Cali' Explorer
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- December 14, 2003
- Messages
- 474
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Sacramento, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '97 XLT 5.0
Hey all, well, it seems like just when I get one problem fixed on the X, another one pops up.
I've been noticing that the last couple of weeks my Explorer has had very stiff steering. It is especially noticeable after I drive on the Freeway. I first thought it was the PS Fluid, which I am in the process of flushing with fresh ATF (per Ford's Documentation). Anywho, I've begun realizing that it seems more like its a result of the Transfer Case. Then, I went through my records from my last Oil Change (about 2k ago), and noticed that my Tires were all screwy.
On tread depts, the Front left is at 797/32, front right is 897/32 and back 2 are both 999/32 (this may be 7.97 and 8.92, I'm not a tire guru or anything). Well, after seeing this, I checked my front suspension and found that my front left was sagging almost 1" lower than the right side (measured from the Wheel Well to the top of the Rim). Well, I jacked the car up and cranked down some on the Torsion bars to equalize them out and seems to have made it better, but its still way stiffer than it should be to steer.
At this point, my guess is its because the tires are not all equal sizes and it is causing the T-Case to Lock up and then put extra strain on the Driveline. Is it possible that rotating and balancing might give me enough life to at least safely drive it another week or two. In a couple of weeks I start school and don't drive my car at all and really don't have money to go buying new tires, but I also don't have money to buy a new T-Case, so I'm wondering, all you AWD Guru's, what should my next step be?
I've been noticing that the last couple of weeks my Explorer has had very stiff steering. It is especially noticeable after I drive on the Freeway. I first thought it was the PS Fluid, which I am in the process of flushing with fresh ATF (per Ford's Documentation). Anywho, I've begun realizing that it seems more like its a result of the Transfer Case. Then, I went through my records from my last Oil Change (about 2k ago), and noticed that my Tires were all screwy.
On tread depts, the Front left is at 797/32, front right is 897/32 and back 2 are both 999/32 (this may be 7.97 and 8.92, I'm not a tire guru or anything). Well, after seeing this, I checked my front suspension and found that my front left was sagging almost 1" lower than the right side (measured from the Wheel Well to the top of the Rim). Well, I jacked the car up and cranked down some on the Torsion bars to equalize them out and seems to have made it better, but its still way stiffer than it should be to steer.
At this point, my guess is its because the tires are not all equal sizes and it is causing the T-Case to Lock up and then put extra strain on the Driveline. Is it possible that rotating and balancing might give me enough life to at least safely drive it another week or two. In a couple of weeks I start school and don't drive my car at all and really don't have money to go buying new tires, but I also don't have money to buy a new T-Case, so I'm wondering, all you AWD Guru's, what should my next step be?
