explorer "popping" during acceleration

[Fohtwin]

'02 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4

It's a really hard to explain problem I'm having... It started off, after driving the car for a good long while, while accelerating up hills it would be sluggish, and kind of "pop" or shake hard enough to actually move the car a bit. After a week or two, sometimes it will happen right after start up, sometimes not. Yesterday it did it all the way up to 60mph and that's when I decided it was time to find a good forum.

I replaced the air filter (which was HORRIBLE) and used fuel injector cleaner, but I'm wary to jump to any "expensive" solutions (economy and all....) any help would be much appreciated!

 

[kallieguzman]

This sounds kinda like my problem. I would say have someone check the differential. I ignored the problem and one morning it made a terrible loud noise like something big fell out of the car and going 40MPH the front tires completely locked. I had to have it towed and he said it's the differential gear. Priceyyy!!

 

[Fohtwin]

hmm... girlfriend says she was told there was a leak coming from the rear differential last time she had the oil changed (would have been nice to know that from the start). That could be it, but it kind of feels like it's coming from the front guess it's possible i could be mistaken.

thanks a ton