front end grind

[Ford By Choice]

I recently became a 4X4 owner for the first time so please bear with me. I have a '92 Explorer. On occasion when I come to a stop I hear a grinding from the front drivers wheel area. I actually have to stand on the brake pedal in order to stop. I have noticed this from time to time on a friends Jeep and another friends Subaru. I have manual hubs and a manual transmission with push button 4X4. The Jeep is automatic with manual selector for the 4X4 and auto hubs. So different configurations with the same problems. I have heard people here refer to a jackhammer effect. This is just grinding on occasion that goes away just as quickly as it started. Thanks

 

[IZwack]

Have you checked the brake pads?

 

[Ford By Choice]

Read the thread. The grinding is not constant like worn pads would be. This is 4X4 specific. I have had front wheel drives and rear wheel drive. It seems like something is trying to engage or not fully engaged.... and doing what it is doing on its own.

 

[IZwack]

Isnt that the ABS? The brakes are being modulated/pulsed resulting in the jackhammer effect.

 

[Ford By Choice]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Interesting.... Would the ABS be kicking in at driveway speeds as well? My Ranger has ABS and all I hear from it is a ticking sound when activated. This is a 4X4 specific problem. It sounds and feels like gears that are trying to mesh togeher.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Did you pull the wheels off to inspect everything?

 

[Ford By Choice]

Yes I pulled off the front wheels when this first started thinking it was a brake issue. The dealer said unless they could stop and pull it apart at the very moment it was happening that would help. Otherwise they would need to keep it and drive it daily until it happened again.

 

[Dopler174]

My ABS makes a "BAWUNNNNNNG!" sound when it goes off.

 

[IZwack]

This is a 4X4 specific problem.

Okay well I'm out of ideas.