Ford Escape 2004 4x4 45mph+ vibration

40

Asked by kunz Jan 13, 2011 at 05:35 PM about the 2004 Ford Escape Limited AWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Approx 100,000 miles on Escape   - Vibration detectable at about 45 mph and gets significantly worst toward 65 mph.  Not consistent however- Sometimes does not occur during below freezing Temp for under 30 mile distances.  Steering wheel is always steady, CV Boots & axles all appear good. Road force balanced tires no affect, installed new drive shaft u-joints - no affect. Drive Shaft carrier bearing - no signs of rubbing or wear. Tranny and rear differential bearings do not get warm, no movement and no signs of leakage.  Mechanic suspects the Transaxle mounts which allow fairly easy engine/Tranny movement with pry bar.  Transaxle mounts have no visual damage.  Since the vibration started in Nov 2010 have only been using Escape short distances but need to get it fixed.  Other blogs on subject gave insight on what didn't work but didn't see much on resolution. One mentioned the mounts were also suspect but no follow-up was posted.   Anyone have any experience with bad Transaxle mounts? Symptoms?

20 Answers

65

If it were mounts i would think the vibration would always be there regardless of speed. Sounds to me like it is something that is spinning. Dose it do it in all the higher gears 3rd 4th overdrive? could have something to to with your trany, torque converter or transfer case. If it is all time 4wd i would make sure all your tires are the same size and one is not wore more than the other.

4 people found this helpful.

at 100.000 miles ,yes I would say the mounts are worn out,thay are made of rubber inside the mounts.if you live in a area where their is snow ,the chemicles ,salt sand they put on the roads will eat away at them,being that all that stuff is being throne underneith the vehicle and they are at the low point of the vehicle.

7 people found this helpful.
40

Switching gears 3 , 4, overdrive on/ off and the 4x4 dash switch auto/on , Trans in neutral or not - all have no change in vibration. The vibration seems to be related to wheel rotation - not Engine RPM or Transmission related. The tires are Goodyear Long Train new in May 2010 and road great to Canada and back in August and up to November when the Vibration started. After a normal balance and Road force balance It is unlikely to be tire related. I have yet to rule out wheel bearings or CV Joints but those also are unlikely since all CV boots are in good shape, no hand movement in joints or wheel bearings, no warmth either. - However no guarantee that the previous owner replaced torn boots after driving around on them. I plan on finding a 2004 4x4 escape to compare the motor/transaxle mount looseness and also plan on seeing if a dyno would be of aid locating vibration source.

40

I tend to agree - However I don't want to keep replacing parts with out some more evidence - hence the posting. I haven’t experienced or heard of bad mounts is it common? and why is the vibration not RPM related but wheel driven related? Would loose/worn engine trans mounts only vibrate after 45 mph regardless of Engine RPM or Trans gear 3 - 4 OD ? Cold weather seems to answer why no vibration in near zero deg F conditions and Warm up car in garage and the vibration is really bad starting around 45 mph and up. I had experienced bad CV joints and am somewhat suspicious of them as well.

4 people found this helpful.
3,515

Check your Drive shaft hanger bearing, I had the exact same problem in my 05 AWD, crawl under and grab hold the drive shaft before and after the hanger bearing, if you can wiggle it the hanger bearing is bad, there should be no play in that bearing... replace bearing problem solved.

6 people found this helpful.
10

Id say aside from checking your motor mounts, check your tires for uneveness or knots from possibly hitting curbs or too much air in the tires. I had a friend that had waves on his tires that caused them to do that.

1 people found this helpful.
415

I had a similar problem with mine. the problem was the front left wheel bearing needed to be replaced and now the vibrations are gone and alot of road noise is too.

2 people found this helpful.
50

sounds like mounts and/or wheel bearings........100,000 miles is a pretty good amount to have on it before this starts......my gmc needs new wheel bearings every 12 months and sometimes as early as 9 months apart.....it's a piece of shit....honestly, it sounds like you did pretty good so far, but this stuff is replacable and should last .......my situation and suv is a little different then yours.......don't worry

1 people found this helpful.
50

honestly, you are getting MUCH better mileage then i did before replacing mounts and bearings on my general motors suv......

1 people found this helpful.
150

fixed it!!!! i have a ford escape 2005 AWD with a crazy vibration.. changed just about everything you could think of to get rid of it. tires,tables,tie rod ends, link kit, center bearing on the drive shaft. i even checked the u joints on the drive shaft. but it all seemed tight and not worn... being at my wits end i removed the drive shaft and figured i'll just run around with fwd. then bamn i found it! even though the u joint looked good, it was not.. the one closest to the diff was stuck really bad.. couldn't see that with it on the car.. i changed both of the u joints and i was on my way back to vib free driving.. hope this helps someone...don't forget to mark where everything lines up when you take the drive shaft apart. good luck :)

15 people found this helpful.
50

I have a 05 and I changed the 2 u joints and mid bareing still have vibration tire,s are good so what next ?

5 people found this helpful.
70

I have a 2002 Ford Escape XLR 4x4 with a vibration that comes and goes around 60 plus MPH. Good tires, replaced u joints, replaced outer tie rods, both control arms. I'm at my wits end to find out with the issue is. Any help would be great!

7 people found this helpful.
100

I have a 2005 Ford XLR that has vibrations that become noticeable at about 40mph with acceleration/when applying gas. The vibration continues though 70mph, but slightly less noticeable at higher speeds. When I let up and coast then there is no vibration at any speed Any thoughts what this is? Has anyone experienced this problem? The vehicle has 140k and looks to be in great condition otherwise. Mechanic was up under it and couldn't find anything obvious that is the cause. Any help would be appreciated.

9 people found this helpful.
50

I have a 2012 and I love it. So much better than the GMC Jimmy I had. That vehicle was nothing but a money pit at 34,000 miles. It does sound like a wheel bearing issue that you have there, from luving in a house with mechanics. Not a major issue, but they do go. You have potholes on roads and chemicals from the winter. Also, it is advisable to replace all at the same time when one goes so you get even wear. Hope things worked out well.

1 people found this helpful.
10

I got a 2001 Ford escape XLT Four-wheel-drive I thought it was the front wheel bearing or transaxles come to find out it is tie rod ends that is making it vibrate from 45 miles an hour to 60 miles an hour sometimes worse it shakes and vibrates check your tire rod ends if they wiggle really easy either bad they shouldn’t barely move if you try to twist them with your hand

10

OK I’m taking back all my last statements finally figured out what the vibration is because it messing with everything else it loosened up some more which is made it even worse than what it was I’m still driving it but got the parts on order it is your lower ball joints it is so bad now that it feels like it’s controlling itself sometimes I can’t go over 40 basically luckily I don’t live far from work I can drive my vehicle to work at 40 miles an hour because 11 on OK I’m taking back all my last statements finally figured out what the vibration is because in messing with everything else it loosened up some more which is made it even worse than what it was I’m still driving it but got the parts on order it is your lower ball joint‘s it is so bad now that it feels like it’s controlling itself sometimes I can’t go over 40 basically luckily I don’t live far from work I can drive my vehicle to work at 40 miles an hour Speed limit is 45 but it’s your lower ball joints and their Preston either get it done professionally even though they look good they might not be have a great day I hope this was helpful information and you’re looking for God bless you all

1 people found this helpful.

I have a 2005 Ford Escape I had to replace the wheel bearing and not even 12 hours later , Able Fire up I can put it into drive. And she acts like she wants to move. She rocks forward but won't move. Can anybody help me?

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