2003 Ford Ranger XLT, 3.0, 2wd reg. cab, auto/OD and I have the following issue:

Vibration felt in cab, seat and a little in steering wheel at speeds of 45 - 60 mph
NOT felt when brakes are applied.
According to 4 different service shops the front-end components and brakes are good.

NO MODS TO DRIVETRAIN OR SUSPENSION ALL STOCK.
New tires (BFG long trail 225/70R15) on stock steel wheels. Vibrates.

Upgraded wheels to new Unique 298 steel wheels 15 x 7 balanced. Still vibrates.

After rebalancing 2 more times tire guys replaced all 4 tires at my request rebalanced at no cost warranty. Still vibrates.

I had the drive shaft inspected and balanced it was slightly out and U-joints are good with no play. Still vibrates.

Complained to tire guys they upgraded wheels (at no cost, warranty) to MB Motoring Blitz aluminum wheels 15 x 7 (sweet looking) and balanced them out and I hit the road again. The ride is better, but it still vibrates.

I finally put my truck on a lift and removed the rear wheels and then reinstalled lug nuts and put it in drive. You can see the right rear drum (RH rear) bouncing slightly.

Could this be an imbalance brake drum, axle bearings, bent flange, shaft still out of balance and/or U-joints going bad and the vibration travels to rear????

This Monday I’ll remove the shaft again and this time I am going to replace both fwd and aft u-joints then have the drive shaft rebalance (warranty)….

Then if that does not solve it the axle comes apart, replacing the axle bearings.
If the drums were imbalanced would I feel it in the brake pedal? May be I will change the drums too or first.

I don’t feel it is in the tires or wheels anymore. The tires have been replaced twice and the wheels twice and rebalanced altogether about 8 times. On the machine they are balanced. Oh I put the tires on another ranger, smooth ride.

Any ideas or similar experiences????

 

You probably have a 7.5 rear end. Sounds like a bent flange or shaft outside of the bearings. Throw it in the trash and get an 8.8 and toss it in there.

If that doesn't fix it put some boggers on there and then you'll know why its vibrating lol.

 

did you happen to notice if they took off the clips that holds on the drums during assembly. The reason I ask this is because the factory wheels have a recess cut into them to allow for the wheel to still mount flat to the drum and after market wheels do not.

Chad

 

Chad
Would the clips be on the lugs?? If so, No. No clips. Just the drum slid over lugs, wheel, and then the lug nuts..

 

they would of been on the studs, they look kind of like a washer. the only reason I ask was that I have seen the clips left on and cause problems with after market wheels.

 

I'll check em monday when I have on the lift again. Would cause the drum to bounce. I had the wheel off and only the lug nuts on. It had a up down effect to it. There are alot wieghts on the drum for balancing. Could it be imbalanced? The drum.

 

no it would not cause that, I was thinking that it only did it with the new wheel on the truck. I think I would look into what Jey said.

Chad

 

I think I take the axle shafts out, inspect them if good I'll replace the axle bearings. If bad I short on cash so I'll probably replace the one or both. Junk yard hunt... Is there much of an effort to change out to a an 8.8 ..

 

If it's a drum-brake 8.8 out of a ranger no, it will bolt right in.

 

LUG NUTS..... They used the wrong lug nuts. Put proper ones for alumn wheels on.
No more vibration. I found this out after I went ahead and replaced U-joints. Well at least I can grease my new U-joints. Zerk fittings....
LUG NUTS.............................................. ........