Front End Shake - Ford Forums

01-28-2006, 07:01

While moving at 60 mph the vehicle hit a very slight pothole which caused
the steering wheel to start shaking uncontrollably. The shaking continued
until the vehicle came to a complete stop. When vehicle movment resumed
the shake was gone and so far has not yet returned. Something however is
not right to have caused this to happen. Any ideas???

01-28-2006, 10:01

If we knew what we were working on, it might help...

"thuhn10" <thuhn@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:d837fcc62d890e08aea17d73aad6120d@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> While moving at 60 mph the vehicle hit a very slight pothole which caused
> the steering wheel to start shaking uncontrollably. The shaking continued
> until the vehicle came to a complete stop. When vehicle movment resumed
> the shake was gone and so far has not yet returned. Something however is
> not right to have caused this to happen. Any ideas???
>

01-28-2006, 10:01

"thuhn10" <thuhn@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:d837fcc62d890e08aea17d73aad6120d@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> While moving at 60 mph the vehicle hit a very slight pothole which caused
> the steering wheel to start shaking uncontrollably. The shaking continued
> until the vehicle came to a complete stop. When vehicle movment resumed
> the shake was gone and so far has not yet returned. Something however is
> not right to have caused this to happen. Any ideas???
>

OK, start with the easiest thing first - check your tire pressures ASAP. The
symptoms you describe could indicate severe over-inflation.

Simon H

01-28-2006, 15:01

The vehicle is a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport

01-28-2006, 19:01

The only thing I can think of is that a big rock got stuck in the tire
and when you slowed down it came loose and fell off.

01-28-2006, 20:01

The rack and pinion steering isn't really prone to this sort of
behaviour..... Excess caster can sometimes induce a front end shake such as
you describe. My first inclination would be to check the front end for
loose/worn steering parts. Inner tie rod ends can be difficult to test
appropriately... my preferred method is to have an assistant rock the wheel
side to side while I grasp the tierod (with the weight on the wheels).

For tie rod ends, no play is acceptable...

"thuhn10" <thuhn@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:7277e3c568bd9145f21a2904f1a7d026@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> The vehicle is a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
>