vibrations, spark plug wires and u-joints
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vibrations, spark plug wires and u-joints
Posting this for the benefit of those who might one day do a search and find this post...
Had a vibration that appeared at speeds above 55mph, only under engine load (foot on gas). Most sources agree that this could be a bad U-joint.
Replaced all three U-joints and the center support bearing while I was in there. they were all original (no grease zerks... no grease either
Vibration at speeds above 55mph got better -- but did not go away completely.
And then a thought struck me -- what if not all the cylinders are firing -- bad wires or something like that? So I went out and got a set of 8mm plug wires (a set from NAPA that includes 8 wires that you have to cut and install the terminators yourself -- great deal and seem to be good quality wires) and replaced the ones I had on there before ("mileage plus" el cheapo brand).
Vibration went away completely. Idle is *much* improved. I must have been missing at least two cylinders on one side...
Conclusions: (1) "mileage plus" is absolute crap, and (2) people, make sure your plug wires are ok if you feel vibrations at certain speeds. It's amazing what difference this can make. Best 30 bucks I spent on this truck so far.
Had a vibration that appeared at speeds above 55mph, only under engine load (foot on gas). Most sources agree that this could be a bad U-joint.
Replaced all three U-joints and the center support bearing while I was in there. they were all original (no grease zerks... no grease either
Vibration at speeds above 55mph got better -- but did not go away completely.And then a thought struck me -- what if not all the cylinders are firing -- bad wires or something like that? So I went out and got a set of 8mm plug wires (a set from NAPA that includes 8 wires that you have to cut and install the terminators yourself -- great deal and seem to be good quality wires) and replaced the ones I had on there before ("mileage plus" el cheapo brand).
Vibration went away completely. Idle is *much* improved. I must have been missing at least two cylinders on one side...
Conclusions: (1) "mileage plus" is absolute crap, and (2) people, make sure your plug wires are ok if you feel vibrations at certain speeds. It's amazing what difference this can make. Best 30 bucks I spent on this truck so far.