Question:

I bought a used 94 explorer at 68k and i had to get the wheel bearings replaced. and just recently i was driving and i hit a patch of unpaved construction road, and i have a vibration at 35-50 mph  i am sure it is present at other speed, but it is not noticible.. An independent service place replace the bearings, and the problem went away, and then the problem came, back and they said that "the bearing pack was loose" and the problem went away.  Then after hitting the unpaved road, it seems to be a bearing issue again!??  ANY THOUGHTS? three questions 1) is this new problem a wheel bearing issue? 2) has anyone else had a recurrent problem like this? 3) what am i to do about it? TIA erik

Response:

Erik: >1) is this new problem a wheel bearing issue?

Wheel bearing adjustment CAN indeed be a major player in the vibration.  You don’t say whether your Expy is a 4×2 or a 4×4, but on my 1994 E.B. 4×4 proper wheel bearing adjustment is critical for a smooth vibration free drive.  An improper wheel bearing adjustment can give you very short life on the wheel bearings. >2) has anyone else had a recurrent problem like this?

Yes, there have been many postings on this NG about "wheel bearings" and "vibration". >3) what am i to do about it?

Be sure to GOTO  the Explorer owners maintenance web site at www.glue.umd.edu/singletn/exp.html.  And maybe consider doing the work yourself.  You will need a torque wrench to do it correctly. Pull the rotors, replace the inner and outer wheel bearing and the races too, the wheel seal and put it back together.  dr.bob et.al. have very complete write ups at the above mentioned website. You might also check on other front end suspension parts, radius arm bushings, u-joints, round, balanced tires, etc. Good luck. -Steve writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I bought a used 94 explorer at 68k and i had to get the wheel bearings >replaced. and just recently i was driving and i hit a patch of unpaved >construction road, and i have a vibration at 35-50 mph  i am sure it is >present at other speed, but it is not noticible.. An independent service >place replace the bearings, and the problem went away, and then the problem >came, back and they said that "the bearing pack was loose" and the problem >went away.  Then after hitting the unpaved road, it seems to be a bearing >issue again!??  ANY THOUGHTS? >three questions >1) is this new problem a wheel bearing issue? >2) has anyone else had a recurrent problem like this? >3) what am i to do about it? >TIA >erik

Response: