attn: 4wd guys, trucks pulls L/R in 4wd?
 

I dont think i ever really noticed this before my 4.56 gears. I got the truck all buttoned up ready to go and took it out on the road to test it out. I know you arent really suppost to drive in 4wd on dry pavement, but i wanted to hook it in and test out the gears.

I was doing 40-50ish, let off the gas, clicked it over to 4wd, and slowly got back on the gas. It was pulling to the left pretty good. It pulls at any speed and when i am accelerating, crusing, or letting off the gas.

Like i said i never really noticed this too much before, but i usually never drive on dry pavement in 4wd either.

Anything i should be concerned about? (i have the stock differential too)

Thanks.

Just a guess but have you checked your alignment.

Alignment should be good. New upperballjoints were installed a few weeks back as well as an alignemt after.

Hmmm. My truck only torque steers when I "launch" it but when I'm at speed and put it in 4wd it doesn't pull in any direction.

Interesting, i wonder if this is a sign of a worn suspension part. Maybe a lower balljoint, bad tie-rod, etc. Im not really sure though.

Whatever it is good luck with it . Sorry I couldn't help any more.

Was the road slanted or a crowned road?

Either way on dry pavement its going to do funny things...

Front tires are turning faster than the rears, which means even if stuff is just a bit off it will show more while in 4wd.

Was the steering wheel wanting to turn? Or was the steering wheel feeling just fine but it pulled to the Left anyway while in 4wd?

Let's try the simple stuff first.
Check the air pressure in all your tires with a guage.

It had nothing really to do with the road, truck was moving straight until i switched over to 4wd.

I guess i dont know what you are asking in the last 2 sentences. As soon as i put it in 4wd, the steering wheel would force itself to the left (kinda like when your alignment is off)


Air pressure is regularly monitored so that shouldnt be an issue.

BTW, I took the truck on the expressway today (2wd of course) and it felt like the steering was wandering. Almost like on a windy day when you get pushed around, but there was'nt really any wind today.

It dosent seem to wander when i am driving through town though, say 50 mph and under.

I think i need to drive it more and pinpoint everything though.

Tie rods. Check the inner and outers.

You didn't notice it in 2wd while driving around town b/c there wasn't much load on the tie rods. When you either have a lot of force on the tie rods (i.e. 4wd or driving on the hwy with lots of wind) or steer, you will notice the play.

That is something that needs attention immidiately. It may very well be the inner tie rods.

I was afraid of that. The outer's are connected to the knuckle, where are the inners located?

I think i answered my question, the tie-rods look like 1 piece, but are split due to the threads right? So the outers are connected to the Knuckle and inners are what have the boot on them, right?

Look at what your driving. Its going to wander since it is so huge.

Jack your front end up and grab the wheel and try to move it. If it wiggles it could be wheel bearings or tie rods. 4WD will wonder a bit on the road. remember your running huge tires, big lift, its not gunna drive like a new car

I know that Josh, but this is the first instance that this has occoured. I'm just playing it safe and checking to see if this is something i should be concerned about.

Bah drive it till your wheel falls off. JJ try jacking it up and grab the tires. See if it wiggles. That should tell ya if you have bad ball tie rods or wheel bearings. Atleast this works on semis

haha, i did drive it till the wheels fell off, remeber?!!!

How would i tell the difference between wheel bearings and the tie-rods?

Ya thats why i said that lol.

I have no clue, just know its a bad sign lol

ah, wasnt a fun experience to say the least.

I'll check the truck out tomorow..

Could be inners.

Have fun with that. Mine where shot and so did Bills, we changed them on bills but never did on mine because it is such a pain in the ass.

Good luck... I dont really want to do it on another track again... I vote let the dealer do it.

btw Jack the truck up and off the ground, turn the steering wheel back and forth real fast if there is slop and clanking then its the inners

I jacked the truck up today. The drivers side is probably good, tire really didnt move at all. The passenger side DID move a little so im thinking its probably worn a bit.

If i go through having someone install inners for me, im going to have both sides replaced and be done with it.

My question now is, how long can i drive on the worn passenger side tie-rod?

With the truck on or off?

With the truck off but the key in the run position so that the steering wheel is not locked.

BTW you can run with bad inners for a long ass time. I ran 6 months...

What if you turn the wheel back and forth and you hear that sound when its running and on the ground. (GF's Taurus is doing this)