please help!! front end "pop" in 4x4

[pmCortez]

ok i have a 94 explorer when i drive in 4x4 every once and a while just cruisin up a hill with light throttle no bumps the front end would just make a loud "pop" noise loud enough to feel. ive researched on the site and i cant find as answer. i just put 3.73 gears, new ball joints, and wheel bearings. the front left rotor is warped and vibrates on the highway when i apply the brakes, i dont think this could have anything to do with it but i thought i would throw that out their. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[94fourdoor]

O.K. Cortez... I'm gonna start by saying sorry, but I don't know the answer to your question... but... I had the same problem in my 94 and for the life of me, I could not find the guilty culpret!!! I had people stand next too it while I wheeled up a small hill and they couldn't even figure it out! I'm not shure if we have the EXACT same problem, because I never could figure it out, but I did narrow it down to the passenger side front ( thanks to my buddy laying on his stomach hanging over the side to see if he could hear anything/die young! ) It was like a binding noise and then POP! It did that to me every time I would wheel... BUT... It stopped as soon as I put my lift on it!!! It hasn't made a noise since! It blows me away that that fixed the "ghost problem"... but I wish you good luck and just wanted to let you know that you not the only one with the suspicious POP! I would love to hear from someone else that actually FOUND the damn problem and beat it to death! Best of luck buddy!

 

[pmCortez]

lol well thanks for the quick reply and for trying. it just pisses me off its so damn loud. i sold the x to a friend and got an 04. just trying to figure it out for him cuz its been doin it for a while, and it cant be good but idk.lol thanx

 

[Clutch1819]

I have a 91 with the same problem. but on the driverside. someone told me it was the auto hubs doin that. after stripping out about 3 sets i finally bought the warn manual hubs and it doesnt do it anymore.

 

[pmCortez]

o lol. that seems to simple but i guess ill give it a shot. he want manuals anyway

 

[SuddenDeath]

It's your hubs. I had the same thing. Go to manuals and you'll loose the problem.

 

[pmCortez]

Well the hubs could definently b the problem. But we put in 4high on the road just to see, when we would start moving the drivers side wheel would have a binding sound and then" pop" very loud. Do you think it could definently be the auto Hub binding up right?

 

[SuddenDeath]

Yeah, it's the hub. Plus, for future reference...driving on the dry, normal pavement with 4x4 engaged isn't a good idea.

Replace those autohubs with new ones or just put on manuals.

 

[cmhaah06]

I believe it is the hubs as well. My 91 does the same thing binding then POP!. I replaced the old autos it had on it when I bought it and it stopped for a while. Then while on the trail it started all over and I could not make it up a lil hill with some small ruts. Luckily I made it out in 2wd (not fun). I plan on replacing with manuals pretty soon though. Money dictates my next move.