Vibration?
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Rocky Mountains
Vibration?
My old Ranger still runs good and serves me well. I do have a slight vibration that I notice between 40-45 mph in OD range. I have tried isolating it by driving that speed in the 3rd range and also coasting at that speed and the vibration seems to stop. So I assume it's associated with the drive shaft components. I suppose the most logical components are the universal joints. Do they tend to vibrate at one particular speed when they are failing? Is this a job that should be left to the experts or something I could tackle myself? Is there something else I could and should check before going that route? I have more time than money but I don't want to start something that goes from bad to worse. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: formerly Brooklyn NY now
i would also inspect the driveshaft to see if any weights may have fallen off but yes u joints go cause theres play in them the needle bearings wear out and causes play and in turn that could cause a vibration or wierd noise. id also check the tires too make sure you dont have a bent belt or some kind of bubble
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Rocky Mountains
I was wondering if a bad motor mount could also cause a vibration problem at a certain speed? What is a good way to check motor mounts? If I crawl under my truck, are there some checks I can do mechanically, that would point to bad U-joints? I guess I mean by checking for play in the U-joints by rotating the drive shaft back and forth. What do I listen for or look for? Also, I was wondering about the dust boot that covers the spline joint in the center of the drive shaft. Does this require a special crimping tool when replacing the boot? Do the clamps on the boot require special balancing? I would hate to lose my drive shaft while driving down the road. It happened to me once before when I was driving a Dodge Power Wagon and it was frightening!
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Rocky Mountains
I jacked up the rear end of my Ranger, place the transmission in neutral and worked the drive shaft back and forth as violently as I could. I could detect no play in the universal joints, everything appeared snug and the all the balance weights appeared intact. I am now wondering about the center support bearing. I think I could replace that bearing myself, so all it would entail is removing the drive shaft and the dust boot. Has anyone ever done this themselves? Could this be a vibration source if the bearing is worn out?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Homer, Alaska
It's not hard to replace. Make sure you index the drive shaft on both ends to insure it goes back on the way it comes off, or you may get more vibrations. I don't remember if the spline has a master, so be sure to mark the shafts also when you pull them apart. A small shot of white paint works good, just make sure it dries before handling any of it. While you are under there, check the transmission mount. As for replacing the clamps on the rubber boot, I used a nylon tie-wrap. Worked fine. There might be some shims under the carrier bearing housing. If so, make sure they go back in the same place.
