E-350 Shimmy/Shake
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E-350 Shimmy/Shake
I'm not real sure where to post this so I'm trying here. There is no spot for vans. Anyway, do you guys know of some fix for the 97-04 350 vans. There is a front end shimmy at around 65mph and 75mph. It's not the tires, ball joints, tie rods, brakes, or shocks. The front end was checked and the tires were balanced twice and it still does it. I know I'm not the only one with this problem because I know other people with the same problem with the same truck. There has to be a fix.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Thanks in advance for any info.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: San Francisco
Looking forward to answers to your question as I have a similiar shake around 65 mph. Wheels and tires all balanced, alignment all done as well. I am sitting on a 4WD IRS set up in front 2003 E350 different shocks, steering stabilizer etc and I still have the shake.
I have had the driveshaft checked for balance and it was dead on. The shake isn't bad, just annoying. The passanger seat shakes enough for me to notice and feel it. Seems worse in the back of my van. Let's see what the group comes up.
I have had the driveshaft checked for balance and it was dead on. The shake isn't bad, just annoying. The passanger seat shakes enough for me to notice and feel it. Seems worse in the back of my van. Let's see what the group comes up.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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It took three tire repair shops untill i found out i had a bent rim.I took it to sears auto to have new cams put on,and the tech guys found that the back right rim was bent.He said at one time that rim was on the front left hub,because you can see rub marks on the L-spring.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: San Francisco
My shake is most noticable on a smooth asphalt road but it is tehre on most any surface. Starts right around 65 and gets worse all way up to speed limiter. Wheels and tires are stock and in great shape.
Appreciate any ideas....
Appreciate any ideas....
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
The balancers in most shops are only reliable to about 50mph. They spin the tire 25mph, and because of this aren't accurate above 50 to 55mph. Take the tires to a speed shop and have them done a good balancer.
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From: The Show Me State
All,
pfogle makes a good suggestion, as I've resorted to a speed shop to resolve the same issue for one of my cars. With 68K on ETon's original tires, it's almost time to buy a new set. Because of how I drive (almost all high-speed highway), I plan to have a speed shop mount and balance 'em. I'm sure they'll be amused to be handling 245-16 E-rated tires!
DadVan
pfogle makes a good suggestion, as I've resorted to a speed shop to resolve the same issue for one of my cars. With 68K on ETon's original tires, it's almost time to buy a new set. Because of how I drive (almost all high-speed highway), I plan to have a speed shop mount and balance 'em. I'm sure they'll be amused to be handling 245-16 E-rated tires!
DadVan
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 154
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From: Long Island, New York
Tranny Type?
HelloThere, what type of tranny? My E-250 1994 had shake and shimmy at about 50mph, read a post on here about tourge converter not locking up right and to change trans fluid and filter and it worked! Runs better than ever, 67K on it. Maybe this could be worth checking, Good Luck Kevin-11
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E350 Shimmy/Shake
We had a shimmy as described in your post. Ours occurred after the tires were balanced and rotated. We also replaced the ball joints. The problem did not go away until we re-rotated the tires. Result was a bent rim. When on the rear the problem was not apparent. Good Luck
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Originally Posted by Crash687
does the shimmy change with road types? (cement, asphalt, etc)
does it start after driving on the freeway for a while?
does it start after driving on the freeway for a while?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Vancouver Wash USA
shimmy
I just went through this, I had my tires balanced twice, it never shook prior to the tires though. But I pulled the tires off and had them balanced, it still shook. I ended up at a knowledgeable tire shop where we found broken treads in two of the ties, go figure. But after having the rotors turned, and having the steering checked again and again this is what the problem was. Good luck, hope you find the problem, Ken
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: San Francisco
Well I got mine solved as well. Same as Ken04. Both front tires, original 245/75 16 Goodyear Wrangler HT's had significant sidewall cracking. tires had 32,500 miles Discovered halfway from San Francisco to Los Angeles trip this past weekend.
I was wanting to upgrade the tires and rims anyway so went to a Yokohama Geolander AT 285/75 16 on a 16 x 8 rim. Required a bit of fender mods and valance trimming, but nothing major at all to give them clearance. NO MORE Shimmy, Yeah!!!! Drove the 400 miles back and it was smooth and sweet.
So check those side walls and treads for delamination if you have a shimmy.
As an aside, I have 3.73 gearing and with the 285's it makes it the equivalent to having approx a 3.45 rear end ratio with the stock 245's. With the V10, cruising on the freeway was absolutley no problem. We were loaded up with about 1000 pounds of stuff inside, cruising at 70-75, into a stiff headwind and got a true 13.2 mpg with adjusted for the taller tires. I'll post the mileage from the next more lightly loaded trip to compare the difference in tires. Normally get between 14.5 and 15.
I was wanting to upgrade the tires and rims anyway so went to a Yokohama Geolander AT 285/75 16 on a 16 x 8 rim. Required a bit of fender mods and valance trimming, but nothing major at all to give them clearance. NO MORE Shimmy, Yeah!!!! Drove the 400 miles back and it was smooth and sweet.
So check those side walls and treads for delamination if you have a shimmy.
As an aside, I have 3.73 gearing and with the 285's it makes it the equivalent to having approx a 3.45 rear end ratio with the stock 245's. With the V10, cruising on the freeway was absolutley no problem. We were loaded up with about 1000 pounds of stuff inside, cruising at 70-75, into a stiff headwind and got a true 13.2 mpg with adjusted for the taller tires. I'll post the mileage from the next more lightly loaded trip to compare the difference in tires. Normally get between 14.5 and 15.
