98 4x4 Ranger frontend vibrating tons after bump

[amarotica]

Hello all,
I have a (98 Extended Cab 4x4 XLT) and whenever I go over any sort of bump or seam in the road like on the highway, there is a loud thud and then the cab starts vibrating really badly... I have searched the forums but can't find what it is. The vibration is not from the motor because I can press the clutch and be in neutral and it still makes the same vibration at the same frequency. The only way to get it to stop is it goes away on some bumps randomly then comes back about 3 seconds later and the other way is to put it in 4x4 High and then it stops vibrating too. As far as I can tell, the steering wheel vibrates just as much as the floorboards so I feel like it may be in the front wheels when spinning freely but not 100% sure its from the wheels.

Any suggestions or ideas of what it is or what to check would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

 

[97RangerXLT]

Sounds to me like something is loose. you need to get under the truck and start yanking on things. if putting it in 4 hi stops it, check to make sure that the transmission and Transfer case are secure, it might be something simple like a bad transmission mount.

AJ

 

[Ranger4x4.0]

I've had the same happen to me with similar problems. I hit a really big hole while wheeling and when i drove it on the highway, at about 55mph, it would shake and vibrate really bad. Took it to a tire shop and it turned out, when i hit that hole, i threw a wheel weight. Replaced it and i was good to go.

See if you are missing a weight on any of the wheels, and if thats not it. Try what ^^^ said.

 

[straycat]

I've had the same happen to me with similar problems. I hit a really big hole while wheeling and when i drove it on the highway, at about 55mph, it would shake and vibrate really bad. Took it to a tire shop and it turned out, when i hit that hole, i threw a wheel weight. Replaced it and i was good to go.

See if you are missing a weight on any of the wheels, and if thats not it. Try what ^^^ said.

If it was a wheel weight it would be doing it all the time. It would be off-balance all the time. He has another issue.

 

[straycat]

Hello all,
I have a (98 Extended Cab 4x4 XLT) and whenever I go over any sort of bump or seam in the road like on the highway, there is a loud thud and then the cab starts vibrating really badly... I have searched the forums but can't find what it is. The vibration is not from the motor because I can press the clutch and be in neutral and it still makes the same vibration at the same frequency. The only way to get it to stop is it goes away on some bumps randomly then comes back about 3 seconds later and the other way is to put it in 4x4 High and then it stops vibrating too. As far as I can tell, the steering wheel vibrates just as much as the floorboards so I feel like it may be in the front wheels when spinning freely but not 100% sure its from the wheels.

Any suggestions or ideas of what it is or what to check would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Does it feel like it is coming from the wheel and steering area more then the cab area? If I remember right the 98 and 99 Rangers came with the hydraulic steering assist. You might want to check that out. If there is an issue with the assembly (fluid loss or damage) vibration will occur. The hydraulic steering might need to be bled or serviced. Can't hurt to check it out.

 

[amarotica]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions for my problem!!! I am just getting back on the forums after a long absence from here and I wanted to post my problem I had after all.

It turned out it was a needle bearing inside of the wheel bearing that the front cv axle spun on inside of the wheel bearing area. the bearing was worn out and so I bought a new $10 needle bearing and put it in (after about 4 months and $100 worth of new wheel bearings) and it was fixed with just the needle bearing!