Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264169] |
Mon, 13 October 2014 20:49 |
GMCNUSA
Messages: 283 Registered: August 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I bought a used Ford E150 custom van. It had a 63 to 80 mph shake mostly in the body not much in the steering wheel. After many tire store rebalances and rotations I was told the problem was the cheap tires had problems but could not be warrantied. So we are going on a big trip and I bought 4 new Michelins. The vibration is the same even when rebalanced and rotated nothing changes still shakes. Today I removed drive shaft and had new u joints and shaft straightened and balanced. NO change in vibration level. So I checked wheel runout and all 4 aluminum wheels were less than .010 wobble. Can brake drums out of balance cause vibration? Or what?
Larry Dilk
Indianapolis, IN
76 Eleganza II
Patterson 455,Turbo City TBI,
Just LOVE It!
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264189 is a reply to message #264169] |
Mon, 13 October 2014 23:14 |
roy1
Messages: 2126 Registered: July 2004 Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Does it vibrate when you put the trans in neutral? If it still vibrates in neutral you can rule out he motor and flex plate. A lot of brake drums have a balance weight that could come off but discs are usually drilled for balance.
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264190 is a reply to message #264169] |
Mon, 13 October 2014 23:20 |
mrgmc3
Messages: 210 Registered: September 2013 Location: W Washington
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Anything that rotates can cause an imbalance. You have covered the basics but there are many other components that can cause an imbalance such as drums, front hubs, prop shafts etc. I would suggest trying a GM dealer that knows how to use an Electronic Vibration Analyzer (EVA). Ford may have an equivalent tool. It is a required tool but not all techs or dealers know how to use it. It is essentially a single-axis accelerometer that will display the frequency of the vibration. When you know the frequency at a given speed you can start to root cause the vibration. Wheels / rotors / hubs will operate at one frequency for a given road speed. The prop shaft will operate at 3x this freq (or whatever your final drive is) etc. Engine components and accessories at still other frequencies, depending on their relative rotational speed.
If it is a wheel / tire imbalance you might want to seek out a tire shop with a Hunter "road force balancer". Hunter's website will list shops in your area . This balancer applies a roller to simulate the road surface. I had my GMC wheels and tire balanced by one of these machines recently and it made a big difference.
Chris Geils - Twin Cities / W Wa
1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; PD9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, Alcoas, 54k mi
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264191 is a reply to message #264169] |
Mon, 13 October 2014 23:45 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Have you tried spin balancing the tires on the vehicle?
Spin balancing will balance everything associated with that wheel. It will also help determine which wheel or wheels are causing or are associated with the problem.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264201 is a reply to message #264169] |
Tue, 14 October 2014 06:37 |
skip2
Messages: 544 Registered: September 2011 Location: Winter Haven,FL (center o...
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
If it has a 2 piece driveshaft make sure the yokes and u-joints are synchronized. Can't remember the exact configuration but I know I fought it in my old Datsun pickup after a clutch change and the driveshaft wasn't put back in the original way. I'm sure it can be found online and you know it will be true.
Skip Hartline
74 Canyon Lands, FiTech,
3.7 FD LSD, Manny Tranny,
Springfield Distributor,
2001 Chevy Tracker Ragtop Towd
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264205 is a reply to message #264201] |
Tue, 14 October 2014 07:12 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
He brings up an interesting point. If it has a 2 piece drive shaft, the center carrier bearing can go bad and cause problem like that. I have replaced a few in the past. Grab the drive shaft and try to move it side to side near the bearing and look for play. You might as well lube it (if possible) while you are there.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264206 is a reply to message #264169] |
Tue, 14 October 2014 07:31 |
skip2
Messages: 544 Registered: September 2011 Location: Winter Haven,FL (center o...
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Another thought would be I've had the slider for the rear shaft like the GMC steering shaft freeze and will have all kind of weird symptoms.
Skip
74 Canyon Lands, FiTech,
3.7 FD LSD, Manny Tranny,
Springfield Distributor,
2001 Chevy Tracker Ragtop Towd
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264220 is a reply to message #264206] |
Tue, 14 October 2014 10:47 |
Harry
Messages: 1888 Registered: October 2007 Location: Victoria, BC CANADA
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Quote:
I have run into a couple of cars with what felt like a wheel vibration or shudder feeling that actually turned out to be the lockup converter acting up. It was always between 50 and 60 mph.
is there a chance that there is a crack in the frame or something strange that when the harmonics are just right, the vibration happens? If you put it into second instead of 3rd, does it do the same thing? Have you coasted in neutral with the engine shut off?t)
[Updated on: Tue, 14 October 2014 10:51] Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264223 is a reply to message #264169] |
Tue, 14 October 2014 12:04 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447 Registered: October 2006 Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
|
Senior Member |
|
|
You never really tell us if it's
Prop shaft speed
Wheel speed
Random oscillation.
I'm rulling out Prop for now as this would be very high freq at 80 MPH
You should have disturbed or upset wheel issue by getting new tires
So--- you should check all front end parts, rear springs eyes and for leaf cracks and really check the shocks by bench testing. They can not leak and still be failed internally. This would allow the oscillation to start and develop unteathered into a shake. I think they also used a steering shock damper. Grease all fittings and replace Ford caps with zerks where applicable. Check trans and engine mounts and the vibration canceling weight thingy near the tailshaft. That's about all I know about ford vans other than if the ride height is wrong the front camber will be way off.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264243 is a reply to message #264169] |
Tue, 14 October 2014 16:01 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946 Registered: July 2013 Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
GMCNUSA wrote on Mon, 13 October 2014 18:49I bought a used Ford E150 custom van. It had a 63 to 80 mph shake mostly in the body not much in the steering wheel. After many tire store rebalances and rotations I was told the problem was the cheap tires had problems but could not be warrantied. So we are going on a big trip and I bought 4 new Michelins. The vibration is the same even when rebalanced and rotated nothing changes still shakes. Today I removed drive shaft and had new u joints and shaft straightened and balanced. NO change in vibration level. So I checked wheel runout and all 4 aluminum wheels were less than .010 wobble. Can brake drums out of balance cause vibration? Or what?
You have a Ford van that will go 80? I've never driven a Ford van that I would feel at all comfortable going 80, even if it would go that fast.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
|
|
|
Re: Non GMC need help! Vibration at 70 mph in Ford van [message #264399 is a reply to message #264169] |
Thu, 16 October 2014 22:39 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260 Registered: January 2004 Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
GMCNUSA wrote on Mon, 13 October 2014 19:49I bought a used Ford E150 custom van. It had a 63 to 80 mph shake mostly in the body not much in the steering wheel. After many tire store rebalances and rotations I was told the problem was the cheap tires had problems but could not be warrantied. So we are going on a big trip and I bought 4 new Michelins. The vibration is the same even when rebalanced and rotated nothing changes still shakes. Today I removed drive shaft and had new u joints and shaft straightened and balanced. NO change in vibration level. So I checked wheel runout and all 4 aluminum wheels were less than .010 wobble. Can brake drums out of balance cause vibration? Or what?
You need to describe or try to explain the vibration in order to figure it out. Suspension related vibration will be about 15 hz while driveline issues will be 100hz at least. I know that is a tough call but if it shakes your belly, it is suspension related. If it irritates your ears or vibrates you finger while on the shifter, it will be engine or driveline related.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
|
|
|