Problems with pulling to the right,, please help!

[Isaac]

Hi,, I recently bought a 92' Ford Explorer, and I got it very cheap, it had been in a small crash, on the drivers side there is body damidge, and also from what i can see and also the alignment tech that has worked on it,, cannot find any bent or damidged frame or suspensoin parts.
the truck has always pulled to the right, took it in and they lined it up twice, to getting both the caster and camber perfect with factory specs.
(the caster on the passengers side was way out in the front)
The truck still pulls to the right, not as bad as before but it still pulls,, i took it back in and they put it back on the rack,, and everything is in,, they switched tires around seeing if it was tire pull,, still not going straight.
the stearing box seems to have some "slop" in it.
could this be the prob?.
Thanx for any help you can give!!

 

[Isaac]

No one has any ideas??

no one??

 

[Marvin CNG]

I'm having the same problem with my '94 4x4..

Had it from new, so I know its not a crash or wreck problem.
Has 96K miles, and started pulling right about 2 months ago. Slight vibration at 65-70 also.
Replaced both front tires and had them balanced then re-balanced. Alignment done then re-done.

My current working theory is Radius Arm bushings. It's about time, and the RH side is closer to the catalyst so should go first....
Gonna drop the prop-shaft and check UJs and lube the splines today. then take it to an Explorer expert to diagnose.

 

[Isaac]

i just looked more closly and there is play in my right side radus arm bushing,, (The poly ones!!)
will be changing them this weekend im guessing thats the prob,, i dont have any type of "heat sheald" everyone is talking about,, im guessing it was never put back on whenever the poly bushings were put on and this is why,,
im going to make a custom aluminum sheild for it.

 

[fordkrazy]

how much is is pulling? you might want to check the rear axel alignment and see if anything is bent like the shackles. i dont think that the loose bushing would make it pull unless it is really torn up. if it was cause it was loose it would go wacky when you hit the brakes the thickness of the bushing and length of the arm locates the axel to the factory location and unless a componet is bent you should be ok. also if its the bushing you will hear a clunk on bumps or when you brake and turn.

 

[Isaac]

like i said,,,,,

there's play in the right side,, about a half inch to an inch , when braking it pulls left,, when costing or powering (same anytime other then braking) it pulls to the right.
it had a 4 wheel alignment so i know nothing in the back is bent

 

[Marvin CNG]

I'm still chasing my Pull to Right.
Happens under power or coasting. Not noticable under braking.

John at 'Explorer Express' (great people - really helpful) drove it and pronounced the Radius Arm Bushings OK.
He drove it up and down a few kerbs and tried braking hard. No clunking noises at all.
Sooner or later I'm gonna have to replace them - but I'm inclined to wait.

So, I'm kinda at a loss for the next step ??

 

[fordkrazy]

marvin...your prob. sounds like sticky brakes. check to see if a caliper is sticking or the drum is to tight.

 

[mmsdrummer]

My Explorer was in a wreck before I got it, and its always pulled to the right. Like anything involving bent metal you can never get it back to perfect condition again unless you buy something fairly new -- besides, this way it keeps me more alert when driving on long trips

 

[Isaac]

well,,,,,,,,,

I'm not crazy at all about the constint pull to the right, i am going to be making a trip from PA. to MO. with my 92. which is 1100 mils one way and i realy dont want to deal with this pullingto the right the whole trip.
with so many of us having this very same problem,, something has to be wearing out in these rigs,,
what about I beam pivot bushings?
or maybe the Fluid system on the stearing box? gotta be a way to fix this!!!

 

[mrboyle]

The pull you are experiencing is due to the worn radius arm bushing (mine is dooing the same thing currently). What causes the pull is when the bushing on the right side wears it allows the end of the radius arm to rotate up. This rotation causes you to lose caster on the right side, which cuuses the caster split to be off. The vehicle will pull to the side with the least amount of caster (right in our case). The problem typically will not show up during an alingment (altough they should have checked for worn parts prior to the alingment) because the radius arm doesn't rotate until it is under load (being driven).

 

[Tekeman]

Can the lower ball joints (Bad ones) cause the pulling?

 

[mrboyle]

Yes bad lower ball joints can cause a pull, but the bad radius arm bushing is the most common cause after a bad tire.

 

[leggo]

how hard is it pulling? is it literally turning the steering wheel or is it just an annoying coast kind of thing.

mrboyle is right that they should have checked for play in everything before the alingment. Also make sure you get a spec. print out next time.

if the case was that everything was o.k. (radius arms bushings included) I would start to look in the direction of Fordcrazy and say that it could be a sticky caliper.
Check the caliper slide pins and look for uneven pad wear.

I will take it a step farther. Check your front auto. locking hubs.
Some body with this problem earlier noted a vibration at higher speeds, this could be out of balance wheels, but it could also be that his automatic locking hub is engaged and is turning the front driveline?
The hubs are notorius for failure.
bEFORE i bought my warn hubs, my autos would engage by themselves all the time.
If the right hub was engaged and the left one was running free, I imagine it could cause a pull.

 

[Isaac]

yes ,, no,,

yes it's like turning the wheel,, pulling hard to thew right.
no the hubs are fine.

 

[MeatWagon]

pulling right

I'm sorry ,but I have to disagree about the radius arm bushing theory . I have a 94 X and I put a Rancho lift in it , that has new extended radius arms . Even with the new bushings , new tires , alignment , and everything else in good shape , it still pulls to the right . You do want to check your brakes . Look at the pivot pins and lube them , also make sure the caliber is releasing properly . I hate to be the one to tell you but the pulling to the right and the shimmy at 65-70 is a common mysterious problem in rigs around that year .

 

[coyoteugly]

pulling right

Had the same problem with pulling to the right. Just had alignment done. Pull gone. Toe in was off. Drives straight as an arrow now.

 

[Yomie]

Originally posted by fordkrazy
marvin...your prob. sounds like sticky brakes. check to see if a caliper is sticking or the drum is to tight.

I'm with him, and that was the first thing that popped into my head. Maybe the passenger side caliper is sticking shut causing the pull to the right, when you hit the brakes the drivers side caliper closes causing this pull to vanish only when the brakes are applied

 

[Shotguns2]

I have the same problem too on my '91 Sport, i got an alignment today and it still pulls to the right but not as bad. even when braking.

 

[Isaac]

well,,,,,,

put the new radius arm bushings in and it helped,, but the problem is still there but the new bushings have lessened the problems, but they are STILL a problem.....................................................