touchy brakes and spinning

[Glen4X4]

Ok, I'm including this all in one thread to make it easier on everyone. First of all why are my brakes being very touchy when I drive it in really wet whether like today for instance. And the second thing I'm going to include the pics

<-- Ok my ex was on this black dirt pile and it was sittin more like the one in the brown dirt pile pic. and it started spinning lin rear and front and I had it in 4-low and I never really encountered this before and I know my tires are starting to wear a little low but my quest is, if I would put lockers in my rear like some ya'll have this will prevent just one tire from spinning and will be making both wheels grab? And can I install lockers on my stock rear or would I need to switch as you can see my tires sometimes go up into my fender wells more than I like too they dont rub but kinda makes me worry that I'm going to break my leafs, I know I've gotta get a lift because today is the 3rd time for busting my license plate bracket trying to go on a little bit of a slope. Thanks to ya'll for looking!

 

[Fordmandan87]

rear ls or locker would help dont worry about the leafs they should be fine werent u trying to sell that thing? check yor rotors for glazing but i think that it is just condensation on the rotor

 

[snoborder42]

Do you happen to have Ford brake pads? Every time I have ever had the brakes changed to genuine Ford pads (both on the explorer and f150) they are extremely touchy when they are wet. But it all goes away after a couple of times using the brakes. But since i changed the pads and went with a different brand, there has been no touchy brakes.

 

[Glen4X4]

no they're some after market brand and yeah I was tryin to sell it but for what some people consider the value is worth, so its worth more to me to just keep it and save on the side for a down payment for another'n it doesn't really cause me any trouble only things I've had to replace is the front 4X4 universals and front wheel bearings and of course had to have the hubs done lol. I'm goin to have to do some searchin on the threads an see what all is involved in the lockers.

 

[CodePoet]

If you have an open diff in the rear you can put a "lunchbox" locker in it. These basically just replace the spider gears with a locker. If you already have a limited slip you can rebuild them to be tigheter, but for a locker you'd have to replace the carrier with a "full" locker. For the front you have an open diff so a lunchbox will work there. You can also weld the rear (and front if you're feeling particularly saucy) but it wouldn't be nice for on road driving which i'm assuming you do more of. And you'd be risking many more broken parts.

Also, look into some 31" tires you should be able to put them on without too much of a gear problem. Don't worry about your tire stuffing...you're not going to break a leaf flexing it out on hills.

 

[Glen4X4]

Yeah, the exploder is my all around vehicle but I like to take it out and have fun with it too. So don't want to do anything to gerastic(sp?) with it that will effect my road performance much and think part of the reason is because the rearend is so light because even if I drive up into town if I pull out of an intersection or something and even if I'm already moving and I step on the pedal a little bit the rear will start to spin. I noticed this a could times when I'd pull out of a blind area and see a car coming I'd get on it a lil and it'd start fish tailing on me.

 

[CodePoet]

Another easy and cheap thing to do to help increase flex is to make a set of sway bar disconnects. Search around here and you'll find writeups. They allow you to quickly disconnect the sway bar which really effects how much your axle can move.

 

[Glen4X4]

Ok that sounds cool thanks for the heads up. Still will need to get better traction than what I have now.

 

[Glen4X4]

ok, thanks for the heads up, I'm still going to have to do something about better traction but better try a/t better treaded tires first since you say putting a locker in the rear can cause more mechanical failures.

 

[msmith65]

Every car I've ever owned has had touchy brakes the first couple of applications in wet weather.

 

[Glen4X4]

Well these brakes have been on my explorer for I can't remember now at least 10 months. Maybe its just the characteristic of my explorer then lol. I just didn't know if there were a way to eliminate it or not because ya know like 95% of the time you drive its dry and then when you start driving and its wet out and you get on the brakes it sometimes startles you because your use to having to press your brakes a little harder.

 

[Fordmandan87]

check your axle code if u have a track lock and it is spinning then try rebuilding the ls

 

[Glen4X4]

Ok, I'll go check that better take a wire brush with me while I'm at the last time I glanced at it, it was unreadable do to the dirt on it. oh quick quest. while I'm on here incase someone see's this right away. Is there a length in time period I should leave the batt. d/c before replacing the starter relay on the fender? Mine started throwing a fit lastnight at advance and then once again today so I wanna replace it today to double check to see if thats the prob. im pretty sure it is.

 

[quicklook2]

read the door code to find out what axle you have.

 

[Glen4X4]

I believe when I checked the last time that I know it has 3.27 gears. and forget the relay question I took the batt. terminals off and they had some corrosion that I couldn't see while they were hooked up I cleaned'em and now it fires right up. But yea I'll go check again.

 

[Fordmandan87]

what is the number on the door for the axle code

 

[Glen4X4]

It is 41

 

[Fordmandan87]

u have a 3.27 open differential that is why your rear wheels are spinning just upgrade to a track lock and that should help alot

 

[Glen4X4]

Alright, cool. Doing so would it require anymore routine maintenance than what it requires now? (checking gear oil)

 

[Fordmandan87]

a trac loc needs friction modifyer added when u put the fluid in other than that it requires the same maintance as an open differential