Explorer shakes at 60mph

[Jim Galloway]

changing u joints

changing the u-joints is easy. should only take you about an hour. follow instructions from a haynes manual or something similar. first you will need to remove the drive shaft (i think you need a 12mm, 8 point socket/wrench). then, just bang out your old joint with a hammer and small diameter socket (be sure to remove the retaining clips first). you may really have to give it a pounding. if you have access to one, it would be easiest to use a press to remove the old joint. put the new one in and put the drive shaft back on. it's that easy.

if you have any play at all within your ujoints, you should replace them. when you check to see there condition, really muscle that driveshaft around in all directions to see if there is any play at the joints. that drive shaft is damn heavy, so even if your ujoints are shot to hell, they may seem fine... you really need use some force when you try moving the thing around to check for excessive play. good luck!

 

[zavetsky]

Thanks.

I need to lube my splines anyways (I have the legendary clunk) so maybe I'll do the U jpints while I am at it..............

I'll try anything once.............twice or three times if I like it.... <grin>

 

[brinne19]

its prob just wind, ive noticed it shakes worse on windy days, and to say the least exploreres arent the most aerodynamic things out there, its just plain physics. a sleeker car shakes less in wind then a big bulky one thats higher off of the ground, i prob wouldnt worry about it to mch but thats just my two cents

 

[phat97exp]

so has anyone found a way to fix this? because it sounds really bad and it scares me sometiems, lol, so any good resolutions?

 

[jasonb]

its definately not wind.
i haven't figured mine out, but it has basically gone away. guess i'm lucky... i think my tires were just getting used to the rotation after a drought.

 

[doratheexplorer]

Mine had the same problem. I fixed it when I had new ball joints, upper control arms, bearings, alingment, and new BFG ATs 30X9.50 installed! Cost 1200 total but it rides like my wifes car!
Rob

 

[phat97exp]

ok im going to get the ball joints replaced because someone told me theyy are stlill good but will beed to be replaced soon, hope it works

 

[Xplodor]

Mine was fine when it was stock, then again it only had 42,000 miles on it. Now that it's lifted it shakes like h*ll!!! I think I am toed out, hopefully that will solve the problem.

How do you know if the U Joints are out? Up front on my 2nd gen should I just try to shake it around, and if there is a little play or any noise then it needs to be replaced? Same with the back right?

I have a BAD cluncking sound now all the time and slow speeds over bumps, and stopping, starting, and truning while driving at low speeds. I've tried to tighten all the suspension components, all look good. Could it be the rear driveshaft?

Can someone do a right up on the rear driveshaft spline lube on this thread? Please include what type of grease to use.

 

[emfjsullivan]

I too have the shakes from 62-68 mph or so w/ my '93 Navajo LX (Sport). I had Goodyears on it, then changed to Firestones, and still have the problem. I assume it's something warn in the suspension.

Besides a dealer, has anyone heard of any Explorer or 4x4 specialists that deal w/ suspension (or for that matter, engine problems) issues in the washington dc area?

 

[Naga Sadow]

mine shakes aqbove 55 after i got my 33s. i iwll get them balanced monday.

 

[Phat_Bastard]

Originally posted by emfjsullivan
I too have the shakes from 62-68 mph or so w/ my '93 Navajo LX (Sport). I had Goodyears on it, then changed to Firestones, and still have the problem. I assume it's something warn in the suspension.

I had Firestones that were recalled. had ContiTrac A/T and still had shake. Did front bearings, balanced tires, replaced rotors. Everything seemed to help for a short time and then comes back but never goes away all the way. have 172k on my 93 Navajo.

U-joints were fine and the only thing i haven't done is axle pivot or ball joints.

I have had no luck and have not tried motor mounts.

 

[Dennis94XLT]

