Tires vibrate and shake

Hello,
I have a 2000 Ford Explorer XLT AWD V8. My vehicle recently developed a problem with the tires shaking when I jog the wheel back and forth at a stand still or in gear. Could it have something to do with it being All Wheel Drive and having a malfunction, thinking the wheels are slipping? Anyone have a similar problem. I changed the Power steering fluid, thinking perhaps it needed to be changed or possibly air in the lines, but haven't noticed any difference. Also, around the same time my battery dies after being left for 8 hours or longer and the engine not being started, the reverse sensors "disable" when shifted into reverse (supposed to automatically "enable" in reverse). Please Help!!

Sorry to admit it, but steering wheel shudder plagues a large portion of the Exsploders on the road :banghead: . In some cases its caused by fluid aeration, fluid breakdown, or metering orifice issues. We've been fighting this beast for quite a while. In some cases its just a matter of vaccuuming the air from the fluid in the system with a vaccuum brake bleeder and adapter after replaceing the fluid, and then gritting the teethe and driveing it till the shudder finally GETS LOST AND DIES ON SOME FORSAKEN BACK ROAD! :angryfire :cya: (I'm ok now :naughty: ) But in some cases the Intermmittent shudder just won't be shaken! :sorry: Hope thats not the case in yours :)

Hello,
I have a 2000 Ford Explorer XLT AWD V8. My vehicle recently developed a problem with the tires shaking when I jog the wheel back and forth at a stand still or in gear. Could it have something to do with it being All Wheel Drive and having a malfunction, thinking the wheels are slipping? Anyone have a similar problem. I changed the Power steering fluid, thinking perhaps it needed to be changed or possibly air in the lines, but haven't noticed any difference. Also, around the same time my battery dies after being left for 8 hours or longer and the engine not being started, the reverse sensors "disable" when shifted into reverse (supposed to automatically "enable" in reverse). Please Help!!
have run into that a few times with explorers. the front end vibrating while turning the steering wheel at a standstill and while moving.turned out to be worn inner tie rods on the rack and pinion steering however the vibration was also accompanied by a front end noise.the proper way to check for this is by doing a "dry park" check. kinda hard to do though without a drive on lift to raise the truck up.maybe a trusted local shop will be curtious enough to check them for free and have them show you if there is in fact play on the tie rods.i doubt the AWD will cause the front end shaking you describe while at a complete standstill however i do not profess to have much experience with 4WD or AWD.as for your battery dying after 8 hours, perhaps a bad battery? most parts stores will check a battery for free.if the battery is good then a parasitic drain is also possible.make sure the top of tha battery is clean and that the posts/terminals are clean and corrosion free also as this is a common cause for misdiagnosis of a battery.

Hello,
I have a 2000 Ford Explorer XLT AWD V8. My vehicle recently developed a problem with the tires shaking when I jog the wheel back and forth at a stand still or in gear. Could it have something to do with it being All Wheel Drive and having a malfunction, thinking the wheels are slipping? Anyone have a similar problem. I changed the Power steering fluid, thinking perhaps it needed to be changed or possibly air in the lines, but haven't noticed any difference. Also, around the same time my battery dies after being left for 8 hours or longer and the engine not being started, the reverse sensors "disable" when shifted into reverse (supposed to automatically "enable" in reverse). Please Help!!

I had a 99 with that shudder when new, dealer did a couple of steering racks, did not go away.

I was able to get rid of it by changing to Mobil1 synthetic ATF. POSSIBLY cause the synthetic does not get air bubbles in it as readily. However, when you drain the power steering fluid reservoir, it does not change the fluid in the rack or the jigh pressure line. So you need to drive it to mix the old and new fluid, then drain and refill again to get closer to 100% fluid change.

Also, when draining, take a flashlight and look into the bottom of the reservoir. There is a small screen which filters fluid - make sure it is clean. Have heard of it being blocked and causing this.

Thanks for the ideas! I did change the fluid with Mobil 1 synthetic, and the screen inside the reservoir had metal shavings all over. I was able to clean most of them off, but it still has not made a difference. I will take it to a shop tomorrow, and have the front end inspected. Thanks Again.....

Thanks for the ideas! I did change the fluid with Mobil 1 synthetic, and the screen inside the reservoir had metal shavings all over. I was able to clean most of them off, but it still has not made a difference. I will take it to a shop tomorrow, and have the front end inspected. Thanks Again.....

Metal shavings is never a good thing. Those shavings may be the cause of the shudder - something in the rack possibly going bad. FYI a rebuilt steering rack was about 450 at Ford, I think you can get them at Rockauto online for under 200.