Ok this may or may not help and you REALLY won't like my answer.
I have a bravada and was doing VERY similiar thing, any thumping noise
when you make a turn? I just had shift defferential done in my suv and
spoke with at least 4 mechanics who all told me the SAME thing
unfortunately and these were their words all SUVS were done with piss
poor design and upper and lower ball joints need to be replaced every
30 to 40 thousand miles! My "shudder / Vibration" only lasted a few
seconds also and was with increased speed I didn't think my car was
even shifting! It was watching the RPMs that I realized it was. Wasn't
my tranny at all! Just a thought not sure if you have ever had to
replace any of these and the cost is all labor.
Good luck.....
Just reread how you descibed it and YES that is how it felt crossing
one of those markers in the road to wake up truckers if fallen alseep.
Mine was front left and I felt it under my foot also......with shift
defferential upper lower ball joints ( bought those parts myself guy
was nice and said I could get them cheaper and I did) and outer tie
rods damage was $1240 plus the front end allignment after.
tom_murphy@comcast.net - 04 Mar 2006 23:39 GMT
> Just reread how you descibed it and YES that is how it felt crossing
> one of those markers in the road to wake up truckers if fallen alseep.
> Mine was front left and I felt it under my foot also......with shift
> defferential upper lower ball joints ( bought those parts myself guy
> was nice and said I could get them cheaper and I did) and outer tie
> rods damage was $1240 plus the front end allignment after.
No such luck for me. I lost a converter clutch. Complete overhaul
required.
Bummer...
> Ok this may or may not help and you REALLY won't like my answer.
> I have a bravada and was doing VERY similiar thing, any thumping noise
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> replace any of these and the cost is all labor.
> Good luck.....
I have been driving for over 35 years and have owned over 25 cars myself,
and been associated with another 15 or so owned by my immeadiate family, and
in all that time and all those miles (well over a million miles by myself) I
have needed to replace one and only one ball joint (1974 Jensen-Healey
becasue of a torn boot). I hate thinking that front end shops are crokked,
but I believe many of them sell a lot more suspension parts than are needed.
Certainly there are exceptions. Ford has had some trouble with ball joints
on Expeditions (there is a TSB) and recent model Toyota Trucks have
experienced a horrendous ball joint failure rate (there is a recall for
this). But in general suspension parts last a lot longer than front end
shops like to claim. I have seen shops set cars up to demonstrate a failure
by purposely (or out of ignorance) loading the suspension in an incorrect
manner, or by misquoting the manufacturer's specs. So, whenever you are told
you need the front end rebuilt, beware!
Ed
April - 03 Feb 2006 17:06 GMT
Well I would agree with you except my own grandfather a retired
mechanic was one of my sources and these suvs most all have recalls on
the ball joints and the replacements weren't any better than the
originals. Mine for one were already replaced and I was not talking
about cars in general. I myself have owned 9 vechiles from a mustang to
bronco to dynasty and NEVER had any front end trouble til I bought this
suv.and I want to point out the bravada is awd which I am sure makes a
difference. I also bought the parts myself AND asked for the old ones
as proof (grandpa taught me that one) and the guy was great actually
let me watch as he stripped car so I DO KNOW FOR ME IT WAS NEEDED.....
tom_murphy@comcast.net - 06 Feb 2006 16:05 GMT
> I have been driving for over 35 years and have owned over 25 cars myself,
> and been associated with another 15 or so owned by my immeadiate family, and
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> manner, or by misquoting the manufacturer's specs. So, whenever you are told
> you need the front end rebuilt, beware!
Anyway, the info about the particular problem with the Expedition is
very helpful.
Thanks to all!
Tom
> Ed
Yes, I agree in general. I did have an upper ball joint fail on a '75
3/4 tom Chevy pickup. I had just finished a 60 mile highway run towing
my boat and the joint completely let go in the driveway at slow speed!
LUCKY! It's funny there was no indication of an unhealthy ball joint,
but I suspect there may have been collision damage/weakness.