Front-End Alignment and "Shakey" Ride
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore, MD
Front-End Alignment and "Shakey" Ride
With 21K on my 2000 Expy 4x4 5.4L XLT and OEM tires (those POS Firestone Wilderness jobs), I have a slight drift to the passenger side. Also, I feel like my ride at highway speed is rougher than it should be. The best to describe it is a contstant, low-level "shake" at 65-70mph. It similar to the tires being slightly our of balanace.
I called my usual service dealership, and spoke to them about the problem. They quoted my $45 for an alignment, and $39 for rebalancing all four POS tires.
Will this fix the problem?
Or, am I better off getting the alignment and purchasing new rubber?
I can't wait to put on larger tires(285/75 R16), probably going with the Michelin LTX M/S.
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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats, factory fog lamps, Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic w/ Puralator filter
MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00)
Superchip (3/11/00)
Airaid (3/23/00)
Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00)
Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00)
MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)
Wizard Super-White Headlamps and Foglamps (1/15/01)
Gibson Swept Side catback (2/8/01)
Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar (2/8/01)
Ventshade Window Ventvisors (3/4/01)
Stull Billet Grill (4/21/01)
APC Clear Corners (4/21/01)
Nokia Hands-Free Phone Systems (5/7/01)
I called my usual service dealership, and spoke to them about the problem. They quoted my $45 for an alignment, and $39 for rebalancing all four POS tires.
Will this fix the problem?
Or, am I better off getting the alignment and purchasing new rubber?
I can't wait to put on larger tires(285/75 R16), probably going with the Michelin LTX M/S.------------------
2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats, factory fog lamps, Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic w/ Puralator filter
MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00)
Superchip (3/11/00)
Airaid (3/23/00)
Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00)
Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00)
MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)
Wizard Super-White Headlamps and Foglamps (1/15/01)
Gibson Swept Side catback (2/8/01)
Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar (2/8/01)
Ventshade Window Ventvisors (3/4/01)
Stull Billet Grill (4/21/01)
APC Clear Corners (4/21/01)
Nokia Hands-Free Phone Systems (5/7/01)
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA. US.
The alignment will not solve the shake problem, only the drift. BUT if your going to rotate and balance the tires, that alone can solve both problems. So you might save some money from the alignment, and if you don't have the encintric cams installed already, that will be an added cost. Personally I would do the tire thing first.
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99 Expedition XLT,5.4L,4X4,3.73LS,285-75-16 KO'S9(old 17"AT/S),Airaid Intake,Superchip,Edlebrock shocks,Dynomax Super Turbo 3",Helwig Sway Arm,Polk speakers
http://home.earthlink.net/~louladot/
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99 Expedition XLT,5.4L,4X4,3.73LS,285-75-16 KO'S9(old 17"AT/S),Airaid Intake,Superchip,Edlebrock shocks,Dynomax Super Turbo 3",Helwig Sway Arm,Polk speakers
http://home.earthlink.net/~louladot/
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore, MD
hdlouie-
Good points. Thanks for the insight. Question about the "encintric" cams. I know a little about them; enough to know they DON'T come installed from the factory and they are used to adjust the front-end alignment. Any idea about how much for these cams, and if they are different for a 4x4?
Good points. Thanks for the insight. Question about the "encintric" cams. I know a little about them; enough to know they DON'T come installed from the factory and they are used to adjust the front-end alignment. Any idea about how much for these cams, and if they are different for a 4x4?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,444
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Texas
jmartinb
Absolutly the only thing that will fix it is larger tires.
If that doesn't do it, it's lift time, with all the goodies.
(Psst, if you use this to sell the idea to the wife, cut this part out)
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2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION 4x2
-->Follow Me...<--
Absolutly the only thing that will fix it is larger tires.
If that doesn't do it, it's lift time, with all the goodies.
(Psst, if you use this to sell the idea to the wife, cut this part out)
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2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION 4x2
- Estate Green
- 5.4 ltr
- 3:55 LS rear
- Superchip!
- Airaid FIPK
- Gibson S/S Swept Side Cat Back Exhaust
- Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar
- Energy Suspension Polyurethane Front Anti-Sway Bar Bushings
- Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks
- Xenon Super White Head and Driving Lights
- Tow Package
- Rear Load Leveling
- Moonroof
- Century Child Seat!
-->Follow Me...<--
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore, MD
FamilyRide-
EXCELLENT points! I ran it by the wife, and she thinks we're all weird...little boys with bigger toys. But, she didn't say NO to your suggestions! And, I'll have to measure the clearance in my building downtown. My company may have to make some mods!... 
EXCELLENT points! I ran it by the wife, and she thinks we're all weird...little boys with bigger toys.
But, she didn't say NO to your suggestions! And, I'll have to measure the clearance in my building downtown. My company may have to make some mods!...
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,444
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Texas
You know, we're about 1500 miles apart but if I didn't know better, I'd think our's wifes had been talking...
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2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION 4x2
-->Follow Me...<--
------------------
2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION 4x2
- Estate Green
- 5.4 ltr
- 3:55 LS rear
- Superchip!
- Airaid FIPK
- Gibson S/S Swept Side Cat Back Exhaust
- Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar
- Energy Suspension Polyurethane Front Anti-Sway Bar Bushings
- Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks
- Xenon Super White Head and Driving Lights
- Tow Package
- Rear Load Leveling
- Moonroof
- Century Child Seat!
-->Follow Me...<--
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge, LA, US
A shake at 60-65 mph is usually tire related. Have a tire dealer balance and rotate the tires. It the problem persists, you may have a tire out of round. You also have shocks that ride a bit harder than the OEM's so you are going to feel more from the road.
As for the alignment, if it's still pulling to the right (some slight right pull is normal due to camelback roads) after the rotation and balance, do the alignment. The camber kits will only be needed if they can't get the camber back to factory specs. Dealers usually charge about $100 for the kits. Again, a good tire dealer can get the kits and install them for much less. If the alighnment is correct, then again it's a tire problem.
As for the alignment, if it's still pulling to the right (some slight right pull is normal due to camelback roads) after the rotation and balance, do the alignment. The camber kits will only be needed if they can't get the camber back to factory specs. Dealers usually charge about $100 for the kits. Again, a good tire dealer can get the kits and install them for much less. If the alighnment is correct, then again it's a tire problem.
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 317
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From: Cypress, TX
Thought...
a buddy of mine had been experiencing a similar problem.
The wheels and tires were not it. (running 33x12.50s on 15x10s)
All balanced, all perfectly concentric.
The problem ended up being (had to get it up on a rack without the tires and wheels on) that the right front drive shaft of his 4X got out of balance because one of the balancing weights had been thrown or knocked off.
After they got that balanced, life was good again.
Good luck.
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Greg Andrews
a buddy of mine had been experiencing a similar problem.
The wheels and tires were not it. (running 33x12.50s on 15x10s)
All balanced, all perfectly concentric.
The problem ended up being (had to get it up on a rack without the tires and wheels on) that the right front drive shaft of his 4X got out of balance because one of the balancing weights had been thrown or knocked off.
After they got that balanced, life was good again.
Good luck.
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Greg Andrews