Rear End sliding in snow and rain

[lorieann1224]

The rear end of my car slides in any speed during rain and snow. I had the recalls completed for the rear toe link and Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies prior to winter. I have never driven studded snow tires on any vehicle but only good all season radials. I actually had to have studded tires put on this vehicle and saw only a slightly better improvement. This thing drives like a front end drive pickup. Even after I switch it into snow mode it is horrible. My Lincoln MKX drove like a champ and never had any issues in any weather. What is wrong with this vehicle and what can I do to improve driving performance in in-climate weather??

 

[Michael Blackburn]

Heh, this time peterk9 can't tell you to put snowtires on.
In previous threads

Snow mode rear end "sway"

Hi I have driven my 2014 Explorer a few times in the snow this year, and when ever I am in Snow Mode, on a snowy, or slippery road, the rear end feels like it is swaying back and forth when I'm at speeds higher than 20 or 30 MPH. When I say Sway, I mean to the point where I feel the need to...

www.explorerforum.com

the only remedy found was a full alignment. This usually gets the tires back in line and prevents the rear end from trying to go to the front. You may have to have several different shops do an alignment until one of them gets it right.
Fritz

 

[lorieann1224]

Heh, this time peterk9 can't tell you to put snowtires on.
In previous threads

Snow mode rear end "sway"

Hi I have driven my 2014 Explorer a few times in the snow this year, and when ever I am in Snow Mode, on a snowy, or slippery road, the rear end feels like it is swaying back and forth when I'm at speeds higher than 20 or 30 MPH. When I say Sway, I mean to the point where I feel the need to...

www.explorerforum.com

the only remedy found was a full alignment. This usually gets the tires back in line and prevents the rear end from trying to go to the front. You may have to have several different shops do an alignment until one of them gets it right.
Fritz

The dealership claims they did this after the completed the recalls. Sadly I have had mechanical issues with this vehicle within 2 days of purchase and this seems to be one more thing I have to put on the list. Thank you for your input.

 

[J_C]

One issue some people have had with the toe link replacement was that it changes how an alignment is done and if the nut (or was it bolt, or both...) that sets alignment is not tightened down enough, it can slip out of alignment.

 

[peterk9]

The dealership claims they did this after the completed the recalls. Sadly I have had mechanical issues with this vehicle within 2 days of purchase and this seems to be one more thing I have to put on the list. Thank you for your input.

Welcome to the Forum.
Not very many owners have found the need to use studded tires. Is this issue a recent development or have you always had it?
I always use dedicated winter tires when the season calls for them and have never experienced this "rear-end sway" on any of them.
If it does this in the rain then I would guess that the issue isn't with the tires.
There are several that had it and resolved it by having a 4-wheel alignment done. That's where I would start.

Peter

 

[BrettS.]

Are you saying the rear end is swaying or sliding? This is two different things. Swaying would mean there is a broken/defective suspension component or the vehicle is out of alignment. Sliding would indicate poor tread tires, icy road conditions, too much application of throttle, or a brake issue. I actually find it hard to kick the rear end out on these Explorers. With limited torque to the rear and with stability control it tames it pretty quick. Makes it hard in the winter to slide around turns without the vehicle cutting throttle and activating one or more brakes.

 

[lorieann1224]

Welcome to the Forum.
Not very many owners have found the need to use studded tires. Is this issue a recent development or have you always had it?
I always use dedicated winter tires when the season calls for them and have never experienced this "rear-end sway" on any of them.
If it does this in the rain then I would guess that the issue isn't with the tires.
There are several that had it and resolved it by having a 4-wheel alignment done. That's where I would start.

Peter

I have never used studded snow tires on any vehicle, this is the first vehicle that I have that I purchased a set for. The wheel alignment was done days after the purchase. It is only during inclement weather that I have had an issue. It is only in the rear of the vehicle that it slides, almost like I was driving a front wheel truck with an empty bed. This is the only reason I ended up purchasing studs.

 

[v6ranger]

The rear end of my car slides in any speed during rain and snow. I had the recalls completed for the rear toe link and Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies prior to winter. I have never driven studded snow tires on any vehicle but only good all season radials. I actually had to have studded tires put on this vehicle and saw only a slightly better improvement. This thing drives like a front end drive pickup. Even after I switch it into snow mode it is horrible. My Lincoln MKX drove like a champ and never had any issues in any weather. What is wrong with this vehicle and what can I do to improve driving performance in in-climate weather??

Same! Even though we get lots of snow (Canada), I've only ever had all-season tires. Now at 200,000 miles... so I know how it usually drives and it's usually a reliable beast in the snow. Never had an issue. Since this snow season however, it feels like the rear end "fights itself" and wants to slide out as soon as there's the least bit of slush or snow on the road. Recalls (incl. toe links) are all completed, and new rear upper knuckled bushings installed. No other parks need replacing. It's now been aligned 3 different times (from the same place mind you), but still not change. I even bought 4x new tires (again all-season), but that didn't help either. Time to bring it somewhere else to get it aligned I'm afraid.

 

[peterk9]

^^ Welcome to the Forum.
Even though you haven't had an issue with all-season tires until now, dedicated winter tires may help. I use them every winter and have never had a "rear sliding issue" with any vehicle. They also remain more pliable in cold weather where all-seasons begin to stiffen and lose maximum traction at just 6 degrees C or 43 F.

Peter

 

[v6ranger]

^^ Welcome to the Forum.
Even though you haven't had an issue with all-season tires until now, dedicated winter tires may help. I use them every winter and have never had a "rear sliding issue" with any vehicle. They also remain more pliable in cold weather where all-seasons begin to stiffen and lose maximum traction at just 6 degrees C or 43 F.

Peter

Thanks Peter, but nope. I have winters on my other vehicles and very much agree that they help tremendously. However, this is my 9th winter with this Explorer, and this handling issue is new. There’s definitely something amiss with the old thing. I was glad I stumbled upon this thread. I’ll report back after my next alignment.

 

[J_C]

It's now been aligned 3 different times (from the same place mind you), but still not change. I even bought 4x new tires (again all-season), but that didn't help either. Time to bring it somewhere else to get it aligned I'm afraid.

Some shops don't realize that the rear end can be aligned with the recall-replacement toe links. I've read of people who had to show shops a youtube video or text instructions to educate them. When you had the alignment done, did you get a printout showing the alignment specs?

Even then, I've read of some people who apparently did not have the alignment bolts tightened enough so the wheel(s) slipped out of alignment later. I also wonder if they are more subject to coming out of alignment if the wheel hits a curb/pothole/bump/etc.

My replacement toe links have stayed in alignment so far, at least I don't notice squirrely handling in the rear, nor are the tires wearing unevenly which is an eventual sign of the alignment being off.