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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/1992 FORD EXPLORER 4 W/D

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Expert: - 1/7/2005


Question
FOR THE PAST MONTH, WHEN I ENGAGE MY 4 W/D FOR SNOW DRIVING, I COULD HEAR AN OCCASIONAL "THUMP" IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT WHEEL AREA. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT MUST BE A U-JOINT. YESTERDAY, I GOT STUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY & THE FRONT  WHEELS DIDN'T WANT TO ENGAGE ALL THE TIME. I COULD HEAR A CLICKING/WHIRRING/GRINDING  NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AS I ACCELERATED. DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FRONT U-JOINTS OR A COMPONENT IN THE WHEEL LOCK PARTS?
                THANX, KEVIN

Answer
Kevin,

Without, physically looking at, or listening to the problem, it is real hard to say what is wrong.  It can be anything from a u-joint/CV-joint in the front axle, to a faulty hub assembly.  I would jack up the Explorer, and pull the front wheel, and rotor to see if you can find any evidence of a broken part.  I would suggest that you purchase a repair manual from your local auto parts store if you don't have one, and wish to repair this yourself.

    Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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