Rynofx88
Member
- Joined
- March 1, 2018
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 1
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2004 NBX
For reference: 2004 explorer NBX, 4x4, 180K, limited slip, 3.73. I am the second owner - the original an ex ford tech who took very good care. No rust. To start with, and eliminate these as possible future suggestions, I just replaced both rear wheel bearings and rotors (Timken), all 4 struts, front tie-rods, new tires (not oversized - but traction tires) followed by an alignment. All in prep for the 2500 mile drive from Oregon to Tennessee.
My explorer had already been demonstrating the "shudder from a start while sharply turning" that seems to plague these vehicles and general consensus says issue with the clutch packs in the rear diff. Once on our way, the modestly loaded explorer seemed to groan and shudder much worse than usual. Nothing I could do, so I took it easy and we made it...until day three in TN...Most of the weight had been off-loaded and the shudder seemed to subside. Driving through town, I get a sudden loud knocking and when coming to a stop the explorer wanted to lurch or torque past my heavy brake input. I think it might be important to point out that the "lurching" was not a constant one, but seemed timed every 1/2 second with the rotation of something..(torque converter? drive line?etc.) Put it in neutral, no lurching, clunk back into drive and we are off clunking back to the house. Put in Park and it wants to roll away. I suspected transmission which is over my head, towed to a shop, they wanted to start with full replacement of the rear diff (where the clunk was coming from) and go from there...$$$$ I had it towed back to my garage, deciding I could handle a diff change. Pulled the plug, expecting horrible fluid and metal galore - but instead good looking green fluid with no metal at all. Eyeballed up into the diff through the drain hole, couldn't see any devastation. Jacked up the rear and rotated the tires by hand and get resistance every so often. driveline seems fine, engages when it should, no slop in U-joints. decided to pull rear passenger CV as something didn't seem right. The outboard or tire end of the CV has a 'cage' and ball bearings - the cage was busted. Replaced with new CV. Here's what's left. I've jacked all 4 tires off the ground, started it and engaged drive, still some rotational "clunking"... Step on the brake and it shudders and fights to a stop. Clunk into reverse and the same happens. Time to go in for the night, but I would appreciate some input on a direction to take from here. Tranny? I've owned it for a year now, and it has never slipped, hesitated, or had any other trans symptoms. Even though I couldn't see any major differential issues, should I pull it, open it up and look for something in particular? thanks in advance.
My explorer had already been demonstrating the "shudder from a start while sharply turning" that seems to plague these vehicles and general consensus says issue with the clutch packs in the rear diff. Once on our way, the modestly loaded explorer seemed to groan and shudder much worse than usual. Nothing I could do, so I took it easy and we made it...until day three in TN...Most of the weight had been off-loaded and the shudder seemed to subside. Driving through town, I get a sudden loud knocking and when coming to a stop the explorer wanted to lurch or torque past my heavy brake input. I think it might be important to point out that the "lurching" was not a constant one, but seemed timed every 1/2 second with the rotation of something..(torque converter? drive line?etc.) Put it in neutral, no lurching, clunk back into drive and we are off clunking back to the house. Put in Park and it wants to roll away. I suspected transmission which is over my head, towed to a shop, they wanted to start with full replacement of the rear diff (where the clunk was coming from) and go from there...$$$$ I had it towed back to my garage, deciding I could handle a diff change. Pulled the plug, expecting horrible fluid and metal galore - but instead good looking green fluid with no metal at all. Eyeballed up into the diff through the drain hole, couldn't see any devastation. Jacked up the rear and rotated the tires by hand and get resistance every so often. driveline seems fine, engages when it should, no slop in U-joints. decided to pull rear passenger CV as something didn't seem right. The outboard or tire end of the CV has a 'cage' and ball bearings - the cage was busted. Replaced with new CV. Here's what's left. I've jacked all 4 tires off the ground, started it and engaged drive, still some rotational "clunking"... Step on the brake and it shudders and fights to a stop. Clunk into reverse and the same happens. Time to go in for the night, but I would appreciate some input on a direction to take from here. Tranny? I've owned it for a year now, and it has never slipped, hesitated, or had any other trans symptoms. Even though I couldn't see any major differential issues, should I pull it, open it up and look for something in particular? thanks in advance.
