99 Explorer 2 door, pulls to the right in 4X4

[Blueraven]

I just purchased this vehicle and am still in the process of checking everything out.
Today, I switched it to full time 4X4 high and it pulls hard to the right.
I'm guessing the left wheel isn't pulling.

I haven't tried 4X4 low.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Blueraven

 

[gijoecam]

Umm, I don't think you're on the right path there. If there was something broken in the front drivetrain, NEITHER wheel would be pulling when in 4wd.

So, in 4AUTO, it tracks straight, but in 4HIGH it pulls to the right? I'd be looking at the tires first: Are they all the same size, age, and roughly the same treadware?

 

[Blueraven]

Going down the road in Auto it drives and tracks great, there is a slight vibration under heavy acceleration, but I hoping that is a simple u-joint problem.

I will say that the right appears to be out of camber. The tire is worn out on the inside.
It needs new tires, so I'll be getting an alignment after I put new tires on it.

So what you're saying is there is nothing independent in the front end that would cause one wheel to pull and not the other?

I haven't owned a Ford since the mid-1980s, so I don't know how they've been put together, but I'm sure I will be learning.

thanks,

 

[gijoecam]

Going down the road in Auto it drives and tracks great, there is a slight vibration under heavy acceleration, but I hoping that is a simple u-joint problem.

I will say that the right appears to be out of camber. The tire is worn out on the inside.
It needs new tires, so I'll be getting an alignment after I put new tires on it.

Before you worry about the pull under any circumstances, you need ot have the alignment sorted out. I would suspect that, unless they've been changed recently, it may need ball joints and/or tie rods too. That can cause a lot of peculiar handling conditions.

So what you're saying is there is nothing independent in the front end that would cause one wheel to pull and not the other?

Correct. There's nothing in the front differential that would allow just one of the front tires to pull. It's nothing more than an open differential. If something going to one side was broken, (e.g. halfshaft, drive axle, spider gear, etc.) NEITHER front wheel would receive any power.

 

[Blueraven]

Thanks all, I will be going through the truck this weekend looking for any issues that need addressing.
It's in good shape, however with 128k, I'm sure I'll find some things that need service.

I bought this for my teen Son and he doesn't need a full time ride until Jan. so we've got time to play with this one.

I'm sure you guys will hear from me again and I will post any resolutions that I discover.

Thanks,
Blueraven

 

[Blueraven]

The last post on this issue was about 3 months ago but I hate leaving a post without it's resolution.

Well today we finally got some snow so I was able to get out and check out the 4 wheel drive.

Well, I'll have to say, with snow on the roads the pull to the right is gone and it tracks through the snow without issue.

So I'm guessing the pull is just me not being familiar with this truck and it's 4 wheel drive on dry pavement.

Blueraven