Freaking Ford Explorer death wobble fix

[ezzzzzzz]

So I replaced the front hub assemblies on a customer's 2005 Explorer XLS. I took it around the block without issues. He drops by to retrieve it while I'm at my real job and calls me to say it's back in the driveway. He claims it has a death wobble (my words, not his). I get home and take it for a trip at speed down the nearby interstate connector. Moving into the right lane the damn truck starts that death wobble. I return home and look at my work unable to find any issues. Google can sometimes be your friend. I search for this scenario and immediately get a dozen or so good hits. Turns out that when these vehicles are lifted for frontend service air is leaked into the freaking power steering system if it is operated without the engine running. No one knows how, why or where though. I drove to a local school parking lot and proceeded to make wheel lock turns left and right for 10 minutes. Problem solved. I thought someone might run into this dowm the road and need to know this.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I drove to a local school parking lot and proceeded to make wheel lock turns left and right for 10 minutes. Problem solved. I thought someone might run into this down the road and need to know this.

Good to know !!

 

[hot rod 91174]

I had a 2001 explorer and the same would happen to me as well, not quite that bad, but definitely noticeable. I too would have to turn the wheels back and forth at least a dozen or so times to get it worked out, after that, all was fine until the frontend was raised for whatever reason, brakes, oil change, anything requiring the front to be jacked up.

 

[Hghgrad]

I've never heard of this, but I'm glad you mentioned it. Always good to have these little tidbits in your back pocket in case you come across it in the future. I've had a few explorers of this vintage, and I'll probably have another in the future.

 

[58Yeoman]

Hmmm...it must not happen on '05 Rangers? I've had mine up and turned the wheels back and forth, and it's been okay. BUT, I'll keep my eyes open the next time the Ranger is in the air. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Streetbu]

Very common issue, fix is to let it sit over night. the air will eventually bleed itself out to the top, may take more than one day though. Most important thing is to not turn the wheels on a Ford product by hand. ALWAYS use the steering wheel. By turning the wheels with your hands, the rack seals **** in and allow air to enter the system. The seals aren't bad, just another piss poor Ford design.

 

[383 240z]

Streetbu hit it right on the head. I was warned about that when I worked at a dealership in the late 90's Keith