The fix is Bilstein front shocks

I noticed a lot of posts about this shaking problem. I had it before and solved it on my truck. Keep in mind that you should have decent tires and good front control bushings because if bad, they can also cause pretty bad shaking. If you are sure you have a good set of tires that have been balanced, this post is for you.
I knew about the Ford TSB for shaking and I had the retrofit kit installed - it did not help at all. That kit is almost $1,000.00 by the way for those interested in it. The Ford kit has redesigned motor mounts, new front shocks and a transverse mounted shock between the frame and rear-end. Mine did not involve changing the exhaust but that doesn't mean there isn't a TSB for that too. I took my truck to Ford to have this done and it shook just the same afterwards. I was a little steamed at being told this was "the fix" and I pushed the service manager to look further into this problem. After having my truck over a week, they finally told it was normal for these and that I should consider a car if it bothered me. It did bother me a lot. I was determined to fix the problem or get rid of the truck. I hated driving it because of this. I replaced the bushings, the wheel bearings, front springs, tires (Michelin LTX ) and none of this fixed it. I had the front tired shaved (called "trueing") and had them balanced again. This was happening when my truck had under 40k miles on it so I would never have suspected that what was really causing it was bad front shocks. My explorer has never seen a dirt road or any rough driving so how could they be bad already.
One day I was driving by a shop that does custom truck work and I stopped in. Without explaining anything about the shaking, I asked about stiffer front end shocks and they said I should try Bilstein shocks. I didn't like the idea of making the ride any stiffer, but I decided it was worth it if it would help. I had them put in right then while I waited and then left heading to the freeway to go home. I got a very pleasant surprise - the shaking problem completely stopped. It felt like I was driving a different truck - it has never reoccured even when I've let my tires get go unrotated way too long - and another bonus was the ride did not get any stiffer. I think Bilstein just has a better designed shock.

The change was so dramatic that I went back to the Ford dealer and I asked that the service manage drive my truck (the same service manager that said nothing else could be done). He was quite surprized by the improvement in the ride and the stopped shaking, but he never notified Ford that Bilstein shocks had corrected the problem that I know of.

By the way - thanks to those who left suggestions on my battery-starter problem. I replaced the battery today and the cables (changing those two cables was a 4 hour job I hope I never have to do again). The starter turns so much faster after these replacements that I know it helped. I cut open the insulation of the cable going to the old positive battery terminal and it was corroding inside even though I couldn't see it from the outside. If anyone suspects this, look for swelling under the red insulation within an inch of the battery post connector - if you have it, you may need to change the cable.

 

[Derekjeterkid2]

bad problem myself

Well My Explorer has been pulling to the right pretty bad and it also shakes at 63+, so I went to town fair tire to get the rotation and alignment done and it was alright until yesterday i went to pull in my school driveway and its higher than the main road so there a bump i was turning right and heard a pretty bad noise and then i could feel the steering wheel kind of wobble the after driving around the parking lot it went away, then today i went over a speed bump going right and it did it again and the wobbling stoped but now its pulling to the right again, does anyone know what the problem is? before i go spending money thanks

 

[Jesse]

Mine does it about 70-73, feels like a suspension issue to me. I've discussed it with a member of my site, and his went away after he dropped it down 2".

 

[Sschultz]

Re: The fix is Bilstein front shocks

Originally posted by Dennis94XLT
I noticed a lot of posts about this shaking problem. I had it before and solved it on my truck. Keep in mind that you should have decent tires and good front control bushings because if bad, they can also cause pretty bad shaking. If you are sure you have a good set of tires that have been balanced, this post is for you.
I knew about the Ford TSB for shaking and I had the retrofit kit installed - it did not help at all. That kit is almost $1,000.00 by the way for those interested in it. The Ford kit has redesigned motor mounts, new front shocks and a transverse mounted shock between the frame and rear-end. Mine did not involve changing the exhaust but that doesn't mean there isn't a TSB for that too. I took my truck to Ford to have this done and it shook just the same afterwards. I was a little steamed at being told this was "the fix" and I pushed the service manager to look further into this problem. After having my truck over a week, they finally told it was normal for these and that I should consider a car if it bothered me. It did bother me a lot. I was determined to fix the problem or get rid of the truck. I hated driving it because of this. I replaced the bushings, the wheel bearings, front springs, tires (Michelin LTX ) and none of this fixed it. I had the front tired shaved (called "trueing") and had them balanced again. This was happening when my truck had under 40k miles on it so I would never have suspected that what was really causing it was bad front shocks. My explorer has never seen a dirt road or any rough driving so how could they be bad already.
One day I was driving by a shop that does custom truck work and I stopped in. Without explaining anything about the shaking, I asked about stiffer front end shocks and they said I should try Bilstein shocks. I didn't like the idea of making the ride any stiffer, but I decided it was worth it if it would help. I had them put in right then while I waited and then left heading to the freeway to go home. I got a very pleasant surprise - the shaking problem completely stopped. It felt like I was driving a different truck - it has never reoccured even when I've let my tires get go unrotated way too long - and another bonus was the ride did not get any stiffer. I think Bilstein just has a better designed shock.

The change was so dramatic that I went back to the Ford dealer and I asked that the service manage drive my truck (the same service manager that said nothing else could be done). He was quite surprized by the improvement in the ride and the stopped shaking, but he never notified Ford that Bilstein shocks had corrected the problem that I know of.

