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  #1  
Old 04-26-2010, 12:52 PM
rebelproud rebelproud is offline
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Default Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue **UPDATE**

Hello,

I'm getting a vibration between 50-60 mph, that I don't notice at any other speed. I've shifted the truck into a lower gear, slowed down, and matched the rpms at which the vibration occurs, and the vibration seems to have been gone.

The other thing I notice is that when I first give the truck gas from a dead stop, and I apply the gas very lightly, the truck seems to clunk, or shudder almost, about once or twice very subtly while going through what feels like the first gear. It does not happen at any other time. If I give the truck a moderate amount of gas from a dead stop, I don't feel anything abnormal. Otherwise, the transmission never slips and feels solid throughout the gears.

Can anyone help point me in the right direction on this one? Here is the truck specs:

2004 Ford Ranger Edge 4x4 with Automatic transmission and 4.0 V6 with 41,000 miles.

Thanks a lot for all of the help!

Last edited by rebelproud; 05-02-2010 at 12:33 PM.
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  #2  
Old 04-26-2010, 12:54 PM
smakes smakes is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

ive got a similar vibration at that exact speed aswell, but i have no idea what it could be. gonna watch this thread and hopefully an answer crops up
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  #3  
Old 04-27-2010, 09:53 AM
rebelproud rebelproud is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

Well, I'm thinking(and hoping) that it is U Joints. So, I bought them today, and will be replacing them either this weekend or next depending on when they come in. U joints go, and it cant hurt to replace them now anyway.
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Old 04-27-2010, 10:08 AM
beef08 beef08 is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

yea mine has done that a couple times before once at taking off then it would studder like some1 who doesnt know how to drive a manual shifting and btw mines an auto so it freaked me out..but its only done it twice in the year ive owned it and shops dunno whats wrong :/..gonna pay full attention to this thread as well
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  #5  
Old 04-28-2010, 09:55 AM
03_fx4_levelII 03_fx4_levelII is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

Make sure when you take your driveshaft out to replace the u-joints that you put it back in the same way. This could also be part of the vibration you are experiencing. My truck did the same thing when it got up to speed and it was because the drive shaft was balanced one way and it was reinstalled another. If you look at where the flanges bolt together, behind the transmission and at the input of the rear end, you should see rust marks where the driveshaft should line up. Make sure they line up and you should be ok!
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  #6  
Old 04-28-2010, 04:27 PM
rebelproud rebelproud is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by 03_fx4_levelII View Post
Make sure when you take your driveshaft out to replace the u-joints that you put it back in the same way. This could also be part of the vibration you are experiencing. My truck did the same thing when it got up to speed and it was because the drive shaft was balanced one way and it was reinstalled another. If you look at where the flanges bolt together, behind the transmission and at the input of the rear end, you should see rust marks where the driveshaft should line up. Make sure they line up and you should be ok!
So, then it is possible that someone else worked on it at some point and put it back together wrong? If I put it back on the same way that it came off, and I still have some vibration, would it be a good idea to reverse it and try it that way?
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  #7  
Old 04-28-2010, 05:26 PM
sgtsandman sgtsandman is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

Not necessarily reverse it but rotate it until the holes line up again. Are the u-joints the originals? If not, the yokes may not have been put on the way they came off.

If the drive shaft is now out of balance, your best bet may be to get it rebalanced since fiddling with the yokes to see which one is off would be a PITA. Another possibility would be that a balancing weight either rusted and fell off or got knocked off. They are welded on when the driveshaft was originally assembled.

A company that specializes in driveshafts should be able to help you out.
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  #8  
Old 05-02-2010, 06:56 AM
rebelproud rebelproud is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

After about a 45 minute drive yesterday, I really noticed the slight thumping or bumpiness in slow acceleration from a stop, or coming to a stop. It almost feels like a shuddering and only happens when first accelerating or coming to a stop. So, this morning I decided to inspect the U Joints. I put the truck in neutral, applied the e-brake, blocked the tires, got under it, and here is what I found:

No play in the U Joints.

The only play that I found was in the slip yoke. I don't know how much play is normal in this slip yoke, but I've read online that people with a similar problem have resolved this issue by sliding back the boot and greasing the hell out of the yoke. Does anyone know anything about this?

I'm going to try this, probably Tuesday night, when I have the chance to go get some grease and get under the truck. I'd like to get to it today, but I'm extremely busy with other things right now.
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  #9  
Old 05-02-2010, 07:03 AM
01_ranger_4x4 01_ranger_4x4 is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

Quote:
Originally Posted by rebelproud View Post
After about a 45 minute drive yesterday, I really noticed the slight thumping or bumpiness in slow acceleration from a stop, or coming to a stop. It almost feels like a shuddering and only happens when first accelerating or coming to a stop. So, this morning I decided to inspect the U Joints. I put the truck in neutral, applied the e-brake, blocked the tires, got under it, and here is what I found:

No play in the U Joints.

