4 wheel drive issue

EXPLODERONDUECES

MEMBER
FORD EXPLORER

2003 Ford Explorer Limited w/ 76,500 miles on it. This vehicle is equipped w/ automatic 4wd. This problem only occurs after all the moving parts have warmed up, such as after driving for 20 mins or so. When I make left or right turns from a stop I get a vibration throughout the whole truck. It feels as if something is binding up. My cousin who is ASE certified for GM said to put it in 4wd and see what it does, so I did and I drove around a parking lot making turns from a stop and I seems as if the problem gets much much worse. Its not the skipping and dragging of the tires associated w/ most vehicles in 4wd its worse, it involves a lot of jerking and rough noise that are hard to explain. I just purchased this vehicle and do not want to have to return it if I dont have to. Please help me figure out this problem.

2 Replies

KAMRYNSDAD1976

MEMBER
9 POSTS

It sounds to like you may need to look at the cv joints up front, or possibly one of the front bearings. Jack the vehicle up in front and be sure to use jack stands! Grab the front tire and see if there is play up and down in the bearing of the hub. Make sure that the tire spins free even with the wheels turned. Look at the outer cv boots to see if there is any tears or cracks. The front shaft shouldn't turn when in 2-wheel drive but the locking hubs may be hanging engaged?