Ford F150 - Shimmy in rear end 04 Ranger

RANGER04 · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject: Shimmy in rear end 04 Ranger

I've got an 04 Ranger Edge 4.0 4WD ext cab.
At gentle acceleration at 2-3 MPH I get a slight shimmy/joggle in the rear end. I also get this when coming to a stop, again at very low speeds. Under hard acceleration there is no shimmy at all. Tires are good, lug nuts tight. Any ideas?

JRE56 · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:14 am Post subject:

Do you get a bump from your rear end after the truck sat all night?

RANGER04 · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 12:34 pm Post subject:

Nope, checked the trans fluid, ok level.

RANGER04 · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject:

seems to be less once it's all warmed up....

JRE56 · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject:

Have you had your rear brakes done lately.Mine were grabbing from rust.I had the drums turned and it took care of the problem.

RANGER04 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

brakes look good....rear axle/pumpkin?

JRE56 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

You got me on that one.Maybe rearwheel bearings,I hope its not the rear axle!

jwt873 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:07 am Post subject:

It could also be a tire... Sometimes the belts will separate inside the tire and cause the tread to squirm. I had this happen to a car I owned once. A front tire separated and it caused the steering wheel to wiggle when I was coming to a stop or just starting off. Replacing the front tires fixed the problem.

If you jack up the back of the truck and spin the rear wheels, you should be able to tell if the treads are true or not. If they aren't the tread will appear to wobble left and right as you look at the spinning tire straight on.

RANGER04 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject:

I just tried something else....No jiggle when I come to a stop with it in nuetral.

JRE56 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

Hmm, it really sound like its your rear end since you disengaged
it by putting it in neutral.

RANGER04 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

Differential? U- bolts? I had a full load of wood in the bed and it was really reduced....almost not there.

JRE56 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

You can check the U-bolts by getting under the truck and put the trans. in neutral and move the driveshaft by hand one direction then the other and see if there is movement at the u-bolt caps if there is then they're bad.Make sure you block the wheels so the truck won't roll.

RANGER04 · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:54 am Post subject:

I greased the slip joint...all is well. Thanks for all your input!

JRE56 · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject:

What made you grease that?

RANGER04 · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

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