Posted by cgrey8 from sdn-ap-004scfairP0464.dialsprint.net (63.184.225.210) on Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 10:03AM :
In Reply to: UPDATE - after tonights drive posted by Malcolm [Boardmaster] on Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 0:18AM :
Registered Ranger
I didn't see this post before posting here:
http://www.v8-ranger.com/messages/1760.html
(I mentioned some stuff about the rims and axles)
This sheds a lot more light on what the problem could be. It doesn't pinpoint the problem, but it does sound at least give you something to compare to. I don't know that it's related, however I'll share this just to add more thoughts to what's going on.
On my '89 Ranger 2.9L, I have a 5-speed Mazda Synchromesh. For the longest time, it had an odd vibration in 5th gear only when I matched speed with the engine RPMs. With a moderate to heavy positive load or completely off the gas with a negative engine load, the vibration goes away.
This isn't the 1st time this has happened, however what it turned out to be is the input shaft's pilot bearing (in the flywheel) and input bearing (in the tranny). They were just slap wore-out (input bearing still is). I replaced the pilot bearing, and all that vibration went away...for a while. Sad to say, it quickly came back (few months). I haven't pulled the tranny again, but I expect to find the pilot crumbled as it was the 1st time.
The difference between what you are describing and this is that you get it when the clutch is pushed in. Mine never happens then for some reason. It only happens when the engine RPMs are matched with speed around 65-75. Faster or slower, it doesn't seem to happen even when speed-matching. There's some kind of resonance at play at that speed in 5th for me.
I guess before you tear things apart, try to do the same here with speed matching in 3rd and 5th at various speeds and RPMs. Since 4th is a straight-thru, I'm not sure you'll reproduce anything here, but see what it does...
If you can reproduce the same thing speed-matching as you do with the clutch dis-engaged, you may want to consider looking between the engine and tranny for your problem as I did.
It's been a number of years, but if I remember correctly, the Ford manual trannys are not too difficult to replace the front bearing on. 4 bolts on the front then a retainer ring. The bearing is about a 4" diameter ball bearing that slips right out once the ring is removed. I do remember that ring had sharp edges that cut my finger pretty good.
I only wish my crappy Mazda tranny, that Ford sticks in Rangers, was that easy. You pretty much have to unstack the whole tranny and replace the input shaft bearing from the top. Not happenin'...I'll just deal with the vibration, and have for about 3 years now and it hasn't gotten any worse.
I don't know that this is what you are running into, but again, just my 2-cents worth.
Chris
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