clunking noise when cornoring

[47Rider]

Before I purchased my explorer my cousin hit a dear and spun the vehichle into the ditch.After the accident there was a noticable clunking when cornoring more when turning right.I immediatly inspected the tires and found flat spots on them so I rotated them and had the front end aligned the mechanic said it was a little out and that I had a tire that was out of round.I recently replaced all four tires and shocks but still can hear the noise.Could this be caused from the u joints on the front axle the cv joints being wore?

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91 Eddie Buar
192,000 miles

 

[Barnstormer]

47Rider

Are the hubs automatic? If so, make sure the hubs are unlocked. Try to turn the front drive shaft by hand. You should be able to turn it counterclock wise with out engaging automatic hubs. Manual hubs, you should be able to turn it either directions without difficulty.

If there is any binding with manual hubs; look at the cv joints.

If it is automatic hubs, and you can't turn the shaft, the t-case may be in gear. Try to engage the t-case and disengage it. The drive shaft should turn free counterclock wise.

Raise the front end off the ground and spin the front tires backwards. Can you hear the autohubs click out?

I have noticed binding in a right turn on my '91 more than a left turn. Sometimes off road.

Let us know what you find


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[ExploreMinnesota]

Don't know if this is related or not. Last May I started hearing strange noised from the front of my Explorer. It sounded like the front hubs (auto hubs) were starting to lock in sometimes when I would turn. If I backed up and turn from side to side it would clear up. Turned out to be the front axle U-joints were sticking. When I would turn the wheels the sticking U-joints would cause the drive shaft to turn to a position where the U-joint could bend. That would cause one of the hubs to partialy lock in.

Another symptom was when I'd put it in four wheel drive the steering wheel would pull back and forth if I turned the wheels either way. That's because the U-joint could not bend in one direction, so it would try to force the wheels straight again.

I replaced the U-joints and all is well. The hubs are still fine.

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ExploreMinnesota
91 EB 4x4 Stock

 

[mike91]

If I were you, I would get under the car and check your tie rods (if you don't know, they are connected to your sway bar.) If the nuts connecting your tie rods to your sway bar are loose, you will definitely hear a noise.
In addition, I would make sure that the bolts holding the sway bar to the chassis are bolted nice and tight. I changed my sway bar approx. half a year ago and just recently heard clunking when I turned. I then realized that the bolts needed tightening and the sway bar needed an adjustment.

 

[47Rider]

Alright I tried to turn the front drive shaft counter clock wise and the driverside hub locked in.After unlocking the hub I turned the drive shaft clockwise and the passengerside hub locked in but not the driverside.Next I raised the vehichle and tried spinning the front wheels backwards to see what was going on.I locked in the driver hub by turning the drive shaft counter clockwise and then tried to unlock it by spinning the wheel backwards, now it worked about 75% of the time, so something is going on there.Now on the other side I did the same thing but locked it in bye turning the driveshaft clockwise now this wheel would unlock when I spun it forward.I dont know what to make of this,I have had it off road a few times and the fourwheel drive apears to work fine it doesn't feel as if one wheel is pulling and one isn't.I hope someone has an idea as to what is going on down there.Thanks for the replies.

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91 Eddie Buar
192,000 miles