[Muad_Dib]

I had the intermediate shaft replaced yesterday on my 09 Escape. it has 23,000+ KM. (14,290+ Miles). This to fix a vibration. My wife was complaining of a vibration at 80Kph (50mph) if you turned the wheel slightly lefty or right it got worse. .. I had the service manager take it out and he heard it too. Then put it on ther hoist and could hear a noise with the sethoscope. Got the truck back yesterday and the vibration is still there, but this time it only gets worse if you turn right. It nearly disappears if you veer right.

The mechanic thinks it might be the tires this time because he says there is cupping on all 4 tires. They are going to re-balance and rotate the tires tomorrow, but they rotated them less than 3 weeks ago, and the vibration was there before I took it in that time too.

Has anyone else noticed a vibration? Or does someone else have any other ideas what it might be.

Thanks
Dean

 

[LORAIN]

No issues with this yet but my Escape only has 7150 miles on it also.

 

[Muad_Dib]

Well the tires have been rotated and rebalanced... No change. there is still a vibration at 80kph. (I also noticed at 50kph yesterday)

Dealer thinks the vibration is because of "cupping" on the tires and has asked me to drive it for a couple of weeks to see if it gets better or worse...

The thing that I'm confused about is that the vibration gets worse when I turn right and nearly disapears when I turn left. If *all* my tires are damaged like they say, and I've had the dealer rotate them as recommended by the maintenance schedule, then, first, would the vibration not be the same when I turn left or right? Second... would this not indicate a flaw in the tires that should be addressed? I only have 24,000Km on them.

The tires are Michelin Cross Terrain P225/65R17, but I can't find much in the way of complaints about them.

any thoughts are welcome

 

[Poppy]

Come on mate!
IF your tires are cupped, they are lumpy.
Riding on lumpy tires will give you a vibration.

I am not saying that is your only problem, but it is a problem.

 

[Muad_Dib]

Hey Poppy,
Guess I'm just trying to understand what exactly cupping is, and what causes it. I've had the truck serviced regularly based on the service scheduled.

And I do get that if the tires are "lumpy" as you say, the ride will be comprimised, but is running on them for a couple of weeks a valid answer to see they even out again?

And would not this vibration be felt at all speeds, in varing degrees, not just at specific speeds?

I guess I'm just trying to find other reason for the vibration, not just tires...

Cheers
Dean

 

[Poppy]

Here are some good pictures of severely cupped tires.

BERNIE'S CAR CARE - TIRES

At only 14,000 miles your shocks should not be an issue.]
I am only guessing (because I don't know what the intermediate shaft is) but if the intermediate shaft was faulty and caused a vibration, perhaps that caused the tire issue.
Perhaps the tires were faulty from the start?
It is possible though to have hit a curb with the tire and caused a slipped belt, which could cause a vibration, and odd tire wear.

 

[Muad_Dib]

Thanks for the link.. interesting read.

I guess I will have to wait and see what happens long term.. I do know that with the last rotation they not only went left to right, but also front to back this time.

I just find it odd that all 4 tires are "cupped" the same way (and definately not as severly as in the pic's on Bernie's site). If hitting a curb was the issue, (which yes I did do, After the issue started) then I would think it would only be the tire that hit the curb. And if it was the intermediate shaft I would have thought it was only the front tires affected... I could be very wrong, (would not be the first time) and the intermediate shaft was replaced because they thought it was the shaft berring making the noise...

I'll admit I'm confused by the whole thing...so I certain appreciate your feedback..

 

[Poppy]

All 4 tires?
I'd contact Michelin, and see if they happened to have a bad batch of tires sneak through thier final inspection.
Another thought is to have your alignment checked. I suspect that you can have 4 wheel alignment on that car.

 

[Muad_Dib]

I've been looking to see if Michelin had any recalls on the Cross Terrain tires. None that I can find yet.. but I'm still looking. I have no doubt I'll get to the bottom if this. It just takes time...

 

[Muad_Dib]

Well, here is a bit of an update on this issue.. I took the truck back to the dealer today, after the two week they asked me to wait and told them the noise was getting worse.
One of the Service Managers took the the vehicle for a drive with me, and heard the noise. It can now be heard at 50Kph, 80 kph and 100kph. the noise also goes aways when turning the wheel to the left and gets worse when turning to the right..

While he says there is some ridging on the tires, he thinks it's the right front bearing... The truck is scheduled to have the bearing replaced next Tuesday...

I'll keep you posted..

 

[Mepps3]

I have a vibration at 38-40mph with only 4,000 miles 2010 Limites 4X4. It can be heard and felt. I will check to see if turning the wheel changes it.

 

[wptski]

I have a vibration at 38-40mph with only 4,000 miles 2010 Limites 4X4. It can be heard and felt. I will check to see if turning the wheel changes it.

Are you sure that it isn't the normal ABS resetting itself which happens "once" after every start at about that speed?

 

[Mepps3]

Are you sure that it isn't the normal ABS resetting itself which happens "once" after every start at about that speed?

It does it at that speed everytime even after the "once" per start up.

 

[wptski]

It does it at that speed everytime even after the "once" per start up.

Do you feel it in the throttle pedal? There is a TSB about some vehicles doing it more than once.

 

[Mepps3]

Do you feel it in the throttle pedal? There is a TSB about some vehicles doing it more than once.

The vibration is barley audible and you can feel it in the seat, sterring wheel and gas peddle the whole time you maintain the speed of 38-40mph. What does the ABS reset feel like and how long does it last? What is the TSB number for what you are talking about? Thanks.

 

[wptski]

The vibration is barley audible and you can feel it in the seat, sterring wheel and gas peddle the whole time you maintain the speed of 38-40mph. What does the ABS reset feel like and how long does it last? What is the TSB number for what you are talking about? Thanks.

The ABS reset is only felt from the gas pedal and only lasts a few seconds. Forget about the TSB as you have something else causing your problem.

 

[megascape]

As far as the struts and shocks go, the OE struts and shocks on all years of the Escapes have had some last 30,000 and some last 10,000 miles. Also the bushings on the OE sway bars are not that durable. Moog makes a replacement that seems to be built to last. this is just FYI.

 

[Muad_Dib]

Well, here is my update... Took the truck in yesterday. They were supposed to replace the right front bearing, but the Tech put the stethescope to the bearing while it was on the hoist and could not hear anything. He went through all wheels and then tried the intermediate shaft again.. there was a noise. So they ordered a new shaft and told me to come back today.

This morning, take the Truck in and they replace the intermediate shaft for the second time. I get the truck back go for a quick drive up the road and the vibration is still there. I go right back to the dealer and they bring the Service manager out to talk to me. (he's the one who took it for the drive the first time and said it was a bearing) He says ok, change the bearing anyway.

They pull the truck right into a bay and replace the bearing.
So far seems like the bearing was the issue all along.. no vibration felt at all.

I'm taking it for a good long drive this afternoon to make sure, but it seem like the issue is resolved.

 

[Mepps3]

Good to hear! Keep us updated.

 

[knagy389us]

I reported a problem to my svc dept. at 10K miles, a vibration over 50mph. Was just enough to make the empty passenger seat vibrate. Svc dept verified, and Ford acknolwledged, but had no fix, so SSM was opened. Now at 15K miles, and have not heard anything.

Now.. I'm not sure if the vibration is gone, or that I'm just used to it

I definitely have no leak on the half shafts, I checked a few times.