Road Speed vibration

[vigness]

So am I barking up the wrong tree?

Have 2005 4x4 FX. I have a vibration at highway speeds that is slowly getting worse.

When it was in the shop a while back for a fuel pump issue and the mechanic suggested I have the steering looked at. I had a bit of a 'pump whine' but nothing serious.

Since that time the highway speed vibration had slowly gotten worse. I've had the front end alignment checked at NTB ( now Big O ), nothing found and my personal check didn't find and loose joints.

Sooooo, could a rack and pinion problem cause a vibration at highway speeds?

Should I also do the pump in case it got any shavings or such in it?

 

[CraftsmanQuad19]

I would check the tire pressures and tread first, just because its easy and obvious, then for loose joints as you have, maybe an alignment, but have you checked your shocks?

 

[pjtoledo]

in no particular order: tire wear pattern, wheel bearings, U-joints, wheel balance. those are the usual suspects.

run your hand over the tires, any patterns should be easily felt.

I have never had a rack cause vibrations. my 2005 2WD has the original rack with 345,500+ miles. not saying it can't happen, just not to me.


it is possible to flush the power steering fluid. remove the return line at the reservoir and route it into a big bucket. plug the return inlet on the reservoir.
have an assistant start the engine and steer left to right while you QUICKLY pour fluid into the RAPIDLY EMPTYING reservoir. I use about 2 quarts/liters. use more if you want a bigger mess to clean up.

place a couple of "greased sandwiches" under the tires to prevent scruffing. you can make them out of virtually anything, gallon plastic containers for me.

 

[Ranger850]

Vibrations at hwy speed sounds like a simple wheel balance or bad tires pressure . I'd start there.

 

[ExploreNW]

Had a severe version of this on my F250 - hit a pothole and the steering wheel would shake violently side to side until I backed down to 40 or so. Old tires were the culprit, problem went away with new rubber and an alignment.