Hello guys/girls
I have an 01 excursion with a V10 and roughly 167000 miles. I am experiencing a shake that comes in between 60-65 mph. This shake is sometimes slight and sometimes it is moderate. I have done the following work to the front end:
New ball joints (needed)
New front hubs (wheel bearings) (may not have been needed)
New axel shaft u-joints (needed)
New track bar (not needed)
New sway bar bushings and end links (needed)
New tires (needed)
I have had the front end checked out after this work was done and everything is good, tight, and in spec. Had an alignment done. Had the tires rebalanced (after about 3000 miles) and rotated. Still has the shake. I do not feel it in the steering wheel but more on the floorboards as the whole truck shakes. I am planning on having the rear driveshaft checked out and balanced. I know that I have fired the parts cannon on this but I'm kinda out of ideas. Is there anything else I should check? Any ideas of what could cause this?
Thanks. Brent.

 

I have a RWD unit so I am not an expert on the 4x4s but I'm bored and nobody has replied to you so I'll throw you a bone. Do you feel it in the steering wheel along with "the whole truck" shaking or do you mainly feel it through the seat? Do you have a bent wheel? Leaf spring shackle/mount bushings worn?

 

I mainly feel it through the seat. I have had the wheels balanced twice, so if there was a bent wheel, the tire shop should have found it (I hope). The truck has almost 170,000 miles on it so the springs could be showing some wear, but the shop I had it at said that everything on the front looked good.

 

I had 3 bent wheels out of 4 on the ground,

 

Vibrations are really hard to diagnose over the internet, lol.

If you've hit the front end with all the parts, I'd start looking elsewhere. 1st place is ujoints. Chalk your wheels, set the parking brake, put the truck in neutral and grab the driveshaft and twist. Look for play in the ujoint at the output shaft and at the rear axle.

 

You should stop running over stuff.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by John in OkieLand
I had 3 bent wheels out of 4 on the ground,
yup, the previous owners did that, I replaced all of them about 500 miles after I bought the truck.

 

a lot of excursions are sitters for long period of time. Get the date code off the tires, if they're old and crusty, then you have your answer.

 

I had the same problem for years. When I bought the Ex new in 2001 it was fine for a while. At about 16k miles the vibrations started. (Ex came with the Firestones that were replace by Ford at no charge.)

From then on, I just drove down the hwy at 55mph or so.

Over the years I used and wore out the following tires:

Pirelli Scorpions
Nitto Dura grapplers
Yokahama Geolanders

All were balanced many times with no luck. All of the above I got about 30k. The Nitto went to almost 45k and 1 tire developed a sidewall bulge. These Nittos lasted but could not hold a balance just like all of the above.

Then I bought a set of Michelin LTX MS from Tire Kingdom. After I paid in full, Tire Kingdom wrote on my receipt that the suspension was worn out! (I think I was at 200k at the time)

These Michelins wore out about 76k and much better than all of the above. Balance and vibrations were very good but not perfect. Note: I did balance all the tires on a regular basis.

Next 3 sets I bought the same Michelin tires from Costco. Amazingly these 3 sets have been perfectly in balance the whole time and were each replaced at about 85k. (I have my newest set on now)

I use LT 285/75/16 on the original wheels to this day.

Now a couple of hundred thousand miles later I am still running on the basically the exact same suspension. Only the Bilstein shocks have been changed and new ball joints 1 time. Front sway bar links replaced 1 time as well.

My Ex and it's tires have been smooth as silk for years now. Still on original factory alignment and OEM wheels. Has been on alignment rack several times over the years with no changes made. I can drive any speed I want now. I have been over 90 mph. The stock EX is governed to about 92 mph or so. I do not recommend driving a 4x4 Ex at very high speeds for obvious reasons.

What I learned is that the brand of tires matters. And the tech and balancing equipment matter just as much.

This is my experience over 400k plus miles. I do not work for Michelin or Costo. But will always use them for tires going forward on all cars. I had never bought Michelin tires in the past since they always cost a bit more. But for me they are the most economical and best performing over the long run.

This Ex is a pavement queen in S FL. The roads are pretty much pothole free so that helps a lot.

Try getting your tires balanced by an expert with calibrated tire machines. If they do not run perfectly buy new tires. (assuming you do not have other problems that cause the vibrations)
Think U joints and driveshaft, etc.

 

when I bought my '02 Excursion, it had an off-brand AT tires on it. had them balanced twice, just could not stand the thumping down the road.

2500 miles from the time I bought the truck, I installed a set of Michelin LTX Defenders on it, " ah, now that is what I like ".

smooth as glass, and it will track straight down the highway hands off.
I am using the OEM style steel rims with 285/75R/16 tires on it.

the AT tires? stacked up out back, in the shade, might need them "someday if it ever snows here "