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Old 11-20-2011, 10:57 AM
jorski jorski is offline
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Default 1998 Ford Ranger Vibration Problem - advice needed

Hello all,

New to the forums here, although Ive lurked for a while. This forum has been a huge help in regards to working on the Ranger (ball joints, blend door, starter, etc). Now Im running into a problem that Im not sure how to solve.

A couple of years back I slid off an icy road into a ditch. I didn't hit anything, but did spin the truck around 180 as it slid into the ditch. Since then, Ive had a vibration problem with the truck which has progressively gotten worse. I took the truck to NTB where they said my wheel bearings needed to be repacked; they did this, and it helped slightly with the vibration but did not completely take care of it. I let it go (Im a medical student so I am really busy), but recently decided that as the vibration got worse that I should take care of business. So I took the truck to another shop; they said that the camber on the front end of the truck was off and that they needed to put a kit on the truck so that the could adjust the camber and line things back up. They said that this was causing my tires to become cupped, and that was the source of the vibration. And the tires really did look unevenly worn. So they put the kit on, and I went and got a new set of tires yesterday. Unfortunately, the vibration is still there. Im at a loss as to what to do at this point. Oddly enough, NOONE has actually taken the truck for a drive to see what is up as far as the vibration goes.

The vibration is most noticeable at around 60 MPH. Ive really been trying to figure out if it occurs at any other speeds, but the Ranger's ride isn't exactly the smoothest, so Im having trouble discerning a vibration from background roughness. It feels like the vibration is coming from the right rear. When the vibration occurs, I can see the bed sort of shaking back and forth (very subtle) and I can see the passenger side seat wobbling back and forth. At its most severe, it causes the plastic in the truck to squeak. The most puzzling thing about it is the vibration comes and goes; I can be heading down the road and it will be smooth as glass (for a Ranger anyway) and then the vibration starts and lasts for about 30-60 secs and then fades; this will repeat as long as Im doing around 60. It does vibrate at speeds 60+ as well, with more pronounced vibration. I do not feel the vibration in the steering wheel.

In addition to this new kit to adjust the alignment, Ive had new rear brakes put on recently; the vibration was present before then. I also put new lower ball joints on a few years ago; this was before the vibration started.

The truck has 150k on it.

Any ideas? I just want my bulletproof truck back . Thanks in advance.
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  #2  
Old 11-22-2011, 09:49 PM
Gera713 Gera713 is offline
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Default Re: 1998 Ford Ranger Vibration Problem - advice needed

Maybe it could be a bent drive shaft that can be getting that unbalanced spot at that speed.
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Old 12-15-2011, 01:42 PM
MacStevenXIII MacStevenXIII is offline
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Default Re: 1998 Ford Ranger Vibration Problem - advice needed

When I bought my 95 used, the dingus that had it before replaced the center bearing, only he replaced it backwards. When I would get to about 30-40mph my truck would shake like crazy. Luckily I only drove it about an hour home like that. The driveshaft was bent, but my mechanic was able to get it straitened out .
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Old 12-15-2011, 02:50 PM
Pietato Pietato is offline
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Default Re: 1998 Ford Ranger Vibration Problem - advice needed

if you slid it into a ditch could it be a bent wheel?
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Old 12-16-2011, 05:36 AM
jorski jorski is offline
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Default Re: 1998 Ford Ranger Vibration Problem - advice needed

Well, a bent wheel had crossed my mind, but wouldnt that have been picked up when balancing the tire?
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