Hi folks - gotta '94 Ranger 4x2 5-speed with the 2.3. A few months ago I noticed that the transmission seems to move up and to the right a bit when I take off from a dead stop in first gear, unless I do so really gently. If I take off hard, it actually kind of thunks back down when I shift.

My local garage told me it was a bushing problem in one of the suspension arms, which sounded odd. They wanted $1500, which sounded odder, so I resolved to just drive her gently and keep rolling.

Now the steering is starting to wobble back and forth, not under all conditions but pretty significantly when it does. And this started pretty suddenly -- i.e., in the way that it would if a piece of bushing fell out, vs. the gradual way that a steering box wears out.

So, anybody got any guidance for me? This is one of those trucks that I love dearly but really just need to putter around town and don't want to spend a lot on.

Many thanks in advance, Scot Montrey scotmontrey@yahoo.com

 

Reads like two different issues.
Nothing in the steering system would cause transmission to shift position.

Open hood.
Put emergency brake on.
Start engine.
Put trans in first gear and slowly let out the clutch while watching the engine thru the gap under the hood.
Engine should not rise up or twist.
Now put trans in reverse and do the same thing.
If engine is rising up or twisting then a motor mount has gone bad.


If possible jack up both front wheels and then move them left and right, look for play.
You can do this one wheel at a time.
If there is play then could be one if the steering ball joints is loose or worn out, you may need a helper to watch for which one has the play.

Also grab top and bottom of the tire and wiggle, it shouldn't move, if it does then wheel bearing would be most likely issue but could be control arm bushing.

 

Either a motor mount or transmission mount has gone bad. As for the steering, that's unrelated to the engine and trans like RonD said. If it were me, I would look at all the steering components under the front of the truck, and the shaft connecting the steering wheel to the box. You can jack the front of the truck up and hold the tire at 3 and 9 oclock then see if you can move the wheel. If there is play, see if you or someone else can look and locate where it's from.

 

look at the trans crossmember at the tail of trans the two nuts on the bottom of the crossmember can back off and that would definitely let it dance around a good bit!

 

Ok here's the weird thing- the steering wheel ONLY wobbles at very low speed- like below 10 mph. Above that it's fine. Doesn't seem to be anything else wrong. Help!

 

Lower ball joint wearing out will cause that symptom.
Jack up one front wheel at a time and see if you can push in and pull out on the bottom of the wheel, if so ball joint needs to be replaced, upper and lower ball joints need to be replaced at the same time, at least on my '94 4x4 they did, just did them 2 weeks ago, only 320,000 on them, nothing is made to last any more, lol.

The ball joints, top and bottom, are the "hinges" so you can turn the front wheels, the lower ball joint supports the weight of the vehicle so is what wears out over time, you will notice a wobble at lower speeds then as wheel speed increases it has a dampening effect, but wobble is still there.
You will also notice uneven tire wear, usually on the inside tread of the most effected side front tire.
Both sides should be changed, as both will have worn out, you just feel it in one side first.