Hey alll starting having a problem with the front suspension on my 01 excursion. When you go over a incline I am getting a big bang in the front suspension also when you turn the steering wheel to the middle it has a jerk right before its in the straight position.

I have new wheel bearings and new locking hubs coming, this problem still happens without the hubs in. Could it be a front axel or U joint but it happens with the 4x4 dissengaged.


Thanks for the input
Brian Felts

 

Have you checked the ball joints?
If it happens with the 4x4 disengaged then its nothing to do the 4x4 components as those do not move until you lock the hubs/ activate the t-case

 

I agree with Mach1394 check the ball joints, also check the front sway bar links and sway bar bushings and the front shocks. Mine was make some noises and I thought it was just my sway bar bushings when I got it last year. My sway bar bushings are worn out and allowing the bar to move around but my front lower shock mounts where loose. Previous owner stated his son n law was a ford mechanic and replaced the front shocks. Well he is not much of a mechanic because they were loose and he wrecked the special nuts that have the locking tap to hold nut so you can tighten them up & rounded off the nut. I replaced the nuts with locking nuts & most of the noise is gone now just the sway bar bushings and links need replacement. Going to wait on them and do it when I do my X/B spring swap in next few weeks.

Randy

 

Could be lots of things, get under there and shake everything.

 

Cool, I will get under it tomorrow and will report back on what I find.


What are the symptoms of a bad steering box?


Thanks
Brian

 

Looseness or anything abnormally felt in the steering wheel like crunching, crackling, etc and steering not returning to center but this is only after everything else is in good working order. Also look for leaks.

 

Also check the torque on the bolts on each end of the spring pack. 203 ft lbs for the front eyelet and 185 for the rear..Also take a look at the pitman arm.

 

I just replaced my steering gear due to a "catch". There was no noise associated with this. For the noise, check your stabilizer end links or see if your front springs are bottoming out.

 

This is what I found, the drivers side axel (with the locking hubs out) I began to turn the axel and found it seems to be turning out of round. I locked a set of vice grips on the tip of the axel and spun it and it got real tight didn't want to turn and I noticed the end of the axel would dip as I turn it. Went to the passenger side and turned it and it was smooth and stayed straight.

Do I need new U joints in the axel or is there a guide in there that has went bad. Please note I have a brand new wheel bearing on that side.



Thanks for the input
Brian Felts

 

Probably something in the hub and not the joints. Jack the wheel up and spin it with hub locked while looking closely at the U-joint. Stop and wiggle the wheel back and forth (rotational) at all four points of the joint.

 

I would say you have a bad axle ujoint, turn the wheel a little and turn the axle again and see if the axle shaft gets harder to turn. If it does its a ujoint..

 

Not necessarily, it depends on whats wrong with it. If it's in the dry but in the intact stage it might act like that and it can be saved with my rejuvenation invention, otherwise if it is missing needles you can see it wiggle when you turn the wheel like I described.
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