My brother has an 02 ford escape that he bought cheap because it needed a transmission. He just replaced the trasmission in it as well as tie rod ends, front axles, axle bushings and seals. The front pads and rotors are new and the tires were just rotated. Now when you are going 15mph and up and are on the accelerator there is a severe shaking as you accelerate and a loud thumping noise. If you let off the accelerator it goes away. If you get it going fast enough it will shake so bad the mirrors will shake. He is a ford mechanic but said he is having a hard time pin pointing what it could be . He took me for a ride and I have no idea what it might be. He said he has had other mechanics look at it but they can't figure it out. Just figured maybe someone on here has an idea that we aren't thinking of. Thanks in advance.

 

Wheel bearing maybe? does it completely go away or just get much quieter? Is the thump like once for every wheel revolution or does the timing seem to be slightly different?

Any chance this could be engine related like a bad plug or COP?

I have an '02/3.0/4WD as well.

 

It isn't a wheel bearing that was checked and it is definitely once every wheel revolution it shakes more than it makes noise and it shakes really badly the noise sounds like thumping every wheel revolution the faster you accelerate the worse it shakes if you let off the throttle noise and shaking completely go away. Also if you turn hard left or right and accelerate there is no noise.

The shaking feels alot like you are down a few cylinders I will ask him if he checked that. Thank you for the response anything else that comes to mind from anyone please let me know.

 

The computer can be scanned for pre-codes if the check engine light is not lit. Also, while experiencing the shake, turn the overdrive off and see if it smoothes out. Mine shook horribly when the COPs were failing and yours might be the same.

 

Sounds to me like a bad CV axle

 

Just wanted to update my brother did get it fixed it was cv axles both were new but must have been bad or a cheap set he replaced both with OEM ford axles and the car is perfect now. Thanks for the help