Front End Vibration at 45MPH+ Believe it to be front driveshaft?

[redstx40]

Vibration at 45MPH+ Searching for clues

Hey,

So I started gradually having this front end vibration that starts exactly at 45mph.

The thing is that, when I'm constantly accelerating I get no vibrations, not even at 45mph or past 45mph. But when I start lettting off the gas, the front end starts shaking/vibrating when i'm at and/or above 45mph.

I don't think its a tire balance isssue as I have experienced this long ago in the past.

I believe its probably the front driveshaft or the left or right shafts.

I was thinking that I could take off the front drive shaft from the front axle and the transfer case. Then test drive the car at 45mph+ without the front drive shaft. Is this possible or do I need to have the front drive shaft there? I don't want to be going over 45mph and then have the front end do something crazy cause of not having the front driveshaft installed. Or have the transfer case leaking oil cause of having the driveshaft off (not sure).
(I checked other posts but the other rangers are newer)

Anyone have symptoms like this? I will see if I can check the front driveshaft U-Joints for play. Not sure how much play there is supposed to be though. Just trying to get some ideas and see if I can drive the vehicle without the front driveshaft to see if thats the problem.

Also this is only in 2WD. Tried reversing to make sure that the hubs were unlocked and checked that they wern't hot after driving on the highway which they wern't hot.

Thanks

Hopefully this may help someone in the future that has the same problem with a high mileage ranger.

92 Ford Ranger STX, 4.0L, 4X4 AutoHubs, Super Cab, 248xxx miles, think thats all the info.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

You won't do any damage with out the front drive shaft being in.

I doubt it's the front d/s but stranger things have happened.

Try out your test and that can help narrow it down.

Start with the cheap basic trouble shooting. Make sure every bolt is tight. Check ball joints. Check wheel bearings. Don't just start throwing money into something unless you know it to be wrong.

 

[redstx40]

Thanks for the reply, I will probably take it out to see if the vibration goes away.

I guess I should also change the front axle gear oil. Now I just need to find out if mine came stock with a front locking differential.

 

[atvkid4eva]

doubt its your front DS if you say it does it in 2wd..also it wouldnt come stock with a front locker.

 

[Downey]

do you have manual hubs or auto hubs? if you have manual hubs and they arent locked and your tcase is in 2wd. Your front drive shaft isnt spinning nor is your front axle shafts. so that rules them out. Are you sure it s come from the front? i have a bad vibration and my rear drive shaft flange bolts had worked loss. i would bet its ball joints bad, wheel bearings, or tie rod ends. also when was the last time you replace the steering bars. those joints can wear out. but i almost guarnetee its it has nothing to do with your front ds or front axle shafts.

 

[redstx40]

So far, I cleaned the hubs and checked to make sure they wern't engaged.

Then made sure the front drive shaft wasn't turning while driving/moving.

Checked wheel bearings no play or noise when turning, unless its doing something weird at high speed. No play with tie rods either or ball joints.

I'm thinking it mite be the tires, but I just recently did a rotation that didn't solve the problem.

Can't get the bolt off the front differential, spraying lots of PB into it. Wish it was a regular bolt so I could use the impact on it.

May try an alignment, only been about 2 years since I had the last alignment. Probably try getting the wheels balanced again, or try changing the front tires.

Had the rear driveshaft balanced about 4-5 years ago along with the ujoints changed.

Checking the steering bars will be on the to do list. Except the steering wheel doesn't shake.

The front end seems to be pretty solid. Will continue to update.

 

[Downey]

well im stumped lol good luck

 

[redstx40]

Has anyone experienced vibration coming from the slip yoke? I think that maybe the problem, seems like there mite be some play in it.

Ordering teflon grease, once that comes in i'll see how the slip yoke looks.

 

[xrs11]

Have you found out what it was?

I am having almost the same exact problem.
I think my circumstances may be a little different.
I have the one piece spicer style shaft in a '91 4x4 short cab short bed with a 2.9. The vibration only occurs when I let off the gas and at speeds over somewhere around 35-40 and it's wicked bad.

Please let me know if you found what was going on.

 

[DaleD]

I am also have a similar problem with my truck although the problem starts at just about exactly 60mph. I have also noticed that it does vibrate a little while accelerating, but when I am maintaining a speed it is awful. The most peculiar part is that the vibration completely stops, not even a sound, when I let off the accelerator.

Just today I also noticed that it is beginning to do it at lower RPM's also. I am become quite baffled and annoyed with this problem.

I'll see what I can figure out and keep you posted.

 

[JimJa1943]

If it were mine I'd check:

- Jack it up and grab each of the tires top and bottom and check for play. Any is too much. = bearing
- If you've got a ABS light on - if you have ABS - it's a hub. The sensor gets out of alignment if the hub is bad causing the light.
- With each wheel off the ground, either use a crow bar or have another person grab the wheel at the bottom and attempt to move the tire in and out. Again, any play in the lower ball joint is too much and since they usually go first a Ranger 4x4 - check them.
- With each side off the ground individually check for side to side play (secure the steering wheel). That will check the steering rack and tie rod ends. Inspect the tie rods for straightness.
- Check for toe-out, off the ground and on the ground. Make note of the measurment while on the ground, move the truck forward or backward a third of a turn of the tire and check again. Toe should be the same and will normally not be more than a quarter inch total.
- Last, swap the front tires side to side. If that doesn't work then bring the rears forward and do it again. You may have slipped a belt when you rotated them.
- The tires could be out of round. Check by lifting off the ground and turning against a fixed object, like a screwdriver held stationary by someone. Anything is too much. This can also be indication of a belt that has moved causing the out of round condition. Fix is to replace tires.
- To eliminate tires, if you have a friend with tires that fit a Ranger and who does not have the problem you are talking about, swap tires for a short drive and see if you still have the problem.

Ive seen this before a couple of times and as I recall it wasn't the drive train per se, but more of a tire/alignment issue. We are all interested in what you find that fixes it.

 

[DaleD]

I don't know if this is happening with the other two that are posting but, as an update on the status, my truck only has problems while it is under power.

If you have the accelerator down, even a little, it will violently vibrate.

Also, if you depress the clutch, the truck will continue to shake even when not under power. So, I am beginning to believe it has something to do with the clutch.

 

[xrs11]

I think I may have found out what is going on with mine. Being that my problem is slightly different than what is being described above I did a little investigating while under the truck during last maintenance. The driveshaft is a spicer style with the slip yoke and I would assume that any play in the alignment of the shaft is not a good thing and mine moves pretty far. With over 300k on the truck I’m just figuring it’s wore out. Pretty sure that’s where my vibration is coming from. I plan on taking it to a local axle shop and letting them take a look at it.

 

[Nhaz]

Have you tried flipping the tries from the back to the front? If there is a bad belt in one of front tires it can cause vibration like that. And they are hard to spot at times.

If after flipping the tires to the back and the vibration flips to the back then you have found the problem.

I must also point out that a bad belt in a back tire can feel like a front end vibration.

 

[DaleD]

I suppose it would be a good idea for me to check that as well, my truck also has 300K+ miles and only God knows what could be worn out considering I bought it out of a field.

I do still believe it is the clutch though considering everything it is doing only happens when the clutch is engaged. So, I may be pulling the engine/dropping trans to check that... again.