I posted this earlier but didn't receive any real replies. I am having trouble with my '98 Expedition. It has a pretty good shake in it that gets worse arou 40-50 mph. Some of the recent repairs that I have had include replacing the transfer case, driveshaft, lsd clutches, and rear-end bearings. All of these repairs fixed some other problem, but the shaking persists. I have had the tires inspected and there are no known defects. Any ideas?

 

If it continues to shake even with properly balanced and inflated tires, I'd take a look at the tie rods and other steering linkages to make sure all are still tight.

Good Luck.

 

Check the tie rods. I know it's been mentioned, but my 98 Expy started shaking really bad too. a little around 20 mph (barely noticeable), more at around 45 and VERY badly around 65-70. I was STUPID and continued to drive on bad tie rods for about 15-20 THOUSAND miles. Mostly freeway driving from Detroit to Toledo, luckily I was in a parking lot when my tie rod went. Had them fixed and the tires replaced (you will most likely have to have that done as well since there's probably bad cupping) and it drives much much much better.

 

If it were in the steering, wouldn't I feel it more in the steering wheel? It is barely noticeable in the steering wheel. I don't know if this is related, but I noticed today that when I sit in park and rev the engine to around 2200 rpms, it has a slight shake to it. I am curious if there could be a loose mount or similar issue. I am tired of mechanics telling me, "it's just its age, you will have to live with it." It is only 7 years old with 94000 miles on it!

With regard to the tie rods, could they possibly be make a popping noise as the wheel turns? It doesn't occur everytime I drive, but on occassion, there is a popping noise as the wheel turns. It is coming from the driver side, front wheel.

Thanks,

 

Ah, the missing link...germane info. IF you feel the vibration in park then it's certainly not the tie rods. I suppose it could be a motor mount, but is more likely an ignition miss. Have you changed the plugs and wires (if 4.6L)?

The popping noise could be ball joints, loose shock or missing anti-sway bar endlinks, although my front end pops and I have new ball joints and both links.

I'd suggest having the entire front-end inspected for loose or worn parts.

 

Okay, I had the ball joints replaced today. Perhaps a little difference, but still a noticeable shimmy (no popping, though). The tie rods were in good shape. The only thing that the mechanic found with the front end is a need for an alignment.

Where do I go now? Again, the shimmy is a little noticeable when revving the engine around 2200 rpms. But, not as much as driving down the road. The overall ride is a little bumpy, and (this might sound dumb, but) I feel something in the floorboard that could be compared to small rocks hitting it. Should I change out the plugs (probably needed anyway considering I have 94,000 miles and no new plugs) to see if it is an engine issue? I don't feel a miss, but there again, maybe I don't know what I am feeling! Plus, I would assume that the check engine light would come on if it were missing.

I am tired of spending money on exploration! $5,600 in and still have a shimmy. I feel more like a sucker everyday!

 

Hi. We're having the same exact problems.... vibrations at 60+ still occurring after replacing rear bearings, torque converter, alignment, tire balancing, and TUNE-UP (cost so far $3,100). Still NOT FIXED. We also have a ROAR coming from the rear that isn't the tires and the same tapping/popping noise coming from under the driver side floorboard that wasn't there before I took it to Ford for repairs. If you find a fix please let me know!!!! Thanks.

 

I had the same problem. Expo has a problem with the motor mounts. There is a vibration at about 45 miles per hour then worse again above 60. The motor mounts allow the engine to shift which cracks an exhaust bracket at the transmission mount. If you replace the motor mounts and the exhaust bracket the noise should go away. In replacing the motor mounts there is a procedure for leveling the engine which is very critical to removing the noise. This is written in one of the Ford technical bulletins.

 

Thanks for the information. I spoke to the fella at Ford that's trying to repair my Expedition. I told him what you said and his response was
"We adjusted the motor mounts and replaced the exhaust bracket and it didn't help. We're swapping out the driveshaft to see if that helps right now..." I said so you didn't REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS, you just adjusted them. He said that usually if that is the problem, adjusting them will get "most of the vibration out".

I doubt they will ever do what I ask of them.

How do you force a repair that they don't want to do? Why don't they just do the TSB the way it's instructed? Laziness? Stupidity?

After two weeks in the shop, I'm wondering if I will EVER get my EXP back! If I do, I would bet it will still be messed up.

