Troubleshooting a Vibration in Wheel

[greylajoie]

Thank you in advance for your help!

2010 Ford Ranger 2WD (2.3L)

Previous owner was in moderate front end collision on driver's side (per carfax). When I purchased the vehicle (in 2021 at 30k miles) it had a slight shake in the steering wheel, especially between 60-75mph. I ignored this for about 40k miles (it had been driven infrequently by an old man, many front end components were worn out and I assumed when I replaced these the issue would resolve). Over time this shaking got worse, eventually affecting braking as well.

At 75k miles I replaced the following on front: upper control arms, lower ball joints, outer tie rods, sway bars, shocks, wheel bearings, and also the rotors, the pads, the calipers. Had new front tires put on (at Walmart) and then had a professional alignment done (somewhere else). The shaking was reduced somewhat but was still present (the vibration during braking was resolved). I then brought it into a different mechanic to have him look at it. He found nothing (other than I hadn't torqued the tie rod end to spec...). The shaking is still there. Now I believe I can also hear a sort of dull throbbing drone at around 30-40mph, not sure if this is new or if I'm just going crazy.

What else could this shaking be? I have a few guesses: bent spindle (the 2wd doesn't have a CV joint, but something like this), bent wheel, bent frame (???) or walmart just didn't balance the new tires well... also my brother suggested I check the U-joints. But I'm hoping for more educated guesses before I start taking things apart again and pouring more money into it. I am about ready to give up and sell the poor thing, but I sense it is something relatively simple.

Thank you very much again for any help!

 

[superj]

can you move the front wheels to the back to see if the shaking moves? maybe its a bent wheel?

 

[RonD]

Did they do a 4-wheel alignment or just front end?

Front end collision can tweak 4-wheel alignment

 

[pjtoledo]

throbbing/drone at 30-40 is something that isn't round/true.
that's way too slow of a speed for an unbalance to show up.

while at 30-40 find a parking lot or quiet place to try gentle swerves left & right. that may identify which side is bad.
don't do it on cold tires, drive 10-15 miles first.

I've a Ranger similar to yours, keeping the wheels balanced has been a problem on several sets of wheels & tires.

check the rear drums, some have massive weights attached.

try rotating one wheel at a time 2 lug nuts.