The only play that I found was in the slip yoke. I don't know how much play is normal in this slip yoke, but I've read online that people with a similar problem have resolved this issue by sliding back the boot and greasing the hell out of the yoke. Does anyone know anything about this?

I'm going to try this, probably Tuesday night, when I have the chance to go get some grease and get under the truck. I'd like to get to it today, but I'm extremely busy with other things right now.
the slip yoke slope is a common thing on the rangers, mine does it too. other than greasing the hell out of it i havent found a good fix for it, the grease will only work for so long. make sure you get some really thick grease when you do it though. theres a performance drivetrain shop near me that ive been considering taking both my shafts into to be serviced. my rear is fine other than the slip yoke slop but my front superlift shaft has a fantom vibration that i cant track down the source of. did you solve the vibration issue than?
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2001 Ranger 4x4 Stepside
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-Headers
-Flowmaster duals
-SCT X-Cal2 and some small exterior mods

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  #10  
Old 05-02-2010, 07:19 AM
rebelproud rebelproud is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

No, I haven't solved the vibration, but it really is very subtle, and I'm thinking that may be a wheel/tire issue. My main concern was this thumping on acceleration and stopping. Can you recommend a thick grease that I can pick up at a local auto store? Turns out I might have some time to work on it this afternoon. Thanks for your help.
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  #11  
Old 05-02-2010, 07:34 AM
01_ranger_4x4 01_ranger_4x4 is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

if you can find the Motorcraft PTFE Lubricant, i think its got some weird part# like XG-8 or something like that but that might be a dealer only thing. you could try a high pressure lube like an industrial heavy duty high pressure lube like this stuff:



basicly you want a heavy grease that will kind of act as a cushion between the splines in the slip yoke thus making the clunk less noticable so if you cant track down either of those lubes i would just try some good synthetic bearing grease. good luck and let us know how it works or if you can find either of those lubes locally.
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2001 Ranger 4x4 Stepside
-RCD Suspension lift
-33x12.5 BFG KM2's on Mickey Thomson classic locks
-4:56 gears
-Auburn gear LS
-James Duff traction bars
-Headers
-Flowmaster duals
-SCT X-Cal2 and some small exterior mods

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2321189

2005 F-150 Lariat 4x4
-LED third brake light
-Weathertech floor liners
-Edge tuner
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  #12  
Old 05-02-2010, 11:03 AM
rebelproud rebelproud is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

Well I got some sort of Mobil 1 high pressure grease for bearings and the chassis, because that was about the best grease they had. I managed to pop the metal strap off, slide the boot back a bit, and pack as much grease in there as I could.

When I first slid the boot back, there was no grease at all. it was bone dry. Now there is quite a bit in there. It was kind of hard to really pack it in there well, and would be much easier with the driveshaft not on the vehicle. I probably didn't get as much in there as I should, but it will have to wait until I have a better way to do it.

I did take the truck out and drive it around a bit, and I do notice a bit less bumping and shuddering during take off. Coming to a stop it has been eliminated almost completely. So, I do think that this was the fix for this problem, as I am already noticing a difference, and like I said, my grease job really wasn't the greatest. I am going to have to work this routine into my regular oil change tune up routine, and see how it goes.
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  #13  
Old 05-02-2010, 11:05 AM
smakes smakes is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue

thats good to know, time to go grease my slip yoke
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  #14  
Old 05-02-2010, 12:32 PM
rebelproud rebelproud is offline
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Default Re: Source of Vibration and another (related?) issue **UPDATE**

Thanks for your help, folks. I came across the following and wanted to share it incase anyone has similar issues:



TSB 04-23-7
11/29/04
DRIVESHAFT - THUMP/CLUNK ON LIGHT
ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR WHEN BRAKING
AND COMING TO A STOP - RANGER 4X4 SUPER
CAB

FORD:
1998-2005 Ranger

This article supersedes TSB 03-26-2 to update the vehicle model years and service procedure.
ISSUE
Some Ranger 4X4 Super Cab vehicles may exhibit a low frequency thump type noise/vibration on light acceleration from a stop and/or when coming to a stop with light to moderate braking. This may be caused by axle wind up during acceleration or deceleration, creating a stick/slip condition at the rear drives haft slip yoke splines.

ACTION
A new type of grease is available which will greatly reduce the sticking/binding in the slip yoke during acceleration and deceleration. To service, apply the new grease to the rear driveshaft slip yoke splines. Refer to the following Service Procedure.

NOTE OTHER DRIVELINE NOISE CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE CORRECTED WITH THIS PROCEDURE. REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE RANGER WORKSHOP MANUAL FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF ENGAGEMENT CLUNK, TIP-IN/OUT CLUNK OR CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT CLUNK CONDITIONS.


Read more: http://www.justanswer.com/questions/...#ixzz0mnnaLdTe
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