Hi guys, new here and have a smallish I hope issue that has me semi stumped.
I have a 1998 Mazda B4000 which for intence and purpose is a Ford Ranger in my eyes.....and it's blue so it must be a ford...lol....Anyway back to the problem, it has a 4 litre V6, and an automatic tranny. The other known part is an open diff with highway gearing as per previous owner's admission. An old hotrodder like myself he talked openly about what was wrong and what was fixed etc etc. He had bought a new used rear axle from a wreckers which is evident by the marking for 4:10 gears and reinstalled highway gears inside for better gas mileage. It also looks like he replaced the hanger bearing too. I have replaced all brakes front and rear. The U joints look OK, but haven't pried on them yet but did shake them manually to do a first inspection and all seemed good, No signs of a destroyed U joint any where.
The issue is, while taking my daughter to school I noticed for the first time since I have owned this truck that it has developed a vibration around the 25mph range and sort of goes away but is still evident at higher speeds lets say 50-60mph. It feels like a U joint type of vibration, as it's in the seat and lower body of the truck and not in the steering wheel.
Oh yes I have new tires as well freshly ballanced, so to rule that out as well. Plus it doesn't react like a unballanced wheel as they usually come in at a certain speed and then go completely away so to speak....?
I'm on a fixed income and can't do my usual route and start replacing everything that comes in contact with the driveline.....a good way to restore a vehicle. But in today's economy, that route is not in the cards.
I'm hoping that someone has had this problem and has already figured it out for me.
Here's thanking you in advance....thanks
Willys