Rear axle wheels skipping/skidding in turns. Help!

[vk2gom]

Hi All,

I have a '97 4 litre Ford Explorer XLT here in Australia.

Without warning, yesterday, the vehicle started acting as if the rear axle is 'locked'. When I do slow speed turns, the outside wheel/tyre skips and skids. When the tyre starts to lock up the whole car body lurches on its suspension, before it breaks traction and it skips/skids.

It's fine in a straight line.

I have already removed and checked over the 4WD shift motor on the transfer case, but I think that's not related to it.

I have tried jacking up a rear corner of the car at a time. With it in Neutral, I can turn a rear wheel freely either direction, which suggests the differential is working.

As far as I am aware, the '97 Explorer rear axle has no inputs / solenoids etc. that cause it to 'lock' for a 4WD mode. Or does it?

Any advice or pointers welcome.

Thanks! Rob - in a very hot Sydney, Australia.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Sounds like your transfer case is stuck in 4x4. Find a dirt road, put it in reverse and punch it. See if the rear tires spin or if the truck flys backward aka stuck in 4x4.

 

[Flash]

The actuator motor doesn't control 4wd, the electromagnetic clutch does.
Disconnect the brown wire and see what happens.