ive been trying to find a vibration in my truck. just noticed it on my way to VA two weeks ago. i dont do much highway driving so i dont know how long its been their. it strats at about 75 mph and get worst the faster i go. the vibration is in my seat not the steering wheel. i've check all my front end parts (ball joint, tie rod, wheel bearings.) i put new brake on and i didn't go away (didn't replace because of vibration just found they were bad when i was checking out the front end.) i've also had the the tires balanced three times in the last two week and no change.

i'm at a loss is there any thing else i should be checking?

 

Driveline?? if its under u it maybe front driveshaft if ur a 4x4 or the u-joints on the rear driveshaft at the tranny tail housing

 

yes its 4x4. i can check u joints. could it be bent? how would i check for that?

 

idk bout bent... but if the u-joints are bad there is a very noticablee vibration at highway speeds

 

Your Ranger has a trunk?

 

could it be tires out of balance? i know my friend lost his tire weights and it was pretty rough ride at freeway speeds.

 

oops, sorry i probably shoulda read the original post all the way before trying to help

 

lol sometimes i wish

fixed

 

Hey, When my universals went bad... in reverse like... idleing in reverse they would chirp or squeek. I'm gunna say universals. Mine went bad at 40-45k miles. THe snow really beats on them along with the salt... Replace them with ones with grease fittings on them. Get on it fast, when I let mine stay bad it led to more problems like a pinion seal.

 

Could be as simple as the tires themselves. Not the balance, just the tires themselves.

I've got a vibration that goes in and out in and out and it only starts at about 70mph. It's rhythmatic. For me it's probably the combination of a never balance checked rear shaft, front shaft that tends to aid in vibrations, and those tires that have never been able to be balanced just right.

 

well u-joint are cheap and ive got 50000 miles so oh well. can i take my front drive shaft out and drive it with out a problem, just to see if that might be it?

 

IDK but my passenger seat vibrates like crazy at highway speeds most of the time. Its really annoying and the i know the seat bolts are tight. I don't get it.

 

i got used to my vibrations... its a truck and mines lifted with 34" tires, i expect vibrations lol

 

HAHA Mine does this exact same thing too! I'm hoping new tires, alignment and balance does the trick. It's like a massage for the passanger, the center console shimmies and shakes too. It's done this since 40k miles.


As for the driveshaft question... To see if your Universal joints are bad drop the rear driveshaft, this is where I found mine were bad. It is a pain to take it off. You will need a 12MM wrench and a pipe to put ont he end of it, or a 12pt. 12MM socket to turn those mounting bolts. Be sure to index the drive shaft location on the pinion flange and the front flange before removing the driveshaft.

I believe ford like everything else loctited the **** out of these bolts so do not be afraid to add PB blaster, Liquid wrench etc, It is a tapered thead, and they rust well.

Don't be afrain to MAPP gas the bolts a bit either.

When the drive shaft is out, turn the universal joints around... If they feel sticky, gritty or hanging they are shot. Now that you have the drive shaft out, just REPLACE them anyways. They are cheap, I picked up two at NAPA with grease fittings for... I think 13 a piece?

Half the battle is gettign the driveshaft off.

I don't think the front drive shaft universals wear as fast, becuase the rear ones are at a angle and more exposed... maybe i'm wrong though. Sounds just like the problem I had, and it was the universals.

Have you ever changed a universal before? if not dont be afraid to ask questions.

 

ya ive changed a few. just never had one vibrate without a low speed noise. i have a full shop with a lift so taking out the drive shafts isn't a problem. i just like to know what to fix before i start throwing parts at it.

 

i guess if i just drive the speed limit it wont bug me.

 

Hey again, I have the same problem except mine is at 60-70mph. The truck shakes really bad, the passanger seat shakes, center console shakes etc.

The truck has brand new tires, balanced, alignment, new shocks, new universals in the rear drive shaft. Any Ideas people? I have about the same problem I believe...

 

why the hell are you going 75+ mph?

 

Not everyone is like you Downey we can go 75+ with out our truck's falling apart LOL.

 

I wish I could drive at 75, I feel like the wheels will fall off.... I'm only an 05.

This seems to be a ongoing problem with no resolutions.. from all the searches I've done. It sounds like the same problem....

Around 60 mph the shake occurs.
Shake is bad enough passanger seat moves.
Not solved by balancing or alignments.

 

i drove mine today and really payed attention and it starts small at 65mph but doesn't get bad tell 75+.
going to replace the u-joint this weekend if i have time.
just really getting sick of it.

 

Make sure you post back after it's done.

 

replaced front u-joints last night and greased the front drive shaft. no luck. going to do the rear when i have time again.