timsexcursion
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• Northeast, VT, USA |
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• Registered on 2/8/2004 |
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• 27 posts |
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 Posted:1/8/2007 16:53 |
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I have the rear end vibration that several people have posted on here. It starts around about 50mph and gets pretty bad at 65 or so. I feel this vibration in my seat, on the floor, but not in the steering wheel. It seems to be coming from the rear. I needed to replace my tires so all 4 were replaced. I then took a file and very lightly dressed the mating surfaces of the wheels to the truck. I then torqued everything with a torque wrench. The vibration was exactly the same. I unbolted the front of the drive shaft and rotated it 180 degrees. Still a vibration. I replaced both u-joints on the main drive shaft and the vibration only got sharper. I then had a drive line shop remove my drive shaft and straighten it. Turns out it was 40 thousandths (.004) out, which though not much, they straightened it anyway. (I never take my truck off road by the way). The vibration remained unchanged. It was also discovered that I had metal in my rear end on the magnet of the drain plug. The mechanic said he thought the limited slip clutches were locked up and causing a shudder. He took the cover off the rear and everything looked good. Replaced the oil and lifted the truck and placed a block of wood under each rear wheel separately and lowered the truck onto the wood to force each side to turn independently of the other. This seemed to free up the clutches. Again, no change to vibration. Drove the truck a thousand miles and now I have metal on the drain plug magnet again. I'm thinking the pinion bearing might be bad, but the metal makes me think the ring gear and pinion would need to be replaced if that were where it came from. Since I'm no expert, I wondered about just swapping out the rear assembly for a late model Superduty truck at a salvage yard. Does anyone know where I can get info on interchangeability for my Excursion?
Thanks.
2000 Excursion
3.73 Limited Slip
7.3L A/T 4WD
Tim
2000 Ford Excursion 7.3L
Superchips 'Tow Safe'
K&N Air Filter - Stock Airbox
Tru-Cool 4490 Trans Cooler
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NASCAR-Mike
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• Richmond, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 9/14/2005 |
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• 20 posts |
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Posted:1/9/2007 06:45 |
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If you think it's the ring and pinion gears, why not replace them? They will typically be in the $250 range for ring & pinion. I would buy new bearings too.
I would hate to swap out a used rear into the X and find out it has problems with that too.
Is it possible the axles are bent?
2005 Ford Excursion Eddie Bauer 6.0 diesel
1996 Ford Crown Victoria P74
1994 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 SUPERCHARGED |
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timsexcursion
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• Northeast, VT, USA |
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• Registered on 2/8/2004 |
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• 27 posts |
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Posted:1/9/2007 06:57 |
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The problem is, I don't know what to think. I can just see a shop getting inside and having to replace everything for big bucks. I thought a complete rear assy. from a 1 or 2 year old salvage truck might be cheaper. Maybe I'm wrong.
2000 Ford Excursion 7.3L
Superchips 'Tow Safe'
K&N Air Filter - Stock Airbox
Tru-Cool 4490 Trans Cooler
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:1/9/2007 14:51 |
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Have you tried finding a tire store that has one of those machines that measures tire balance while the wheels are still on the vehicle? If it's not the tires, wheels, U-joints or driveshaft, maybe this ugly monster will show its head when its spiining your wheels on such a machine. BTW, like NASCAR-Mike said, has anyone checked for a bent axle? That's not outside the realm of possibilities. |
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timsexcursion
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• Northeast, VT, USA |
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• Registered on 2/8/2004 |
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• 27 posts |
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Posted:1/10/2007 01:25 |
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I really live out in the middle of nowhere. The nearest decent driveline shop would be anywhere from 1 to 3 hours away. I didn't think about a bent axle...seems odd with normal driving but maybe.
2000 Ford Excursion 7.3L
Superchips 'Tow Safe'
K&N Air Filter - Stock Airbox
Tru-Cool 4490 Trans Cooler
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David Rush
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• Greenville, SC, USA |
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• Registered on 4/11/2004 |
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• 233 posts |
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Posted:1/10/2007 22:32 |
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While I have not had this problem myself, I have read about it numerous times in the forum. The driveshaft and or u joints are often the problem. Apparently, the drive shaft may be out of balance. I don't know if you made any mods to your X but if you raised it and changed the angle of the driveshaft, it is a possibility that it is your problem. I am guessing but you said when you changed u joints that the vibration became sharper. I would assume new u joints would have less play than brand new ones and if the shaft is out of balance, it could magnify the problem. It's just a thought and a lot less expensive route to check out and replace. Hope this helps!
 David |
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timsexcursion
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• Northeast, VT, USA |
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• Registered on 2/8/2004 |
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• 27 posts |
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Posted:1/11/2007 02:15 |
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Thanks David, but my Excursion is completely stock except for the mods listed below. As I said in my first post, I pretty much started with the driveshaft. After the ujoints were replaced, I had it straightened (and balanced). I think the metal showing up in the rear end is tell tale of something awry in there. I'm pretty much convinced that the pinion bearing will be next on my list. I will also use a dial indicator on my rear wheels to check for a bent axle.
2000 Ford Excursion 7.3L
Superchips 'Tow Safe'
K&N Air Filter - Stock Airbox
Tru-Cool 4490 Trans Cooler
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:1/15/2007 17:37 |
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| Quote: | | I really live out in the middle of nowhere. The nearest decent driveline shop would be anywhere from 1 to 3 hours away. I didn't think about a bent axle...seems odd with normal driving but maybe. |
You don't necessarily need a driveline shop to check this. Many tire stores have equipment to balance tires/wheels right on the car. If you're willing to pay for a "balance job," I'm sure such a store would be glad to run each wheel up to speed to see where the vibration may be originating.
BTW, I love the skiing up in VT! I often pick on the Virginia Tech folks at work with their "VT" emblems on almost everything .... "Oh! I see you've been to Vermont." Why is it that it only takes four years to go through college, but a lifetime to get over it? |
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