1994 bronco 4 wheel drive problem

[dhpt99]

Hey, I was looking at this 1994 xlt bronco for sale and it had automatic 4 wheel drive but every time you hit the button it felt like the rear tires were spinning faster than the front or the front tires were locking up but it drove great when it was out of 4 wheel drive. It almost felt like the truck was hopping and you could see the rear tire make little 1/4 or half turns. Could it just be the front tires are frozen up from not being used? ( by the way i tried it on road and off road and the truck appears to be stock so i dont think they changed any gears )

 

Thanks for the help !! >-

 

[bidibronco]

If your tires have a hard surface that doesn't give to much then in 4wd it will kind of give the illusion that the rear is spinning faster than the front. Even if you tried it "off raod" were you in a place where the tires would slip a little bit? If not you're creating a lot of stress on the front end and also a lot of drag on the whole drivetrain.

 

[Shadow_D]

I'd check the tire size to be sure they are all the same

 

[dhpt99]

If your tires have a hard surface that doesn't give to much then in 4wd it will kind of give the illusion that the rear is spinning faster than the front. Even if you tried it "off raod" were you in a place where the tires would slip a little bit? If not you're creating a lot of stress on the front end and also a lot of drag on the whole drivetrain.

I was in the gravel when i tried it.

 

[dhpt99]

I'd check the tire size to be sure they are all the same

all the tires looked the same but i will call the guy back. Do you or any one else think the truck would be worth $1,950. That was the only major problem i seen.

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[dhpt99]

If it is any help it has 122,000 miles on it and other than that the truck ran perfect !!!

 

[Shadow_D]

Pics are too small /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

If the tires are an inch taller in the front, that *could* cause the problem

 

[dhpt99]

Pics are too small /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />If the tires are an inch taller in the front, that *could* cause the problem

Yea sorry about the pics. They are the only ones i can find. And thanks for all the help.

 

[BroncoJoe19]

Try this.

Get a marking crayon or something.

Put her in 4X4.

THen drive her straight forward for more than ten feet.

Walk around the truck and mark all four tires with a vertical slash (that's up and down.. lol ) where they meet the ground.

THen drive her straight forward for 100-200 feet, and stop.

Get out of the truck and take a look at the markings on the tires.

The crayon marks that you put on the tires should all be pointing in the same direction.

IF NOT... THERE is a problem!

Let us know what the results are.

We can go from there.

joe

 

[dhpt99]

Try this.Get a marking crayon or something.

Put her in 4X4.

THen drive her straight forward for more than ten feet.

Walk around the truck and mark all four tires with a vertical slash (that's up and down.. lol ) where they meet the ground.

THen drive her straight forward for 100-200 feet, and stop.

Get out of the truck and take a look at the markings on the tires.

The crayon marks that you put on the tires should all be pointing in the same direction.

IF NOT... THERE is a problem!

Let us know what the results are.

We can go from there.

joe

I would like to try this but the truck wont move. The back tires just make like little 1/4 turns when off road and on the street the truck wont move. It is almost like the emergency brakes are on ( but there not ! lol ). :wacko:

 

[BroncoJoe19]

I would like to try this but the truck wont move. The back tires just make like little 1/4 turns when off road and on the street the truck wont move. It is almost like the emergency brakes are on ( but there not ! lol ). :wacko:

dhpt99,

you said that you road tested both on and off road. Now you said that it won't move.

Please give us more additional information so that we can help you. We can spend hours guessing but most of that time is just a waste.

I am guessing that when you put it in 2wd it runs fine.

When you put it in 4 wd it locks up. I am correct?

What else can you tell us?

Does it have manual or push button to engage 4X4?

 

[Mike G]

The day before I bought my 92 the guy I bought it from had a safety inspection performed on it. Well they ended up changing the driver side lower ball joint and a new muffler. Good for me right? Well the good old boy that changed it put the wrong one in. The stud was about half of a inch to long and got into the front knuckles. About 2 days later I found this out when i was happy to see snow to give the new 4x4 a go. The front L/H wheel felt as it was locking up every quarter turn. That 1/4 turn was the wrong ball joint hitting from prop shaft knuckle (u-joint). The 4 wheel worked when I test drove it so after looking under it and trying to turn the front shaft when the hubs where disengaged it wouldn't turn. Then i noticed the scarring on the knuckles.

Have a look and make sure the front knuckles are both turning when you rotate the front D/S by hand and are not making contact with the lower ball joint studs.

The scary part was the correct lower ball joints have a snap ring that keeps them in place. The ones they put in didn't have this.

 

[dhpt99]

When i test drove the truck i pulled it out on to the street and put it in 4 wheel drive ( it has push button 4x4 and a 5.8 motor with 122,000 miles on it). The truck wouldnt move. So i took it out 4 wheel drive and found some lose gravel down the street and tried it again. NO luck. The back tires tried making these little turns. It felt like both front tires were locked up. When it was out of 4 wheel drive it ran and drove perfect. I hope this is helpful. Thanks!! >-

 

[BroncoJoe19]

When i test drove the truck i pulled it out on to the street and put it in 4 wheel drive ( it has push button 4x4 and a 5.8 motor with 122,000 miles on it). The truck wouldnt move. So i took it out 4 wheel drive and found some lose gravel down the street and tried it again. NO luck. The back tires tried making these little turns. It felt like both front tires were locked up. When it was out of 4 wheel drive it ran and drove perfect. I hope this is helpful. Thanks!! >-

Yeah that helps a lot.

It sounds like you have a problem in your front differential, or your transfer case.

I would guess that either repair could be about $500 - $2,000 , give or take $500, depending upon what is wrong, new or used parts, and if you did the work or had a shop do it.

I hope that helps with your decision.

joe

 

[dhpt99]

Yeah that helps a lot.It sounds like you have a problem in your front differential, or your transfer case.

I would guess that either repair could be about $500 - $2,000 , give or take $500, depending upon what is wrong, new or used parts, and if you did the work or had a shop do it.

I hope that helps with your decision.

joe

Yes it does. Thanks alot!! I now have decided to find a truck in a little better shape.