and that seemed to have a tiny bit of play. so my question is what could it be, the U-joints or something else and if so is the work hard or should i just bring it to a shop. any info would be appreciated thank.
James

 

[ld50]

First of all I don`t think it would be the u-joint up front, you`re normally rear wheel driven aren`t you? Or is this when in 4x4?

Could be your ball joints, or your hub has gotten loose.

When it was on the jack did you grab the top of the tire and pull/push on it?
This would tell you for sure if your hub was loose. Is it just one tire that was shaking?
-You could always rotate your tires if you suspect one has come out of balance and may be creating a shake (right front to left rear, left rear to left front, left front to right rear, etc.)

Ball joints can make a popping noise when they`re going, or typically create a shake at 60 mph.

It`s hard to say, but I kind of doubt it`s the U-joint at this point.

I wouldn`t say any work would be hard, but you need some special tools for certain things.

 

[jimbo74]

have a shop shake down the suspension, they know what to look for... also i would think immediately of tierods or RA bushings

 

[Bouluki]

ok thanks for the replies, if my hubs were loose would i notice them tring to engage on there own like, cause i noticed prior to this everyounce in a while my hubs would make a wierd noise, kinda like a humming noise. I also beleave it is in the front end because the shack can be felt in the steering wheel and it seems to be up front as opposed to being in the back of the truck.

 

[Isles4evr]

If it is a Ujoint going bad, you will only feel the vibration when you are on the gas. As soon as you let up the vibration should go away. If it starts at 20mph it kinda sounds like a broken belt in a tire. If you run your hand over the tread of the tires it should feel relativily flat. If you happen to feel a enlarged bump in one of them, then the belt is seperated. Like jimabena suggested, if you can't find anything obvious have a shop check it out, they know what to look for.

Chris