Front End Vibration

[VMARAUDER]

I have been getting some wheel shimmy at say 60 and above that does not happen all the time. My shimmy appears to be like the wheels need balancing but my friend at a local repair shop has balanced them 3 times for me. I checked ball joints and shocks and tie rod ends for wear, they appear to be ok. What I did find, if while the engine is off I move the steering wheel slightly frrom left to right I hear a knock and traced it to the driverside tie rod but can't tell if it's coming from the tie rod or the rack. Any suggestions will be much appreciated.

[blackhueys]

Road force balance the tires this is almost a requirement for our marauders alot of posts relating to this as well. A regular balance never works on my car ever. as for your tie rods they should have very little to no play in them mine feel almost solid.

[VMARAUDER]

well, the play from the tie rod to the rack to me would produce the shimmy but the ball joint end appears to be solid.

[JBFTech]

+1 on the roadforce balance. Any abnormal tire wear? If you get out on the highway and it starts vibrating, does it go away after 10 - 20 miles? What tires do you have? As for the knock, if you can't feel it while checking for play at the wheels, if everything feels solid at the wheels, it mostly likely is not the cause.


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[VMARAUDER]

Sometimes there is a slight vibration and more at 75 to 90 and then sometimes none or so little it's no more than road shoch\k. going to get the roadforce balance in a day or 2 and will post the results. I have 105k on it and over the winter I plan to change shocks and maybe all the front end components. Also rear upper and lower control arms

[lifespeed]

It can be difficult to find play in the suspension. Typically you need a long pry bar to apply force to the tires with the front end in the air. But then it is in an "unnatural" position in the range of motion.

Loose suspension is a pretty typical cause of vibration, especially if it comes and goes. Out of balance tires will vibrate pretty consistently.

Your idea of rebuilding the front suspension is probably spot-on. At 105K miles you surely have worn suspension parts. I'm doing the same to mine at 97K. Unfortunately it is expensive, but not as much $$ as buying a new car! And who would want to replace their Marauder with something inferior anyway?

[VMARAUDER]

All set...RFB took care of it and not it drives just as it did when I first rescued it. my friend and I inspected the front suspension and everything looked tight. So, I had all 4 wheels "Road Force Balanced" As far as expense on the suspension, the MARAUDER I would say is worth it in almost all cases. I am looking at finishing the exhaust, getting the brakes and doing the suspension, 4.10 and possibly the 31 spline axels next year and then paint to come if not the following year then in 2015. This is a keeper and people don't bother to ask if I want to sell it, I guess by the way I look when they think they want to ask. Another thing that makes my Red Car unique is that I managed to get a Ford rebuilt long block on my ESP December of 2011. It will be around for a while...