My a/c still doesn't work. He said that if we take the fuse out for the rear a/c, that the front a/ c works BUT we won't be able to use our power driver seat adjustment cause it uses the same fuse. So how do we adjust the seat then?

WHAT A NIGHTMARE THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE!!!

 

If it vibrates while in Park, it's not the driveline, it has to be engine or tranny related. If you disconnect the torque converter from the engine (quite easy to do), and the problem still exists, then it's the engine. The first things I would look at are the fan and clutch, motor mounts, harmonic balancer, crank pulley, or ignition coils.

With the engine off, you should be able to rotate the fan, but it should not move back and forth (wobble). If it moves back and forth, replace the clutch.

The harmonic balancer could be worn out, which you can only tell by removing it, and at that point, just might as well replace it.

The crankshaft pulley, you can try to look at it with the engine running and see if it wobbles.

Motormounts, have someone put it in and out of D and R while it's idling, and see how much the engine moves. It should move some, but not a whole lot.

For the coils, you have to remove them and check their resistance.

As for the rear AC blowing the fuse, I would bet it's the rear blower motor.

 

I picked up our Expediton after 15 days at Ford. IT STILL VIBRATES AT 60+ MPH. I cannot believe it. They said they can continue to work on it if I want to continue to PAY... They have adjusted the motor mounts and exhaust, swapped out the driveshaft, replaced the rear bearings, balanced the tires, aligned it, raised up the air compression ride system, and that's it to try to correct the vibration. The torque converter has been replaced prior to them having it. Ford also re-routed the wiring harness, fixed the A/C problem that they caused while they had it (wiring had a knick), and did a tune-up... The service manager resorted back to the TIRES after a $1885.00 bill saying that they were "out of round". Why wasn't that mentioned before now I thought? Why wasn't that found when they balanced the tires in the first week they had it? Two weeks to figure it's the tires??? Gimme a break!!!

I told the service manager I was unsatisfied with the repairs and my initial main complaint hasn't been resolved. He offered a "discount"... no actual numbers though. I told him I would just call the owner of the dealership and try to work out my complaints with him. The service manager asked why I needed to do that, and I said because I am unsatisfied with having my Exp. there for 15 days and it's not repaired to my satisfaction! Then he said he'll see if he can find some different rims/tires around his lot off another vehicle (even though they have new tires stacked up all over the place) to try out on Monday. He said just to take our Exp. on home for now and we'd see about it next week. WE DIDN'T PAY A PENNY of our almost $2000 bill, AND HE SENT US ON OUR WAY.... I found that to be very strange. My friends and family think we'll never hear from them again and won't ever have to pay but I find that hard to believe after they've struggled with it for 2 weeks....

WHAT DO YALL THINK???

 

Sounds about right. Pretty typical of dealerships. Most of the time, they try to treat the symptom, not the problem. I am right there with you, but not so lucky. I didn't leave the dealership without paying last time. What is your next course of action? Are you going to replace the tires? If so, let me know how that works. I don't think that is my problem. I do have the shake, which could be the tires. But, I also have a vibration noise coming from the rear end. If it were tires, the noise would shift from rear to front when I rotated the tires. I have done that and no difference is noted. If I were you, before I invested in a new set of tires, I would rotate them and see what happens. If you problem is still coming from the same area, it is likely not the tires. Good luck.

 

I have just today "replaced the rear bearings" and have noticed a roar in the back end. This was not at all noticed prior to! 05/ 15/ 04 .

So..it would be logical to ***/u/me that you did, like me ,noticed a slight drainage of fluid from the rear end. SOOOO...you had the bearings replaced.

Now..I'm thinking "The gears in the back end has been stationary" for WHAT? 100,000 ? (Give or take)

Replacing the bearings has shifted the contact points of the gears, the wear has made it's impression .

Now... the gear's has a new "RIDE" on the high points of the drive..so a roar can be expected for awhile.

My advice would be to insure you have 75/140 gear lube in the back end (manf. req.) Use a synthetic ... The Expos have no lower drain and you may have to syphon the old fluid.

Do not put 90 weight in your veh. (back end) unless you have a four wheel drive, this weight goes in the FRONT. 75W90

Hope ya may gain from the ...

cobrah.

I'm in the same corner as you, and would appreciate any feed back you may have.. I don't need "nomoexpence" $$$$