mxr577
New Member
- Joined
- March 11, 2020
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Billerica, MA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1994 Explorer XLT
Hey all,
I have a strange issue that happens while I am turning and re-center the wheel. While driving and returning the wheels straight the vehicle would dart slightly in the direction I was returning the wheel to. So left turns, would cause the vehicle to dart right just as I return to the straight wheel, and vise versa. For a while I assumed it was just an old vehicle that had some slop in the steering box, and/or the tires maybe weren't the best or maybe low. It almost felt like when a tire is flat and it pulls you towards the flat side. Clearly I would check the tires and they were not flat. I also, adjusted the steering box adjusting screw recently and although the steering feels better it still darts.
I had the front end on jack stands today and turned the wheel back and forth lock to lock. At a quicker speed of turning the wheel I could see the tire chattering as it crossed from left to right and right to left, so when it was nearing straight. I made the turn lock to lock slower and noticed the wheel would actually spin a little when it crossed over, and noticed it was the front axle engaging the wheel. The front drive shaft was also spinning. The hubs are manual so I know they were not locked and I could spin the front drive shaft freely so I know its not in 4x4.
I cant imagine this is normal operation, and I cannot understand what would cause the wheel to engage if the hub is unlocked. Never mind the front drive shaft engaging. Has anyone experienced this or have any possible explanations of what could cause this?
I have a strange issue that happens while I am turning and re-center the wheel. While driving and returning the wheels straight the vehicle would dart slightly in the direction I was returning the wheel to. So left turns, would cause the vehicle to dart right just as I return to the straight wheel, and vise versa. For a while I assumed it was just an old vehicle that had some slop in the steering box, and/or the tires maybe weren't the best or maybe low. It almost felt like when a tire is flat and it pulls you towards the flat side. Clearly I would check the tires and they were not flat. I also, adjusted the steering box adjusting screw recently and although the steering feels better it still darts.
I had the front end on jack stands today and turned the wheel back and forth lock to lock. At a quicker speed of turning the wheel I could see the tire chattering as it crossed from left to right and right to left, so when it was nearing straight. I made the turn lock to lock slower and noticed the wheel would actually spin a little when it crossed over, and noticed it was the front axle engaging the wheel. The front drive shaft was also spinning. The hubs are manual so I know they were not locked and I could spin the front drive shaft freely so I know its not in 4x4.
I cant imagine this is normal operation, and I cannot understand what would cause the wheel to engage if the hub is unlocked. Never mind the front drive shaft engaging. Has anyone experienced this or have any possible explanations of what could cause this?