99 Ranger vibrating severely

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Dec 28, 2009 | 08:54 AM

muddyriverdogz

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Joined: Dec 2009

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99 Ranger vibrating severely

My 99 4x4 Ranger just starts vibrating for no reason.When i bring it to a stop it stops and then i will continue on right out of the blue it does it again.It will stop after i bring the truck to a stop.The vibrating is bad with a grinding noise.What is wrong?

It also seems like a bump in the road can trigger it.It is imediate grinding vibrating and you have to bring the truck to a stop,kind of scary.Then it stops when the truck stops.Then i can continue on until i hit another bump and bang it goes again.I have never seen anything like it.It vibrates the hole floor of the cab and the sterring and its lowd..

Dec 28, 2009 | 11:49 PM

Areyouforcereal?

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 123

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From: Victoria, Tx

Check the front wheel bearings / hubs. Jack up the front tires then grab the top and bottom of the tire and shake it. It should not have any play in it. If it does replaces the bearings. Not sure how the 99's are set up, but on my 03 the bearings are made into the hub, so the whole hub has to be replaced. Kinda pricey, i've changed 3 on my truck allready.

Dec 29, 2009 | 10:31 AM

mfp4073

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 1,726

Likes: 10

From: down south

If you are not already doing this, I am going to suggest you DO NOT DRIVE IT until you figure this out. Front end parts fail and the vehicle makes a sudden hard right or left turn. In slow speeds/traffic its a bad accident. At highway speeds it can cause a rollover and kill you very easily.

First thing to do is get that front end in the air and take the wheels off and do a visual inspection. Also look at driveshaft/Ujoints/flanges. Something is moving around thats not supposed to. That is causing something to be out of balance and causing the vibration (vibration worse when you hear the grinding?) Look for bare metal/scoring etc.

Let us know what you find...DO NOT PUT THIS OFF.

Dec 30, 2009 | 08:15 AM

NewEnglandHerdsman

Lead Driver

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 5,947

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From: in the woods of MA

Check the motor and transmission mounts also...

Jan 6, 2011 | 08:06 PM

muddyriverdogz

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Joined: Dec 2009

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Scratching my head.
The transfer case seems to be trying to go from 2WD into 4WD high every time i hit a bump in the road.It starts grinding when I hit a bump in the road.The only time it doesn't do it is when it's locked into 4 wheel drive.I have the truck locked in 4 wheel drive high all the time now so it won't do it.Everything on the front end has been replaced.We have tore the transfer case apart twice,rebuilt it the first time.There is nothing wrong inside of it.

Jan 8, 2011 | 08:49 PM

dakota_viking

Elder User

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 753

Likes: 2

From: Oklahoma

It sounds to me like one of the pulse vacuum locking hubs is engaging when you are hitting a bump. If this happens, it throws the driveline into an unbalanced state. One of the springs in one of the hubs could be bad.

By having the 4 wheel drive engaged, it keeps the differential turning and stopping the vibration.

I had a very similar issue with my 99 XLT extended cab. I solved my problem by replacing the PVL hubs with manual lockouts. Took less than 20 minutes and works great!

Good luck with your truck.

Tim

Jan 10, 2011 | 03:17 PM

99offroadrngr

Junior User

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 91

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From: Massachusetts

I'll second the hub/bearing assembly. I'd check it out or get it checked out it is dangerous driving around like that. if you're on the highway and it finally gives out you could be at serious risk of injury.

if it was the pulse vacuum hubs it would make a POP noise. everytime