Hey guys,
Got a stumper here. I have a '93 4cyl 2.3l manual transmission Ranger. When I make a turn from a stop (turning the wheels whole time) it feels like I am driving over gravel, but really only in the back right tire. A little like it's hanging back, or something. I also noticed something similar when making a left turn, while moving. I drove over one of those little blue reflector things on the road and it felt like it hung up a little more than it should. Also, this doesn't happen all of the time, just occasionally.

Could it be something specific to the clutch? Or maybe a hanging brake or such. Input greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

 

check your rear diff fluid. is it 4wd? could also be a wheel bearing

 

I know EXACTLY what your talking about ,you need to go to ford parts counter and buy a small bottle of ( FRICTION MODIFIER ) for your rear differential and you might as well change the fluid in it BEFORE you ad the friction modifier, generally speaking you don't need to change the fluid in the rear diff for the simple fact that the diff does NOT experience extreme heat like an engine does there fore the oil last a very long time, I think ford recommends changing the fluid every 100,000 miles but don't quote me on this, of course you will have the die hard people that change their diff fluids damn near as often as they change there engine oil but they really are wasting their time and money since the diff does NOT experience extreme heat.

Anyways the bottle cost about 4 bucks from ford and your GRAVEL FEEL will go away in a couple hundred miles or less, if it does not you have a mechanical issue that will need to be addressed.

EDIT!!!!

I noticed you have a truck that probably does not have a limited slip diff soooooooooo the friction modifier I believe will be useless in an open diff, can you elaborate a bit more on your truck and it;s set up!!

 

I was just riding with my friend and his car did it too, a bit. However, he has a Honda Accord. Then I realized... it just rained this morning. Must be something to do with manual transmission and wet pavement.

 

sure you just arent slightly spinning a wheel on take off? I know it sounds stupid but it sounds kind of like that. My Ranger will slightly chatter across STOP sign and crosswalk paint because of the LSD. Even my old one iwth the open diff would spin when it was wet (continentals SUCKED).

My Cougar chatters and chirps and burps around any corner under power, but its got a locker so its manly lol.

 

1996ranger4x4supercabstx- he would have the same diff as me. mine's a 93 also with an 8.8 limited slip rear end. but i havent noticed any gravel feeling tho.. and in the rain my rear tires spin at every light and stop sign and i live in the country where the roads arent so smooth so its hards for me to feel it..

sounds like wheel bearings.. possibly could be wrong tho.. hmmm.

EDIT: forgot to mention i have the 4.0L V6 though also 5 speed.

 

Yea, it's happened to me a few more times and I am pretty convinced it's just rain. Surprised that didn't come to me beforehand. Oh, well. I would not imagine that a 17 year old Ranger would have the best slip reduction.

 

Not true. Rangers came with a couple of different rear differentials as well as different gear ratios and so on and so forth. Judging by the fact that he has the 2.3, I could guess that he has the 7.5 open, but I could be completely wrong.