engineeering
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- July 3, 2014
- Messages
- 202
- Reaction score
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 06 explorer xlt 4x4
I'm assuming when you mention that you replaced axles... you referred to the entire half-shaft assemblies up front (includes new CVs). If so... I think we can eliminate the following:
- not bearing
- not axle runout
- not CVs
- not Front driveshaft (**** note: notorious vibration on load is a bad u-joint. If they re-used the u-joint on the driveshaft replacement (not typical), the problem would persist. I also recommend machined u-joints not those cheap moog ones.. those always break).
Since the operation of the transfercase (4x4 button) is changing the "bump" or "pop", you may have 2 separate issues OR they are both related to the transfer case. My problem (similar to yours but no "pop")... is only vibration.
Have you dropped some fluid from the front diff? If it is looking clean, it is probably the t-case acting up. Try the same thing (drop fluid) from the t-case and see what it looks like. I will do the same (keep procrastinating now that the weather is nice. hahah. but note... I have swapped an 01 tcase to support my manual swap so I suspect u-joint or front diff primarily if we have the same issue.)
Another really great thing to try is dis-connect the brown wire from your t-case (power that engages the AWD or 4x4). In general... you will have "power" only to the rear drive shaft (front assemblies will still "spin" but will not be under load). I have a relay that does this from my dash for burn-outs (LOL).. but I have NO vibration with the power off (ie... AWD clutch disengaged).
ps. 4x4 is very similar to AWD in these trucks whereby the clutch (in the t-case) only engages (sending power to front) when the advanced trac detects spinning (at least that is my take on it). Note also that the rear and front diffs (when stock... not in my case) ... are free spinning and not limited slip. That means that power to the front or rear may free-spin one wheel as all power would go to that wheel if it does not have traction. Ford solves this by programming the advance trac to "engage" the brake on that wheel only if it starts to spin (Fords cheap but somewhat effective way to manage the 4x4). (again... only my understanding of the system.. could be wrong... but I don't see how these trucks can have a true locking 4x4 with open diffs without utilizing the brake. I am also going off memory from some other in-depth blogs that I am somewhat recalling as I'm typing).
pss. I hate advance trac as my big tires trigger abs (among other issues) so i have permanently deleted it via SCT
- not bearing
- not axle runout
- not CVs
- not Front driveshaft (**** note: notorious vibration on load is a bad u-joint. If they re-used the u-joint on the driveshaft replacement (not typical), the problem would persist. I also recommend machined u-joints not those cheap moog ones.. those always break).
Since the operation of the transfercase (4x4 button) is changing the "bump" or "pop", you may have 2 separate issues OR they are both related to the transfer case. My problem (similar to yours but no "pop")... is only vibration.
Have you dropped some fluid from the front diff? If it is looking clean, it is probably the t-case acting up. Try the same thing (drop fluid) from the t-case and see what it looks like. I will do the same (keep procrastinating now that the weather is nice. hahah. but note... I have swapped an 01 tcase to support my manual swap so I suspect u-joint or front diff primarily if we have the same issue.)
Another really great thing to try is dis-connect the brown wire from your t-case (power that engages the AWD or 4x4). In general... you will have "power" only to the rear drive shaft (front assemblies will still "spin" but will not be under load). I have a relay that does this from my dash for burn-outs (LOL).. but I have NO vibration with the power off (ie... AWD clutch disengaged).
ps. 4x4 is very similar to AWD in these trucks whereby the clutch (in the t-case) only engages (sending power to front) when the advanced trac detects spinning (at least that is my take on it). Note also that the rear and front diffs (when stock... not in my case) ... are free spinning and not limited slip. That means that power to the front or rear may free-spin one wheel as all power would go to that wheel if it does not have traction. Ford solves this by programming the advance trac to "engage" the brake on that wheel only if it starts to spin (Fords cheap but somewhat effective way to manage the 4x4). (again... only my understanding of the system.. could be wrong... but I don't see how these trucks can have a true locking 4x4 with open diffs without utilizing the brake. I am also going off memory from some other in-depth blogs that I am somewhat recalling as I'm typing).
pss. I hate advance trac as my big tires trigger abs (among other issues) so i have permanently deleted it via SCT
