Severe CV/Front Diffy Binding

[V8BoatBuilder]

Last week when I had my front driveshaft out, I found out that when I tried to rotate my driver's side tire, I had a severe binding in the CV halfshaft or inside the front differential. The passenger side turns smoothly.

I just finnished replacing the driver's side CV joint with a reman unit, and am getting the same binding. The wheel "jams" every 1/4 turn.

Could something be funky inside the diff? If so, what? Or is this just normal? When I rotate the pinion, the passenger side wheel moves fine, but I get zero movement from the driver's side.

The fluid level was fine (changed less than a year ago), but while I was in there, I pumped out the old fluid and replaced with Mobil 1 synthetic.

Any Thoughts?

 

[JTX]

Was there any metal shavings or anything in the fluid?

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Fluid seemed fine, but it was pumped out, not drained.

 

[JDraper]

Was the front suspension hanging when you tried to turn the wheel, or did you support the truck by the a-arms? I've noticed on several Explorers that when the suspension is left to droop fully (especially with longer shocks), that it will reach a point where it binds up quite a bit.

 

[gavin]

wheel bearings... nobody said wheel bearings.. that's my guess!

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

New wheel bearing less than a year ago, and the wheel hub turned freely with no CV installed...

The suspention was at full droop, only limited by the shock. However, the pass side had zero binding.

 

[boominXplorer]

try doing the same by jacking it from the stock jack hook on the CA.

 

[Hartman]

The only thing that causes binding is the CV itself, unless there is something internally in the axle, which is unlikely. I just say replace the CV.