Slight vibration on excelleration..

[DaveWilliams]

Well here is the problem. I just replaced all 4 struts, springs and upper strut bushings on my 96 Taurus at 205,000 miles. The car has been flawless, but since I replaced all the suspension, now I have a slight vibration or shimmy on excelleration. From a dead stop, or speeding up from 45 to 60 or any time I punch the gas, I get a slight vibration or shimmy...not too bad but it was not there before I did the struts and stuff. I am going tomorrow to have the 4 wheel alignment done and tires balanced but not sure what might have caused the shake. It is barely noticeable and it showed up on the first drive after the work. Any suggestions? Everything went back together relatively easy and I KNOW nothing was left loose....Thanks for any help, Dave

[97TaurusGuy]

My guess is that the 4 wheel alignment will take care of it. Whenever you do work on the suspension you are going to through the alignment out. Let us know how the alignment works out for you.

[shorod]

I doubt that an alignment will fix your vibration/shimmy.

Check your tires for cupping or funky wear. If the old struts and/or springs were truly bad or weak, they may have absorbed much of the vibration, or they may have contributed to cupping of the tread. Now that all your suspension is firm, the cupping has become more noticeable.

Also, vibration during acceleration is often caused by a bad inner CV joint. Maybe the joint got damaged during the suspension work, or maybe the inner shaft did not get seated properly into the transaxle during the process.

-Rod

[DaveWilliams]

I took it to Firestone today to take them up on thier lifetime alignment, and they showed me the inner tierod end on the right side has some play in it. The left one was fine, so if it is not too hard to change, or depending on what I hear from you guys the experts, I may change it myself or take it back and have them do it....Let me know if you have any suggestions. They said it took some kind of special tool to get it off and changed.....we shall see....thanks agian, Dave

[shorod]

The inner tie rod end requires a special very deep socket to replace. You may be able to borrow the tool from your local auto parts store. You'll still need to fight the bellows off that covers the inner tie rod end, plus get it adjusted close enough to correct to be able to safely drive it in for the alignment.

If you've never replaced an inner tie rod end, you may want to leave it to the professionals.

-Rod

[Mediarocker543]

Originally Posted by shorod

The inner tie rod end requires a special very deep socket to replace. You may be able to borrow the tool from your local auto parts store. You'll still need to fight the bellows off that covers the inner tie rod end, plus get it adjusted close enough to correct to be able to safely drive it in for the alignment.

If you've never replaced an inner tie rod end, you may want to leave it to the professionals.

-Rod

Just trying to learn a little out of this (new to the suspension bit).. Would just any old deep socket work? SAE or Metric?

[DaveWilliams]

I went to Ebay just to look at what the wrench might look like, and it was like the guy at Firestone described. It is a long kinda like a clamp that goes back toward the rack and holds the inner portion while you undo the locking nut portion of the tierod end. I may just let them fight it cause it was I think about $65 for the tierod end and about $100 or so to put it on. I have the lifetime, (anytime I want) alingment deal from them so they would have it right there to do the alignment when they are done. It was the best $99 I have ever spent, since I take it about every 10,000 miles to get it checked. I started this with about 125,000 on it and now she has 206,600 on it so I have gotten my money's worth getting the max mileage out of the tires. I wore out the Firestones I had on it, then went to Sam's and got goodyears and they still do the alignments. I trust them there so will probably take it there..

[DaveWilliams]

Well I just got the tires balanced, replaced both inner and outter tie rod ends, and had the entire front end gone over and aligned and I still have the vibration, shimmy on acceleration. Not sure what to look at now, but I will keep looking at suggestions....Thanks, Dave

[shorod]

Did you check any of the items mentioned in post #3?

Also, you may try moving the front tires to the rear and the rears to the front. If the vibration moves or appears to go away, the problem is likely tires.

-Rod

[Mediarocker543]

I looked this up in the Taurus/Sable Service Manual.
It says You may have a simple universal joint misalignment, or Your CV (constant-velocity) joint needs replacing because it is worn, sticking or damaged.

[DaveWilliams]

How would I check the inner CV joints? Someone had mentioned that the CV joints might have gotten damaged or misaligned during the strut replacement. What would I have to do to check the CV joints? When I had the alignment done, they checked everything....or as far as looseness and movement in the suspension and drive train but if there is anything I can do to check this out, please let me know. It is still there almost a month later, and there seems to be no ill effects until something comes apart..Hopefully not though...

[Mediarocker543]

Originally Posted by DaveWilliams

How would I check the inner CV joints? Someone had mentioned that the CV joints might have gotten damaged or misaligned during the strut replacement. What would I have to do to check the CV joints? When I had the alignment done, they checked everything....or as far as looseness and movement in the suspension and drive train but if there is anything I can do to check this out, please let me know. It is still there almost a month later, and there seems to be no ill effects until something comes apart..Hopefully not though...

A good way to check if your CV joints are wrecked is by hard accelleration from a dead stop. If your wheel shakes during it, then you got a bad CV joint. The best thing is to go to a good mechanic in your area, ask around. From what i've heard (i've never had to replace one yet) it takes some work to fix. And you have to have all the tools. Its not that simple of a DIY weekend repair. (dont we all wish everything was ) After searching on replacing a CV joint I came across this article on AutoZone.com Replacing a CV Joint (Outboard and Inner) I dont recommend trying it on your own (personally I wouldn't try it myself) So just take it to a recommended mechanic, tell him your problem and what you've done to it, and I hope this works out for you.

[shorod]

It's really not practical anymore to replace just the inner or outer CV joint. Instead, purchase a rebuild halfshaft, which includes the inner and outer joints as an assembly.

Depending on your skill level and if the winters in your area involve salt on the roads, replacing a halfshaft on a Taurus isn't that bad. But, again, this totally depends on how easily you get frustrated, what tools and shelter you have available, etc.

-Rod

[DaveWilliams]

We have done a lot to it already so I would guess the next logical thing would be the half shafts. Since we did the struts, I would hope the half shafts would not be so bad. Anyone done it lately? I will research it and see from my end....Thanks, Dave

Originally Posted by shorod

It's really not practical anymore to replace just the inner or outer CV joint. Instead, purchase a rebuild halfshaft, which includes the inner and outer joints as an assembly.

Depending on your skill level and if the winters in your area involve salt on the roads, replacing a halfshaft on a Taurus isn't that bad. But, again, this totally depends on how easily you get frustrated, what tools and shelter you have available, etc.

-Rod

[Huney1]

Be thankful you can do most of your own work. A female friend took her 99 Crown Vic to the Ford dealer for brakes and they told her the differential seal was leaking but she never saw a spot of oil on the driveway. Husband out of town working so she told them fix it and they called back and said the shocks were so badly worn she was taking her life in her hands when she drove it off the lot. She said fix it. 130K on it so replaced the plugs to and a few other normal maintenance items. Went to pick it up the bill was $1800.00 ! ! ! Get this: Four shocks and labor to replace a little over $800.00 ! ! ! which did not include front end alignment. I told her she should'a called me and I know a shop that would have done all that for a whole lot less money, . . probably half as much.

You know, this business about taking your Ford "home to your friendly Ford dealer" for service is one big bag of Bravo Sierra - BS. I hate it when anyone uses scare tactics and she said that is the last dime of her money they will ever get. IMO, that is a fairly common occcurence with Ford dealers and that is another reason they are having record losses while Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are growing in leaps and bounds with record profits.

I worked for Home Depot and one of the owners said, "If Home Depot ever goes under there will not be a mass walk-out by the customers, it will go under by losing one customer at a time."