94 Explorer Pulling to the right VERY BAD

[bfbchief]

Need some advice on what to look for. I have a 94 Explorer Sport that is pulling to the right VERY BAD. Also the left front wheel is wearing on the inside.

I can hear some kind of clunking in the left front. I have changed both front shocks and had a front end alinement done but it still pulls to the right wicked bad. Also when I get up to about 65 the front end starts shaking.

Any ideas what it could be?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jason94sport]

Wheel balance, air pressure, bad tire, alignment etc.
Try swapping the front left & right tires. If the pull moves to the left it's the tires. If the pull stays on the right side, it's something on the truck.

 

[Lt.Jim]

You may also want to check your radius arm bushings. That would cause the front end clunk and from what I've heard also the pull to the side even after an alignment.

 

[bfbchief]

Thanks I had the passenger side changed....I should have the driver side changed.

Thanks.

 

[410Fortune]

Um you need to have yuor wheel bearings checked ASAP.
the wheel can fall off if you do not, sounds to me like they are about to go.

 

[bfbchief]

Is there an easy way to check them? I mean can I do it myself? I have been driving it like this for almost a year...YIKES

 

[410Fortune]

Yeah sure, jack it up, take the wheel off and have a look.
I suspect a brake is dragging, the bearings and seized, the spindle is shot, or something along those lines.

The only way to know for sure is to take it apart.

You ever done wheel bearings before?

 

[bfbchief]

No I never have...I have done things like plugs, shocks, brakes....stuff like that, but nothing like the stuff you are saying...is it easy or should I just bring it in?

 

[bfbchief]

Also I don't understand how your wheel can fall off because of wheel bearings...can you maybe explain that a little for me.

Thanks

 

[chriswells78]

The bearing seizes up, freezed/welds itself together, wheel wants to keep turning because you are rolling down the road. Either your brake rotor seizes up or the whole hub, and your wheel comes off usuallly taking either the whole disk or shearing off the lugs. It's pretty ugly.

Go to sears or any hardware store that has automotive tools. Buy yourslef a bearing packer. This will make your life a lot easier. Take your wheel off, take the disk brake off. Take the c clip off of the assembly, use a (I think it is 1.5" socket to take off the wheel nut, then your bearing will come right off.

Somebody correct me on this if I am wrong. It's been about 10 years since I have done this on a 4x4.

Take the new bearing, pack it with grease (use the bearing packer or do it the old fashioned way by getting a palm full of grease and just slapping the bearing into it) then reassemble the hub the way it came apart.

If you can do brakes, you can do a wheel bearing.

 

[410Fortune]

the wheel is bolted to the brake rotor.
the brake rotor rides on wheel bearings, an inner and an outer.
The wheel bearing ride on the spindle.

If your wheel bearings are shot and run with metal to metal contact long enough they will disintigrate, the whole rotor and wheel can come off the truck and kill people.

There is a safety system in place to keep this from happening, it is supossed to keep the wheel on if the spindle nuts get loose, but if the wheel bearing shreds (heat) it will do no good.

Do you have a Chiltons or Hanyes manual for your truck?
If not now is the time to invest in one.

Wheel bearings on first gen Explorer's and Rangers are covered on this forum almost more than any other topic. There are how to threads with pictures for the entire front knuckle assembly.

Is this truck a 2wd or 4wd?
Pulling to one side can be many things, but since you said you had an alignment done the next step would be to check the tires, bushings, bearings, and brakes.

Many things can cause it to pull slightly but pulling as hard as you say to me is a warning that something is binding whether your brake is toast, the wheel bearings are toast, or worse.
Only way to find out is to take the wheel off and have a look around.

Also dont forget problems with the rear axle can also have it pulling to one side.