Need some info

[stifler27870]

hey and thanks in advance. i have a 96 xlt explorer with the sport trac 4wd. a couple of days ago i got stuck, and 3 of the tires dug in but the front driver side didnt look to be pulling. is there anyway to see if the axle is broken or if it is pulling? or how the 4wd is setup on that year ?

 

[gmanpaint]

You have an open front differential. This is what happens without a limited slip or a locker. Completely normal.

 

[Electrohacker]

you probably have a limited slip rear diff or else only two tire would have dug in

 

[Paraphoe]

You have an open front differential. This is what happens without a limited slip or a locker. Completely normal.

Beat me to it. This is why you'll hear people on here pushing lockers so much. Gets rid of 3wd.


stifler, to clarify, with an 'open' diff, all power will be transferred to the tire that is slipping, resulting in that tire spinning more and the opposite tire sitting there, useless. Getting a locker will "lock" the diff/axle, allowing power to be distributed evenly between the two tires. Limited slip is better than open, but still not fully locked.