By the way - thanks to those who left suggestions on my battery-starter problem. I replaced the battery today and the cables (changing those two cables was a 4 hour job I hope I never have to do again). The starter turns so much faster after these replacements that I know it helped. I cut open the insulation of the cable going to the old positive battery terminal and it was corroding inside even though I couldn't see it from the outside. If anyone suspects this, look for swelling under the red insulation within an inch of the battery post connector - if you have it, you may need to change the cable.

Dennis it's been a couple of months since you posted this. Hows the vibration? I first noticed my vibration right after I installed my 4" lift, which required replacing the shocks. I have prity much replaced or fixed everything under the truck to resolve this issue. But I still have the but numbing vibration at 67 mph and alot less money. If this fix is still good what is the model of the bilsteins?

 

[Jason94sport]

I have been told by a ford engineer, that the problems lie in the drivshafts. Some are not balanced well, which causes the shakes. True or not I don't know. I suffer from the same shakes as everyone else at about 65mph, goes away at 70, or below 65. Getting a new balance driveshaft in a few weeks. I'll see if that helps.

 

[Phat_Bastard]

Originally posted by Jason94sport
I have been told by a ford engineer, that the problems lie in the drivshafts. Some are not balanced well, which causes the shakes. True or not I don't know. I suffer from the same shakes as everyone else at about 65mph, goes away at 70, or below 65. Getting a new balance driveshaft in a few weeks. I'll see if that helps.

wow a new shaft, omg. I don't think from what i seen on my 93 that the driveshaft would be causing my vibration. We had it on the a lift and ran the speed over 70mph. during the visual inspection we really didn't see any vibrating esp from the driveshaft.

I did however tighten the axle nut another click due to the fact they keep on loosening from time to time. This last time i tightened both sides and it really helped cut down my vibration.

It is the smoothest that it has rode since i bought it 2 yrs ago. I might recommend looking at this as something that may easily help to correct the problem or minimize it somewhat.

I did however make sure that I did not back off the nut at all but made sure i had tightened 1st and foremost. I was actually kinda worried that maybe i had gone too tight which might work out all the grease. I believe that the bearing is seated better now and that it did not put too much pressure to force out the grease.

best of luck.....

 

[Sschultz]

Chasing down this problem I've replaced :
2 set of radious ram bushings.
(I've even put a washer behind the engine side R/A bushing)
rear drive shaft
every single U-joint on the drive and axile shafts
Upper and lower ball joints on both sides
Transmision (Granaded the old one)
Rebuilt the transfer case
Rebuilt the rear end
Complete Break over haul Drums, rotors the hole nine yards.
rear end re-picthed (to compensate for the 4" lift)
Installed "problem solver" camber bushings
Several tire balances
Several Front end alignments
I first had stamped steel A/R rims and Sport king ATs 31x 10.5.
I then switched to Aluminum A/R rims and Good year ATs. The ride was smooth as glass after the rim/tire change for about two days and then the vibration slowly got worse.
Now I'm right back at square one.
I did not have this peoblem until I put the lift in. But at the same time I did replace the shocks. Thats why I'm interested if the shock replacement suggestion that Dennis94XLt suggested really did work?
I'm listing what I did so that the people who are now experiancing this problem (A vibration right around 65pmh and then seems to fade at about 70 or so) don't dump alot of money chasing the Vibration Gremlin. The other people that have a vibration at lower speeds Balance your tires check your U-joints and get an alignment. If that doesn't fix the problem take a good look at the Radious arm bushings Expecially the passanger side ( that seems to be the first one to go).

 

[Alyeskakc]

Originally posted by Jason94sport
I have been told by a ford engineer, that the problems lie in the drivshafts. Some are not balanced well, which causes the shakes. True or not I don't know. I suffer from the same shakes as everyone else at about 65mph, goes away at 70, or below 65. Getting a new balance driveshaft in a few weeks. I'll see if that helps.

They put a new driveshaft in my 98 Sport and it didn't help, the vibration is still there. I've been to a few other message boards and it seems Ford is "aware " of the mysterious vibration problem. Special Service message #16208 which states there is a vibration problem, and no fix is available at this time. It's been a few months since I've done anymore research on it though.

 

[jasonb]

mine got fixed when i rotated my tires back to the "unrotated for a long time" position. mine started about two weeks after i rotated my tires way back when this thread was started. about a month later i rotated back to the old position (the weren't wearing noticeably wrong before) and the high speed shake is gone now. i still have one unbalanced wheel too!

i just hope it doesn't come back. i don't know if this would fix anyone elses problem. it just worked for me.