So, I finally bit the bullet and got an Excursion. With a V10, I knew the mileage would be terrible, and it is - but Oh! What a comfortable truck!

Anyway - I'm in Fairbanks, Alaska. It's Winter. It's actually the winter-y-est winter I've been through since I moved here five years ago: Huge ice storm just before T'Giving that left a solid inch of glare ice on every flat surface, followed by inches of snow, and temps averaging -25 at noon (down to -45 at night) ever since. (The cold doesn't really bother me - just explaining the environment.)

I love the truck, it runs beautifully, only 63k miles, everything visible in great condition.

Here's the problem; the truck binds and hops and jerks like crazy during turns if it's in 4x4Hi. (I haven't particularly tried it in 4x4Lo.) I'm not talking about at-the-lock turns (when it's really bad), the binding "jerks" start at about one half steering wheel turn from center, and get worse as you go to lock. This is even on polished sheet ice so slick that you can't stand up on it without steel cleats on your shoes.

Never having driven a traditional 4x4 before (AWD, but not 4WD), I've been assuming that it's "part of the deal", and taking it out of 4wd when parking and in other tight-maneuver situations. It does go in and out of 4wd (Hi and Low) without problems. There is no jerking/hopping in 2wd. It also runs fine on dry highway (had to drive 80 miles south to find some) in 2wd or 4wd. There are no obvious clunks, rumbles, vibrations, or any other apparent problems with the truck, except in middling-to-sharp turns, when the jerking/binding starts.

I've been reading posts, and I understand that, at 'lock' this is to be expected. I also know to check if the front wheel hub locks are working, but I can't check - it's too cold. (I don't have a garage this thing will fit in.) I can't get them to turn, but they may simply be frozen (as in, iced up).

I haven't taken it to a dealer/mechanic yet, both because it's XMas and we're fairly broke at the moment, but also because - well - is it really broken?

And that's the question. Is this normal, or excessive? Is there a good rule-of-thumb measure I can use to decide? Is putting the thing in and out of 4wd a dozen times a day okay?

Any comments, suggestions, or advice will be avidly read!

TIA

Scott

 

sounds normal to me, there is a noticable hop/jerk when making full turns. since your on a slick surface it wont hurt anything. only time i've been out of 4x4 since november 1st is going in parking garages.

 

It is normal for it to bind in tight corners but should not be too noticeable on slick surfaces. I offroad my x quite a bit and I have to put it in 2wd in tight corners on dry dirt. In mud or snow, though it is fine.

 

my x does the same its not at full turn or tight turns half way there to steering limit stop first winter with her not sure if its normal

 

Time to RTFM so u know how its supposed to work. or get a copy of 4wd for Dummies. when u turn the front and rear axles are locked together and turning at the same speed. drive in a circle in the snow and you will see 2 circles the inner one from the inside wheels and the outer one is the outside wheels. with both axles turning at the same speed both inner and outer wheels need to travel the same distance but any time you turn the distance around the inner circle is shorter... it will be more noticeable the tighter you turn. the binding is actually the inner tires skidding under force from the differential needing to keep the same travel distance. if you had a locking rear differential like a Detroit Locker in the rear axle you would get the same effect in 2 wheel drive as well There are many different versions of AWD out there but the essence is that ther is no solid coupling between any of the wheels so they can slip within the transaxle and differentials so the will not bind. there are only a few good AWD systems... Subaru and Audi are 2 that come to mind...