96' 2wd explorer feels like front axle travel with no axle.

[Swinson1974]

My first explorer with 2wd. but I back up and then move to go forward and feels like, and sounds like the axle moves back, after when forward, felt like axle moved back under cab, if 4wd, i'd say control arm is floating and new bushings and tightening needed, but 2wd,,, so lost.

HELP!

 

[SoNic67]

Lift the front wheel and pull by hand to see what moves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvBm2kvoMQw

 

[koda2000]

on the 2wd trucks, the only parts that may cause this sensation would be upper/lower control arm bushings or ball joints and maybe tie rod ends, but this should be something really obvious/easy to determine with and inspection. when checking the front suspension, be sure to jack each wheel off the ground by lifting from the lower control arm. that way the suspension parts remain at right height. I use the jack points (I know sonic67 doesn't trust them). any excessive movement detected from 12/6 or 3/9 positions on the tire are highly suspect. about the only other thing it can be is a cracked frame.

just to be clear, are you feeling side-to-side or fore-aft movement?