Grabs hard to left

Blake H

Blake H

New member
We recently got about 6in of unexpected snow and sleet and all....
While in 4h and cruising down the road my runner is lurching hard left when it hits a slick spot.
I'll be driving then unh to the left, like every time it gets traction or a slick spot or something. never noticed anything like it before... almost embarrassing as I see others cruising with no problems but I have to correct steering every few seconds.
I have new c.v.'s , a fresh 4.30 at front and good tires.
I DO have the front sway bar removed from a previous off road expedition... would that possibly cause my dilemma?
I am pretty sure the vac lines are correct... All though it does not want to disengage 4x on the fly at alll times anymore either... have to stop or pop clutch or hit reverse to disengage 4x at times.. sometimes it disengages fine though... , it always engages fine .
SWAY BAR?... (fingers are crossed) I just bought new front swaybar end links and am reinstalling the bar but had to drill out old bolts (broke off at removal) for frame mount brackets... willl be able to get it on and see for myself as soon as the weather clears,. But a piece of mind is what i am looking for as well.... ANYONE?
 
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Sway bar wouldn't do that. It only does it in four wheel drive? Sounds like you're losing power to one front wheel. That could be trouble in the front diff or halfaxle - I wonder if the vacuum actuator on the diff tube is kicking in and out?

But it sounds like maybe you've got one axle locking up on you, if I had to guess. You're not using four wheel drive on wet pavement, are you?
 
yea, it was slushy and snowy on the main roads, probably patches of just wet road as well I never noticed that before though on any surface.
I did just recently replace the front diff... I know it is the proper diff but I guess it could be the actuator as the shift on fly back to 2h doesnt engage properly .
Guess Ill drain and change the actuator as a start when i re install the sway bar.. before i commend to the 3lb hammer method


I have 3 diffs around here, I can change the actuator out and see what that does, both half axles are brand new.
 
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Im stumped is all.... diff.. sway bar... u joint.... transfer.... I like the actuator thought,, (i have replacement on hand, why wouldnt I like that..lol)
 
KidVermicious said:
Sway bar wouldn't do that. It only does it in four wheel drive? Sounds like you're losing power to one front wheel. That could be trouble in the front diff or halfaxle - I wonder if the vacuum actuator on the diff tube is kicking in and out?

But it sounds like maybe you've got one axle locking up on you, if I had to guess. You're not using four wheel drive on wet pavement, are you?
Click to expand...

Would that make a difference? I don't think I have ever noticed that before but I can not be certain that I have had used the 4x in just wet conditions.

Im headed out now to install sway bar, poke around and if nothing visible like a "DUH or DOH" (loose vac line, plug in prob. etc ) drain diff, replace actuator, check trans. case fluid. I think Ill add about a half quart of Lucas to all the above as well.
 
Blake H said:
Would that make a difference? I don't think I have ever noticed that before but I can not be certain that I have had used the 4x in just wet conditions.
Click to expand...

If one tire had better tread than the other, sure. Or your gears could be set up wrong causing one side to lock up, or the actuator could be letting go causing one side to lose power. I dunno, I'm just trying to help you spitball. :)

Can you get it on four jackstands and see if you can duplicate the problem in your driveway? Or have a buddy watch you drive down the street and observe what the tires do when it happens?
 
KidVermicious said:
If one tire had better tread than the other, sure. Or your gears could be set up wrong causing one side to lock up, or the actuator could be letting go causing one side to lose power. I dunno, I'm just trying to help you spitball. :)

Can you get it on four jackstands and see if you can duplicate the problem in your driveway? Or have a buddy watch you drive down the street and observe what the tires do when it happens?
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Spitball?... hmmm.... interesting term...lol .. Now that you mention it I have just replaced the left front tire with a Fstone Destination a/t and have the other side still about half tread or better on a BFG AT....
might this be the culprit?... I SHALL TAKE ME A MEASUREMENT .. TIRESIZE VERY WELL COULD CAUSE THIS.... (but seriously can only an half of inch difference maybe do this?.... I've seen dummer I guess)
Jackstands yes , would take a good ling while to get a friend here today though.. no wheelin friends around here... SUCKS... you should move to eastern TN... lol...
 
Tire size shouldn't be a issue with an open diff.
Check your front calipers, make sure one side isn'tseized and draging on the rotor.
 
Tire size wouldn't be an issue, but if one had substantially better tread than the other causing it to bite while the other slips, that would do it. You could test that by swapping those tires across and seeing if it starts pulling the other way.

No moving for me, though, sorry - I don't trust any place the radio stations start with a W.
 
brakes are fine, both wheels spin freely. It's not a locker dont know where my head was there so tires definitely wouldn't be a cause. Im grasping at straws here hoping a didn't get a bad pumpkin.... I did take the cover off when I got it, gears are all good, no chips no cracks, axles spin freely. headed out to do above mentioned.. will post as soon as I get frustrated (even worse) or find something.
 
I'll be plenty happy if that Fstone is getting better traction than my BFG's..lol... 60 bucks less a tire...heehee
 
ok... on jackstands.. and YES the right front wheel is dragging. pulling it off to see the prob... I may have the packing nut too tight on the bearings but I think It may be the caliper as was mentioned. keeping my fingers crossed because you all know how these damn calipers are put together.... If it IS the packing nut I fear for the bearings....
Being the RIGHT front wheel would that cause the left front to engage more often?
Isn't the left front the primary drive in the front when in 4x? so it would seem that it should be the left front that would drag... or no?
ugghhhh.... All vac lines look good the switch wires are all in good condition.
will update as soon as I get frustrated and need more input.
THANKS GUYS
 
back caliper pistons on right front are stuck. its not the packing nut, after removing springs and pins from caliper I am able to compress the outside pistons but am having no luck compressing the inside pistons.
Now this being the right front, it would cause the left front to over compensate to try and get traction, am I wrong?

any ideas on how to free up the pistons without resorting to my signature method?..lol
 
You're pulling hard left? I'm having a hard time visualizing what's happening there, then. If the wheel was physically stopping, you should be pulling hard right.

Anyway, glad you found it. I'd go for new pistons, myself, don't wanna screw around with your brakes.
 
hmmm.... thinking I freed up the calipers... was able to use some brake clean on what was showing of the pistons then removed the boots (the clips are hell to get back on the boots) wd 40 the exposed part, brake kleen again and then smear a little silicone grease around the piston. Worked them in and out a few times, still a little stiff on the spin of the wheel but much better, hoping it might work itself out. Diff was half quart low on oil so I added a half of quart of Lucas.

being a half quart low you think that MIGHT cause a bit of the engagement problem?
Im going to hit the mud and see what it feels like.
Im still wondering why wet pavement makes a difference ......been unable to work on the vehicles for about 9months due to shoulder surgery, feels good to be back on a wrench though.
 
KidVermicious said:
You're pulling hard left? I'm having a hard time visualizing what's happening there, then. If the wheel was physically stopping, you should be pulling hard right.

Anyway, glad you found it. I'd go for new pistons, myself, don't wanna screw around with your brakes.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm thinkin the same about the pulling, should have been hard right I would think. but maybe possible it was not able to grab on right axle and switching back to left? Heck I don't know, It is sure frustrating though. Didnt get to changing out the actuator because it took so long messin with the brakes and after getting dark I needed to put my Buick back in the garage.
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the wheel wasnt stopping, I could still turn it by hand but it was pretty stiff.. very stiff better describes it...
still wondering about the half quart of oil low in the diff... maybe cause?... seen stranger things
 
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