FordExcursions.com Forums
Mike Vlademar
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• Belleville, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 7/2/2004 |
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• 6 posts |
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 Posted:9/10/2004 08:06 |
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After suffering similar vibration issues as other Excursion owners, I finally have some good news.
My 2003 Excursion Limited V10 4x4 had a terrrible vibration/noise from 70MPH+. The dealer replaced several parts to try and fix the issue. The following are items that were replaced in an attempt to resolve the issue: transfer case, front wheel bearings, rear wheel bearings, muffler, drive shaft, pinion bearings, rear axle assembly.
A Ford engineer spent 2+ weeks trying to get the issue resolved. The noise finally disappeared when another new driveshaft was used and the shim angle was set to 3 degrees on the rear axle. )Note: Ford does not have 3 degree shims - Ford had to get some made up) I am very happy that it is now resolved.  Hopefully, other Excursion owners can get their issue fixed too.
Mike V.
Michigan |
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Keith Ruff
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• Manahawkin, NJ, USA |
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• Registered on 8/30/2004 |
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• 41 posts |
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 Posted:9/13/2004 08:24 |
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Mike,
Is your X stock or lifted? If stock, where was the shim place? I have a 70+MPH drone/harmonic vibration also.
Thanx.
Keith Ruff
NJ |
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Mike Vlademar
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• Belleville, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 7/2/2004 |
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• 6 posts |
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Posted:9/13/2004 11:25 |
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Keith,
I am still at stock ride height. They placed the shims between the axle tubes and the leaf springs from what I was told.
Mike |
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romulin
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• Smyrna, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/27/2003 |
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• 28 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:9/14/2004 11:09 |
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You are a saint if you got the vibration problem fixed. I have a Limited 03 Excursion with the same vibration. Can you enlighten me with some more info? Are you 100% positive that the degree is 3 for the shims? Do you still have a slight vibration at a higher speed, like at 80 or 85? Or, did the repairs fix your vibrations totally? My vibrations seem worse when I'm just accelerating slightly at 70+. If I let off completely it slightly goes away and if I floor the gas pedal it slightly goes away. How did your vibration react?
Any help is appreciated. I have lived in torment since I purchased my 03 Excursion.
Thanks in advance....Brian |
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kantek
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• South Bend, IN, USA |
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• Registered on 9/14/2004 |
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• 4 posts |
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Posted:9/14/2004 11:20 |
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I have been fighting this vibration problem for a long time. What I found was the wheels are almost impossible to balance. You can balance them , take tire off machine, then put it back on and it will be out of balance again. BAZARR. I already put on new tires- same problem- Am I chasing the wrong problem? |
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Mike Vlademar
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• Belleville, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 7/2/2004 |
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• 6 posts |
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Posted:9/14/2004 12:48 |
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I am positive it was 3 degrees for the shims. However, Ford took several angle measurements on the drivetrain to determine what they needed. Of course, what they thought would work did not so they decided to go with 3 degrees.
When diagnosing the problem, the tried to fix all other items before that can cause a similar problem. Tire & tire balance were checked. Bearings were replaced. The transfer case and the entire rear end was replaced. I even had 2 new drive shafts put on - one was not balanced as good as the other. My vibration/noise issue remained after all of these items were looked at. My veibration/noise issue started around 70/75MPH and kept that way until top speed. If I left off of the gas, the noise/vibration was not as bad as when hitting the gas.
The vibration/noise does start to come back now, but only at 95MPH - something I will not try to have fixed.
Tom - as far as your tire balance issue, I am very confused. I work for Goodyear and have never heard of something similar before. My guess is there is a problem with the balancer or that the rim is not put flush against the machine's hub before being balanced.
Mike |
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birdman127
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• baltimore, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 10/13/2002 |
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• 581 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:9/14/2004 21:09 |
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| Quote: | | What I found was the wheels are almost impossible to balance. You can balance them , take tire off machine, then put it back on and it will be out of balance again. BAZARR. |
I have learned that TIRES are not perfect either. Some tires are worse than others. If you balance the tires on the rims then break then down and rebalance them they sre off again.....meaning the tires are not balanced. I think index balancing is the cure....find the heavy part of the tire and the lighest part of the wheel and put them together then balance them. 
Moderator
Scott
2000 ltd 6.8 V10*4.30LS*
Lots of mods
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romulin
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• Smyrna, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/27/2003 |
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• 28 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:9/15/2004 08:53 |
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Thank you Mike for the reply. I assume our problems are similar, we have the exact same year and model truck and from what you have talked about, the exact same vibration. I will now try to go with the 3 degree shim. If it is not too much trouble can you measure the length of the shim. Since I have to get this custom made I want to make sure I get everything right.
It is too bad that Ford would manufactuer something that would need so much work to ride smooth.
Thank you!!!
Brian
| Quote: | I am positive it was 3 degrees for the shims. However, Ford took several angle measurements on the drivetrain to determine what they needed. Of course, what they thought would work did not so they decided to go with 3 degrees.
When diagnosing the problem, the tried to fix all other items before that can cause a similar problem. Tire & tire balance were checked. Bearings were replaced. The transfer case and the entire rear end was replaced. I even had 2 new drive shafts put on - one was not balanced as good as the other. My vibration/noise issue remained after all of these items were looked at. My veibration/noise issue started around 70/75MPH and kept that way until top speed. If I left off of the gas, the noise/vibration was not as bad as when hitting the gas.
The vibration/noise does start to come back now, but only at 95MPH - something I will not try to have fixed.
Tom - as far as your tire balance issue, I am very confused. I work for Goodyear and have never heard of something similar before. My guess is there is a problem with the balancer or that the rim is not put flush against the machine's hub before being balanced.
Mike |
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