Vibration at 42 mph
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Vibration at 42 mph
I have a 2005 Ranger STX Supercab with about 11,000 miles on it. Recently it has developed some vibration (feels like a slight bounce) when I'm going down the road at about 42 mph. It also seems to happen at 21 mph, so it seems it may be some type of harmonic vibration. Haven't really tried it at 84 mph.
I also feel the vibration when I apply the brakes around this speed, but it's present when I'm just driving down the road. Really annoying since the speed limit on my commute is 40-45 mph. I thought I might have a tire out of balance, so I went and had them rotated and balanced. This resulted in no improvement.
Is it possible that the rotors are warped and this has caused them to be out of balance at this speed? Any other ideas on what might be causing this? I think that if this is a warped rotor issue I'll try to get the dealer to fix this under the warranty.
I was also curious if anyone has experience running aftermarket rotors on their Ranger. I noticed that Advanced Auto Parts had Brembo rotors that are compatible with stock calipers in their ad this weekend. They are cross-drilled; I don't know if this would help to reduce warping and wear or not.
Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Mike Bayler.
I also feel the vibration when I apply the brakes around this speed, but it's present when I'm just driving down the road. Really annoying since the speed limit on my commute is 40-45 mph. I thought I might have a tire out of balance, so I went and had them rotated and balanced. This resulted in no improvement.
Is it possible that the rotors are warped and this has caused them to be out of balance at this speed? Any other ideas on what might be causing this? I think that if this is a warped rotor issue I'll try to get the dealer to fix this under the warranty.
I was also curious if anyone has experience running aftermarket rotors on their Ranger. I noticed that Advanced Auto Parts had Brembo rotors that are compatible with stock calipers in their ad this weekend. They are cross-drilled; I don't know if this would help to reduce warping and wear or not.
Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Mike Bayler.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
stupid forums deleted my reply.
Long reply short:
out of balance tires (you checked)
out of balance driveshaft (prolly not)
Is it coming from one specific location or just in general? Does it vibrate worse on one side than the other?
If it's under warranty it wouldn't be bad to take it to the dealer.
RP
Zach
Long reply short:
out of balance tires (you checked)
out of balance driveshaft (prolly not)
Is it coming from one specific location or just in general? Does it vibrate worse on one side than the other?
If it's under warranty it wouldn't be bad to take it to the dealer.
RP
Zach
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
Could be a number of things, seeing as how it's under warranty & it's mileage is so low, I'd get he problem on te record & let the Dealer sort this out.
Be sure to tell them about the tire balance & rotation, with no results.
Did the problem come about suddenly after some event, or slowly over time????
Be sure to let us know what they find.
Be sure to tell them about the tire balance & rotation, with no results.
Did the problem come about suddenly after some event, or slowly over time????
Be sure to let us know what they find.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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wondering what fixed it?
Originally Posted by mdbayler
I have a 2005 Ranger STX Supercab with about 11,000 miles on it. Recently it has developed some vibration (feels like a slight bounce) when I'm going down the road at about 42 mph. It also seems to happen at 21 mph, so it seems it may be some type of harmonic vibration. Haven't really tried it at 84 mph.
I also feel the vibration when I apply the brakes around this speed, but it's present when I'm just driving down the road. Really annoying since the speed limit on my commute is 40-45 mph. I thought I might have a tire out of balance, so I went and had them rotated and balanced. This resulted in no improvement.
Is it possible that the rotors are warped and this has caused them to be out of balance at this speed? Any other ideas on what might be causing this? I think that if this is a warped rotor issue I'll try to get the dealer to fix this under the warranty.
I was also curious if anyone has experience running aftermarket rotors on their Ranger. I noticed that Advanced Auto Parts had Brembo rotors that are compatible with stock calipers in their ad this weekend. They are cross-drilled; I don't know if this would help to reduce warping and wear or not.
Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Mike Bayler.
I also feel the vibration when I apply the brakes around this speed, but it's present when I'm just driving down the road. Really annoying since the speed limit on my commute is 40-45 mph. I thought I might have a tire out of balance, so I went and had them rotated and balanced. This resulted in no improvement.
Is it possible that the rotors are warped and this has caused them to be out of balance at this speed? Any other ideas on what might be causing this? I think that if this is a warped rotor issue I'll try to get the dealer to fix this under the warranty.
I was also curious if anyone has experience running aftermarket rotors on their Ranger. I noticed that Advanced Auto Parts had Brembo rotors that are compatible with stock calipers in their ad this weekend. They are cross-drilled; I don't know if this would help to reduce warping and wear or not.
Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Mike Bayler.
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My problem ended up being a seriously out of balance tire. This resulted in some bad tire wear that caused the vibration. I had it adjusted about 3,000 miles ago and it seems that the tires have worn enough that most of the vibration is gone.
I do still have some vibration when I am braking. I'm guessing that this is related to the ABS sensors kicking in a little too early.
I do still have some vibration when I am braking. I'm guessing that this is related to the ABS sensors kicking in a little too early.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
The vibration when braking, makes me want to suspect wheel lug nuts that aren't properly torqued up & have warped a rotor some.
If you feel the vibration in the steering wheel, suspect one of the front wheels, so go there & loosen all the lugnuts in a star pattern, a little at a time, then retorque them equally, in a star pattern, in a 3 step sequence & see how it goes.
If you feel the vibration in the steering wheel, suspect one of the front wheels, so go there & loosen all the lugnuts in a star pattern, a little at a time, then retorque them equally, in a star pattern, in a 3 step sequence & see how it goes.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
I ran into this one on a Taurus car - it may or may not be a part of your mystery.
Car had a vibe most of the time, hella vibration when brakes were put on, but I was told that while the wiff had it and I was away in Bremerton a Goodyear shop had replaced a CV axle so I didn't think much about it.
Turned out that in messing with the CV axles GoodSHAFT had tried prying off the brake rotors (which had stamped steel centers and iron overlay) instead of using a puller - and they were bent so badly they were just plain wrecked.
The bent rotors caused a caliper wobble that had to be seen to be believed!
Needless to say the replacement rotors were installed BY ME and they were straight FORGED one piece rotors.
Car had a vibe most of the time, hella vibration when brakes were put on, but I was told that while the wiff had it and I was away in Bremerton a Goodyear shop had replaced a CV axle so I didn't think much about it.
Turned out that in messing with the CV axles GoodSHAFT had tried prying off the brake rotors (which had stamped steel centers and iron overlay) instead of using a puller - and they were bent so badly they were just plain wrecked.
The bent rotors caused a caliper wobble that had to be seen to be believed!
Needless to say the replacement rotors were installed BY ME and they were straight FORGED one piece rotors.
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