Suspension Confusion!

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chump_change

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Gents,

I've been reading this forum for a while, and have found some great tech info which include the blend door motor swap and tranny spring swap. I appreciate the help, but I have come upon a problem that has me stumped.

Bought a 95 Mark with front suspension trouble and 70k miles for $2,300. I figured "no problem." Right! I have essentially rebuilt the front end. New upper control arms (yikes!) and ball joints, strut brace bushings and lower strut bushings. Got an alignment and new tires and balanced them. I now have a vibration in the steering at 80mph on up. Since I drive 60 miles to work at exactly 80, this is a real problem. Swapped the front tires to rear and got them rebalanced. Still there. AHHHHHHHHHH! :Bang

I know this is probably a piece of cake for you guys. Please enlighten me with your suspension wizardry.
 
Hate to say this, but you may have to put a few more dollars in the front end. It sounds to me that the rotors on your car are shot. This is a relatively common problem due to poor ventillation for the front rotors. They seem to warp under high heat and high loads. Have the rotors looked at, but if they are warped you are better off to get new ones instead of having them shaved. If you have them shaved it will happen again (warpage) but ALOT faster than it did up to this point and you will have to purchase new ones.

Hope that helps. :Beer
 
Also check to see if your sway bar end links are any good. If the boots are damaged then replace them. I just replaced them and no vibration at any speed.
 
1wykdmk8 said:
Hate to say this, but you may have to put a few more dollars in the front end. It sounds to me that the rotors on your car are shot. This is a relatively common problem due to poor ventillation for the front rotors. They seem to warp under high heat and high loads. Have the rotors looked at, but if they are warped you are better off to get new ones instead of having them shaved. If you have them shaved it will happen again (warpage) but ALOT faster than it did up to this point and you will have to purchase new ones.

Hope that helps. :Beer
Click to expand...
that was my prob, replaced the roters and tires and had them balanced. went away
 
Kinda hard to say when I don't have the car in front of me to drive, but did you feel any difference after you swapped the tires?.....like do you feel the vib more now in your butt that the steering?...or is it the same? Also, next time you drive it, see if theres a big difference at that speed if you put it in neutral.

Just because a tire is "computer balanced", doesn't mean its well balanced. I was a Ford/Lincoln tech for over 15 years and only had really 2 good balancers out of the 4 stealerships I worked for. The absolute best "I've" used, is the kind that not only balances the tires but checks runout at the same time. You can balance all day long, but if the tire is out of round, your waisting your time.

If all else fails, try to find someone (OH NO THE DEALER!) that has a "REED TACHOMETER". This very cool device allows the tech to drive the car and pinpoint the frequency of the vib and be able to pinpoint it to find out for sure whether its a tire vib or a driveline vib.

Those Reed Tachs were $500 about 10 years ago and were only made by one place in New York I think.

Keep in mind that if the vibration wasn't there before the tires were installed, the place who put them on is stuck with it until it is fixed....or get your money back.

BTW, unless you have a sticking caliper, the brakes will only cause a vibration while braking or for a few seconds after the brakes are released.

Good luck finding your vib.
 
I did not notice a change in the vibration when I swapped the tires front to rear. However, I do have warped rotors, which is noticeable while braking. I never would have suspected they would make a difference at high speeds. For money's sake (and my sanity), I think I'll turn them first to see if it makes a difference. Will return with the verdict...........
 
chump_change said:
I did not notice a change in the vibration when I swapped the tires front to rear. However, I do have warped rotors, which is noticeable while braking. I never would have suspected they would make a difference at high speeds. For money's sake (and my sanity), I think I'll turn them first to see if it makes a difference. Will return with the verdict...........
Click to expand...
It's cheaper to just buy new ones and be done with it. Always replace pads and rotors at the same time.
 
Well, it wasn't the rotors. And the vibrations do not stop when I put it in neutral at 80mph. The vibrations are not constant. They get stronger and weaker and sometimes occur when I hit a bump. This is starting to make me believer that it is the struts. Any comments?
 
Markviiiedrea said:
how are all the front end bushings, sway bar, end links, control arms, iner outer tie rods?
Click to expand...

They are all new except for the lower inner control arm bushings. New tie rods. Original sway bar parts, but the boots look good. New upper control arms including ball joints. Original lower balls joints.
 
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