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mishima
New User
Aug 9, 2011, 9:15 AM
Post #1 of 13
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Wheel Shakes when jacked
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1993
Ford
Explorer (4wd)
4.0
250000+ miles
I just got some new front tires and the mechanic said he thought there was a problem but wasn't allowed to say what it was for some reason (wal mart). But he showed me. When the car was jacked up he could shake the tire laterally. He mentioned the word "wheel bearing". He also showed me the way my old tires had a certain pattern of extreme wear on the inside. Anyways I want to take it to a real shop but am worried about getting stuck with something over 100 dollars so just wanted some thoughts.
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mishima
New User
Aug 9, 2011, 9:51 AM
Post #3 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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Well I mean if its just the wheel bearing as his hunch suggests it wont be that much more than 100. I'm asking what else could cause a wheel to be movable by hand laterally like that.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2011, 11:04 AM
Post #5 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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You can't even repair wheel bearings for under $100
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Sidom
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Aug 9, 2011, 11:11 AM
Post #6 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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There is a lot of things that could cause that movement.....
Loose ball joints, tie rod ends, worn or missing bushings, etc. This is why it needs to be inspected 1st by a full service shop.
I was just messing around earlier but the reason those shops won't say anything is because they don't do that type of work and if the employee was wrong about his guess some customers will hold the shop liable for the misdiagnosis and $$$$ they spent doing it themselves.
So to avoid this problem they won't let their employees say anything.... Just another case of a few bad apples ruining it for everyone...
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nickwarner
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/ Moderator
Aug 9, 2011, 2:36 PM
Post #7 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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Do you know something that costs more than $100? The wrecker that will tow you when the wheel bearing lets the wheel pass you, the ambulance that takes you to the hospital, and the funeral for the family in the car you hit when it happens. While I realize you aren't made of money and can fully sympathize, if you cannot afford over $100 to repair what is a very serious safety issue in need of immediate repair you should invest in a good pair of shoes as a lot of walking is in your future. You have a lot of age and mileage on this which means parts are needed to continue to drive it. If you drive it around anyway you endanger everyone around you. If you crash into someone and the police determine you knew about the imminent danger of our vehicle and drove it anyway you can very quickly be facing prison time. This is not anything that should be taken lightly.
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mishima
New User
Aug 9, 2011, 3:35 PM
Post #8 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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That you're suggesting its so serious makes me wonder how long its been like that. I've been driving it since 2003, but it sat 3 years unprotected outside (2007-2010) when i was overseas. I just started it again last September and had a bunch of fluid problems and a broken alternator but nothing else. Could this problem be related to the 3 year sit somehow?
It also annoys me that I got new front brakes last week and no one noticed. Maybe they were under a don't tell policy as well.
I'm definitely willing to pay any price for safety (have 2 year old son as passenger), its just that I've payed 600 this month alone on it (excluding gas) and am starting to think I should've just got something newer for 2-3k a few months ago. But yeah I just found out about this problem today.
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Sidom
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Aug 9, 2011, 3:48 PM
Post #9 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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Nick was referring to some people that are aware of problems yet continue to drive a vehicle anyway.
You don't come off as as that type.
If you've just had brk work done I would suggest taking it back to the shop and have them take a look at it.
What I told you earlier just applies to shops that do maintanence only, lube shops, Wal mart, ect. Their employee don't do that type of work so for reasons mentioned earlier won't comment on it. A full service shop will tell you if they spot a problem, they have no reason not to tell you.
Without being able to inspect it myself I can't comment on how serious it is or isn't. Your next step would be to take it to a regular shop & have a trained technician inspect the frt end.
(This post was edited by Sidom on Aug 9, 2011, 3:49 PM)
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nickwarner
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Aug 10, 2011, 5:52 AM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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Sidom was right in what he said. We do get some people here who will drive an unsafe vehicle despite our advice. I thank you for being willing to listen to us. Think of this, if a man who probably was less than 200 pounds was able to shake the wheel and get slack in it, what will happen with the 4000 pounds or so that your truck can put on it when driving? The things you are seeing with lube shops not seeing or saying much is a problem that has been discussed here already. I would realistically look around at dealers and private shops that do full repair work. Many of them have oil change prices fairly close to the lube shops. But you will be having your vehicle looked at by a trained eye. When an oil change comes into my shop we go over it with a fine tooth comb for defects. Then we tell the customer what we find and what it would take to repair it. It makes the shop more income if the customer goes ahead with the work and if the customer doesn't they at least know what will be coming up on the vehicle. Any reputable shop can do an inspection of your truck and let you know what is causing the trouble and how much it will take to make it safe. At that point you will have to decide if it is worth it to you to repair the vehicle or if you will look for a replacement. When you look at the new vehicle, it would be worth it to pay for a shop that has no stake in the vehicle to look at it for you. If the seller is against that walk away from it.
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sjwanderer
Novice
Aug 10, 2011, 5:17 PM
Post #11 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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As most have said or implied it is at least a wheel bearing or a tie rod end. Neither should be terribly expensive by themselves but if left unattended they can cause other damage, note your tire wear. If the tire would move left to right but not up and down most likely the tie rod, in my experience, but if it moves in all directions then most likely the wheel bearing. If they tell you that the wheel bearing is bad and took out the axle, ask to see the axle and see why it is bad you should be able to see the damage as there will be ridges on the axle or housing or both. I've had both go bad on me and the bearing was the most work when left alone not to mention dangerous just as the tie rod. either way if you can have it towed to a shop, please.
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mishima
New User
Aug 11, 2011, 6:43 AM
Post #12 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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Well I took the above advice and returned to the shop where I had the brake work done last week. After taking it apart they said that the wheel bearing had just slipped out of position slightly, probably during the work they did earlier, and that there was no parts damage. They put it back in the right way and showed me how there was no longer any wheel movement, so I was convinced. He said a little play in the wheel was good but not that much. Anyways they didn't charge me anything.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 11, 2011, 6:46 AM
Post #13 of 13
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Re: Wheel Shakes when jacked
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Of course they didn't. That was their screw up that caused it. It wasn't installed correctly.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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