gavin
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- September 27, 2002
- Messages
- 3,183
- Reaction score
- 23
- City, State
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '97 Explorer XLT AWD 5.0L
So I've had this rumbling/grumbling issue for a while, and finally getting around to really troubleshooting it.
Here's what I've done so far:
Replaced front diff; I know I had botched the carrier install on the first one I regeared, and had other issues with it. No change.
Replace t-case; thinking I botched something in the rebuild or a bad VC, as I had experienced some other issues that may have been related to it (eg, attempting to drive without front d-shaft, high RPMs little movement.)
Last weekend I pulled the front shaft, the rumbling/grumbling significantly decreased, so I bought a new shaft figuring the CV was toast. No change. Back to "normal" with the new shaft in.
Replaced both front cv shafts, one at a time, with no change after replacing either/both.
Wheel bearings; both are good. I did have a bad one, which I replaced with a spare I already had, but no change.
I don't know what else to look at. I feel it in the steering wheel and floorboard.
Since it seems to only appear when torque is applied to the front, I figured it was in the front end; yet there's nothing else to replace.
Rear shaft u-joints are not that old and have been greased numerous times.
Could something in the rear axle transfer that much to the front end steering components that allow me to feel it in the steering wheel?
I doubt it's the torsion twist, as I have checked the ride height per the FSM instructions and I am within those specs.
Here's what I've done so far:
Replaced front diff; I know I had botched the carrier install on the first one I regeared, and had other issues with it. No change.
Replace t-case; thinking I botched something in the rebuild or a bad VC, as I had experienced some other issues that may have been related to it (eg, attempting to drive without front d-shaft, high RPMs little movement.)
Last weekend I pulled the front shaft, the rumbling/grumbling significantly decreased, so I bought a new shaft figuring the CV was toast. No change. Back to "normal" with the new shaft in.
Replaced both front cv shafts, one at a time, with no change after replacing either/both.
Wheel bearings; both are good. I did have a bad one, which I replaced with a spare I already had, but no change.
I don't know what else to look at. I feel it in the steering wheel and floorboard.
Since it seems to only appear when torque is applied to the front, I figured it was in the front end; yet there's nothing else to replace.
Rear shaft u-joints are not that old and have been greased numerous times.
Could something in the rear axle transfer that much to the front end steering components that allow me to feel it in the steering wheel?
I doubt it's the torsion twist, as I have checked the ride height per the FSM instructions and I am within those specs.