98 Sport issues: 4x4 and sway bar linkage

[TomCat_Ford]

Hey guys, I have a couple of issues with my '98 Explorer Sport (SOHC, 4x4, automatic). The first deals with the four wheel drive. Yesterday I was on my way into town and while I was on my snow-covered dirt road, I realized that my four wheel drive didn't seem to be working. It was way too easy to break the back end loose. I can normally feel the auto kick in, but I couldn't yesterday. Even in 4High, I could easily break the rear end loose. It wasn't like this before. Today, I put the Explorer up on some jack stands tried the four wheel drive. All four tires spin in Auto, 4High, and 4Low. I then took it out for a test drive, and it would seem that the four wheel drive is now working again. Any ideas as to why it all of the sudden started working again and why it stopped working in the first place? I could clearly hear the "clunk" when shifting into 4Low yesterday, if that helps.

My second issue is in regard to the drivers side sway bar link between the sway bar and the suspension arm. This past March, while doing a tire rotation, I noticed that the original link was broken. I replaced it with an aftermarket part from a local auto store (did both sides for preventative maintenance). Now, only a number of months later (20,000 miles), it is broken again. It would appear that it had bent and then snapped around the sway bar mounting hole and one of the washers is missing. Any ideas as to why this part would keep breaking? I don't feel like replacing this part only to have it break again; I want to figure out what is causing the breakages.

Thanks for any and all help,


-TomCat

 

[Pckid212]

The sway bar link has broken once on both my dads 01 and my 99 sport. I kinda think its common with explorers.

I'd say to just replace it again.

 

[gijoecam]

As for the 4wd, I can't help there... If it's working, then it's working. Do the lights come on at start-up or when the switch is set to 4high/low?

For the sway bar links, replace them with a decent aftermarket set. The cheap universal ones sometimes don't hold up to the forces applied to them in our rigs. I replaced mine almost 6 years ago with a set from AutoZone and haven't had an issue since.

 

[wrigley_1285]

i had issues with my 4x4 auto working properly when one of my abs sensor lines was broken. my 4x4auto was kind of sketchy. i would suggest checking them out just incase.

as for the sway bar links i would say get use to it. i've broken atleast 3 that i can remember in the last 2 years. what i would suggest for that is going to an auto parts store that has a life time warranty on them. i got mine at autozone for about $14 with a lifetime warranty, and of course since i've done that i haven't broken one....yet

 

[TomCat_Ford]

All of the lights work properly.

 

[jchopo01]

I dont believe ABS affects the four wheel drive. My 98 Sport the TC would stop working and flash four high and low lights. I would park it and it would work fine. It has done a it a few times mostly after abusing it. I would call it a glitch.

 

[TomCat_Ford]

Question on the sway bar... I exchanged my parts under warranty (1 year). I have put roughly 500-600 miles on the Explorer since I noticed the broken link, and have only had the passenger side installed (it was bent, though). I didn't notice a difference in how the vehicle drove. Having both links removed, I still don't notice a difference. Do I really NEED to use the sway bar? I understand its purpose, but I still don't notice a difference.

 

[alohamonte]

I replaced the ford sway bar endlinks with over 130k miles on them because I wanted to freshen it up. The aftermarket ones exploded 2 months later. I replaced them a second time with (I forget exactly) napa or autozone and it's been a year and they're holding up. Explorers are hard on parts, if you go cheap, you'll buy it twice. Learned that lesson with the ball joints too.