1996 Ford Ranger noises and shakes

JHARTSOCK3

MEMBER
1996 FORD RANGER
6 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
11,300 MILES

I have a 96 ranger elt with the v-6. I have recently had new tires and brakes. I changed wheel bearing on the front, and did a completed tune up with new serpentine belt.

I have devoleped a shake at 40+ mph almost like I have thrown a wheel weight but they are all still their. I also have a winning noise coming from underneeth thransmission area drive line area. The winning is more noticeable under braking and costing under slow speed and goes away when stopped. It is also more noticeable when the car is cold. My question is could this be caused by bad cv joints and if so how do I tell which one or more of the three I have is bad. Or am I focusing on the wrong are. Is this a possible transmission problem or a combination of problems.

I don't know if this will make a diffrence but I do have a slight leek from one of the powerstering lines that I have not had time to fix just yet.

Any help would be apreciated.

5 Replies

JAMES W.

MECHANIC
2,394 POSTS

Oise just start when the new tires were installed? I've had brand new tires off the shelf go bad in a couple of weeks. Please advise.

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Sunday, April 12th, 2009 AT 6:25 PM

JHARTSOCK3

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3 POSTS

I have had the tires a couple of months and the sound was their before the tires. But the shaking and virbration just started a couple of days ago. It has been about a month and a half since I replaced the front wheel bearings. And I don't know why I said cv joints I ment U joints their are three on my drive shafts just thought I should correct that.

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Monday, April 13th, 2009 AT 10:49 AM

JAMES W.

MECHANIC
2,394 POSTS

OK, I would take another good look at the U-joints. Check them with the truck in neutral so there's no tension on them.
If U-joints check out OK, we go back to tires. Do you feel the vibration more in the seat or in the steering wheel? If one more so than the other, switch your tires front to rear and see if the shaking follows. Let me know.

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Monday, April 13th, 2009 AT 11:15 AM

JHARTSOCK3

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I will try your sujestions tommorrow rainning today, I just got back and it is worse. It will come and go though I checked the lug nuts all are tight front wheels fell a little sloppy with the truck weight on them have a little play I will check all front suppension and wheel bearings when I flopp the tires how do I actually tell it the u joints are bad. Do I just jack the truck up and shake the drive shaft and look for play or is their another way. Also tommorrrow I am going to change the dif fluid How to I check to make sure every thing in there is good.

Thanks for your help
Justin

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Monday, April 13th, 2009 AT 12:50 PM

JAMES W.

MECHANIC
2,394 POSTS

A wheel bearing , as a rule, won't shake unless they are "COMPLETELY" shot. They may make a whole lot of noise, but not shake.
In checking the U-joints, be sure the trans is in nuetral so you have no torque on the driveshaft. When checking them, your looking for any twisting or up/down movement of any joint. If a joint is so bad that it shakes the truck, it shouldn't be hard to spot.