Help on front end grinding-turning only

[Jlatoria]

I have a '02 4.6 XLT 4x4 and when starting out turning left or right from a stop, it makes a grinding noise that you can also feel in the steering wheel until I come out of the turn. Any help on figuring this out would be great.

Thanks in advance,

Jlatoria

 

[jkarselis]

I have the same issue, been going on for over a year now, and doesn't appear to be getting worse so I'm driving it 'till the wheels fall off. That said, there were a few references in my original post & response I got that might help. You can find the thread here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156709&highlight=rear+axle+clutch

 

[Jlatoria]

Thanks for the information. This problem was driving me crazy. I will try changing the fluid.

 

[tjdmobile]

This sure sounds like what I am experiencing on my 03 Flex XLT. It sounds more like a grunt (like when disc brakes grunt) and I have observed if I power the wheels in a turn then pop in neutral, the noise goes away. I have just shy of 45,000 miles. Wouldn't have thought fluids, but just maybe i will try that. Mine has been doing this ever since a long drive (150 miles) on gravel and dirt roads in June.

Does in forward and reverse and it is at its worst from a stop.

TD

 

[electricman]

Mine was doing the same thing with my 2002 explorer with four wheel drive. Thanks to this forum I fixed it and saved paying the Ford dealer $1600 to replace the clutch packs in the rear end.
I drained the rear end fluid.
Re-filled it with Royal Purple 75W/140 gear oil. Manual calls for 2.6 to 2.9 pints.$19 a quart.
Added 4 oz. of Motorcraft XL-3 friction modifier. $6 at dealer.
This next step is important. Go to a parking lot and do at least 15 slow figure eights.
After I was done the noise was almost completely gone. After a couple of weeks I only hear it very faintly every once in a while. It seems to get better every day. It has been 3 weeks now.
I read that the noise is from the clutch pack in the rear end slipping. Other posts that I have read said that it is annoying but it doesn't hurt anything and is safe to drive.

Electricman