I've been having this problem with a vibration for a while. Whenever my hubs are locked a vibration can be felt in the left front wheel. It gets even worse when it's in 4WD. It feels like the driveshaft is vibrating. I dont have this problem when the hubs are unlocked in 2WD. I am 72.5% sure it may be the left front u-joint, but I don't hear any clicking noises coming from it. Could be the hub itself, I have warn hubs. I just wanted to run it by you guys before I start tearing apart my front end to get to the u-joints.
4 wheel drive vibration
- Thread starter walnuts75
- Start date
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Jersey
New member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2008
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I'm gonna have to agree with you on the u-joint going bad. Unless the shaft itself is bent somehow, but i highly doubt that. I dont think the hub has enough weight to throw it into a shimmy.
Broncobill78
New member
Well, as you guessed it's probably related to the front axle. Unfortunately there are a number of places for a problem like this to manifest itself. Right off the bat I'd ask if you plan to do the work yourself or have it done by a shop. *Pls* don't take it the wrong way, fact is that MOST of the guys here on the board have the bulk of their work done at shops & this is for a HUGE number of very legimate reasons that I won't even begin to discuss. But if it's being done at a shop I'd start by dropping it off and asking them to diagnose it, no shame in that.
Could be a U-joint just as you suspect, might also be a wheel bearing, bent or out-of-balance shaft. Plenty of reasons for this to happen. Let a 4x4 shop take a look at it. Hubs (especially autos), wheel bearings and U-joints can all cause similar sounding/feeling problems. If it's a secondary vehicle and something you play with more than you rely upon then sure, grab tha Factory (NOT the Chilton's, Haynes, or Betty Crocker) manual and start troubleshooting and ruling out what it ISN'T. Some guys enjoy building & fixing their trucks more than they enjoy driving them (I'm a prime example & there are several others here on the board). If that's the case buy some beer and have at it, otherwise let a shop diagnose your problem & then fix it yourself OR let the shop take care of the whole deal. If turning wrenches isn't your bag then don'r take the fun out of owning a Bronco by doing something you don't like. You bought it to enjoy it, try not to forget that.
A bent shaft *could* account for the vibration but you'd have to come up with a reason why/how it was bent in the first place. It may have thrown a balancing weight (and I certainly HOPE that's what it's done) and that will explain it, otherwise look for a dent or scuff that will show you what/where the problem started. Hope I can help.
Could be a U-joint just as you suspect, might also be a wheel bearing, bent or out-of-balance shaft. Plenty of reasons for this to happen. Let a 4x4 shop take a look at it. Hubs (especially autos), wheel bearings and U-joints can all cause similar sounding/feeling problems. If it's a secondary vehicle and something you play with more than you rely upon then sure, grab tha Factory (NOT the Chilton's, Haynes, or Betty Crocker) manual and start troubleshooting and ruling out what it ISN'T. Some guys enjoy building & fixing their trucks more than they enjoy driving them (I'm a prime example & there are several others here on the board). If that's the case buy some beer and have at it, otherwise let a shop diagnose your problem & then fix it yourself OR let the shop take care of the whole deal. If turning wrenches isn't your bag then don'r take the fun out of owning a Bronco by doing something you don't like. You bought it to enjoy it, try not to forget that.
A bent shaft *could* account for the vibration but you'd have to come up with a reason why/how it was bent in the first place. It may have thrown a balancing weight (and I certainly HOPE that's what it's done) and that will explain it, otherwise look for a dent or scuff that will show you what/where the problem started. Hope I can help.
Wow thanks. I'm pretty sure it's not the bearings b/c it only vibrates when the hub are locked I plan on putting the bronco on jacks and spining the front tires while looking for any wobble in the front drive shaft. I've grabbed the u-joints in the front drive shaft and tried to twist to check for any freeplay or clunks, but found none. I think it might be the left u-joint where the knuckle is, but can't reach there to check it. I do know how to change out front u-joints, it's just a pain in the a$$ to take apart the brakes, hubs, and rotor just to get to it. I do plan on working on my Bronco myself. I've always did my own work when it came to vehicles. The only way to learn is by doing. Plus, I enjoy working on my Bronco. I'm no expert, but I'm learning a great deal about it.
BroncoJoe19
Active member
Yeah... even if you could get your hands on them, U joints could be worn enough to give you a vibration, and still not be warn enough for you to feel it by hand.
Have fun
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Have fun
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Broncobill78
New member
Well you can look but chances are that you won't be able to visually detect a wobble in the driveshaft, chances are excellent that this is something you need a shop to look for w/a balancing machine. I've had a few shafts that looked perfect to the eye but were causing problems due to dings, dents or thrown weights. U-joints are cheap and if they're more than a couple yrs old replace them because those too can cause a vibration while feeling just fine to the hand. Fact is the forces involved are significant and just feeling OK by hand isn't enough to make a part good while spinning at 3500 rmp. Replace anything cheap & questionable & have a shop ck the rest. Do as much of your own work as you want, but understand that it'll take a fortune in tooling & experience to understand *everything*, it's usually best to let a qualified shop diagnose the problem and THEN repair it yourself. A good shop won't mind, they're full of guys like us who like to fix their own rigs, but don't be foolish, seek & ask for advise when you're in over your head. Nothing's worse than screwing up your own truck thru ignorance, ask questions.
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That's why I joined this site! The best Bronco site on the internet!!!
Also today we had another decent snow and I used 4WD again. It started clicking when I made a turn. Now I am certain that it is the u-joints. I was thinking, my balljoints are due for a replacement and I was actually planning on going to a shop for it because I've never done balljoints nor do I own a balljoint press. Since the front end will be torn apart, I might as well have them replace the front u-joints as well, but I have absolutely no clue as to how much a shop would charge me for that work. How much should I expect to pay?
I'll still check out the front driveshaft myself and possibly replace those u-joints it needed.
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BroncoJoe19
Active member
I plan to do ball joints this spring with my son, I took it to a front end shop and it would be about $1200 for the job. I am not sure if that included replacing the u joints as well. We can do it for about $200 in parts including u joints. Maybe add an additional $100 for rented tools.
WIth the axels out replacing the u joints is a very easy job, and I would just have them do it, but that's a decision that you'll have to make for yourself.
$1200?!
( Looks like I'll be learning how to do balljoints now. Actually, I'm going to check around shops in my area and see how much they'll do it for. If its too expensive, I'll probably do the u-joints myself, but it depends on how much more it will be. Thanks for the help guys!
