I have a 96 explorer and when I put it in 4wd and try to turn the wheels, it grinds and jumps around. It only does it when Im turning if im straight it is fine. Also the 4x4 lights flash on and off repeatitly until i disengage 4wd. Someone told me hubs so I went to the junkyard and pulled hubs and cv axles off of a truck with 75000 miles on it . Mine has 96000. Spent hours fooling with it and still does the same thing. Anybody have this problem and have advice on how to fix it.

 

4WD will do this on a surface that gives you good traction. Are you using the 4wd on a surface that 4wd is not needed?

 

It does it in the snow tBut when I replaced the hubs I was doing it on a gravel road. It has been doing it for about three years just finally got around to fixing something( The hubs and cv axles) and that doesnt seem like it was the problem. Could it be the locking mechanism coming out when the shaft extends to turn the wheel? I have axcess to a couple trucks in a junkyard any ideas?

 

How far do you have to turn the wheels to get it to happen? Also, how big are the tires?

 

Stock tires 235/65/15 If the wheel isstraight turn the steering wheel upside down ( half a turn )and it starts to do it. I have to take right turns really wide to keep it from trying to destroy the front hubs. If I try to do it in reverse the rear wheels start to spin from the front wheels locking up. Hope this help.

 

Something you might look at is to remove the inspection plate from the differential to see if the planetary gears are locked up. When you turn the wheels this causes the outside wheel to have to cover more territory than the inside wheel, so there is a speed mismatch. If the planetary gears are locked up then both wheels will run at the same speed and feel like it is in a bind when you are turning. You said that you have tried everything outside of the differential so maybe it is time to take a look. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

Thanks for all your help. Ill try this now. Could that be why the 4wd lights in the cluster flick on and off. Usually that is a serious condition when the check engine light does it.

 

I don't know about that. Let me know how things go.