Front Binding in reverse with wheels turned (both ways)

[skers09]

2011 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD. Nasty bind in the front when backing out and wheels turned all the way. Replaced driver CV axle and no change. It's not a constant clicking like a bad cv axle. It binds at times and when gas is pressed it lets lose with a loud clunk.
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[Rick]

I would get a mechanics stethoscope to try and isolate the noise.

Amazon product ASIN B01BUJZBOO

 

[J_C]

Welcome to the forum! You might see if you can get a mod to move this topic over to the 5th gen subforum.

How many miles on it? Have you been replacing the PTU fluid on regular intervals?

Some people suggest replacing PTU oil every 30K mi, or more often than that in severe duty use. That's what it seems like to me, a cooked PTU giving out, so I'd drain the fluid and examine it for a metallic color or particles, or if it's never been changed then it might be like mud by now.

EDIT: It starts out clear and gets more black and thick the worse it is. If too thick, you may want to flush it out and if you don't have a bottom drain plug, that requires making one, drilling and taping a hole and then correct size short bolt with a metal crush washer (or possibly silicone gasket) to seal it, or taking the PTU off. I mean if you only have a top fill plug, you could still try to flush by using a solvent and then siphoning muck back out, but it's far from best practice and if there are mucky chunks they might not siphon or even come loose easily.

If it looks okay, just black colored like everyones' is, refill with new fluid. Check your manual for capacity, later 5th gens held 18oz, 75W-140 synthetic gear lube.

If it doesn't look okay, might try replacing the fluid anyway but by then it's likely to need at least the PTU replaced or rebuilt. Might have also damaged the spline on the transmission. I would limit driving it direct to a shop if you don't DIY the work, even if you don't put it in reverse.

 

[skers09]

Welcome to the forum! You might see if you can get a mod to move this topic over to the 5th gen subforum.

How many miles on it? Have you been replacing the PTU fluid on regular intervals?

Some people suggest replacing PTU oil every 30K mi, or more often than that in severe duty use. That's what it seems like to me, a cooked PTU giving out, so I'd drain the fluid and examine it for a metallic color or particles, or if it's never been changed then it might be like mud by now.

If it looks okay, refill with new fluid. Check your manual for capacity, later 5th gens held 18oz, 75W-140 synthetic gear lube.

If it doesn't look okay, might try replacing the fluid anyway but by then it's likely to need at least the PTU replaced or rebuilt. Might have also damaged the spline on the transmission. I would limit driving it direct to a shop if you don't DIY the work, even if you don't put it in reverse.

Hi J_C. The Explorer has around 146k miles. I recently bought it so I don't know if the PTU fluid has ever been changed. I will start there I guess. Thanks for your advice!