Wandering

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4whlmama

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So, with it being winter, I had to take beastly out to battle the ice on the roads. I have a commuter car that I normally drive. Since my expo has about 210k miles on her, I use her for specific purposes and the in between runs to get fluids moving through. I have been trying to put the work in that she needs. Which is all wear and tear things and maintenance things (Hoses, vacuum lines, brittle plastic parts, gaskets, ECT).

I have had my Beastly for about 12 years now. So I'm very comfortable and confident behind the wheel of my rig in any conditions! She had 86k miles when I bought her and I have kept up on the maintenance. I actually get compliments on how clean she is for an 02.

So, I rake her out in the snow and ice and first of all (I live on a hill and my driveway is a steep hill) I back out of my driveway all good. Then I go forward and I get about 25' and she decides she's going sideways!! This is only the second time in 12 years I went sideways! Ok...So, I get her straightened back out and now I'm at the stop sign turning onto the main street. I pull out and it seemed like she was rolling forward and sideways at the same time. I thought, "hmm, that's wierd! So I just took it easy and payed attention to her! This was a sketchy ride that only took me to the store and then home. I skipped the rest of my errands because my truck was wandering all over the place! With it being icey out I was scared she would go sideways and I would have no control! Even in normal conditions, I have noticed some wandering and floating. Eapecially at higher speeds. Any ideas?

P.S. I did just replace the suspension stabilizer bar bolts because one of the bolts were completely missing. So I replaced both sides and bushings as well.
 

Vancouver Bob

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Are you sure the sideways movement wasn't due to incline and Beastie literally sliding sideways? I've had that happen before... backed out of the driveway (I live on a hill) on a snowy/icy day and I started sliding down my road sideways. Backed her up while sliding to straighten her out, drove down into the caldusac, and back up and out.

Have you driven her since? On a dry or wet (not icy) road? To see if it still happens?
 

Trainmaster

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If you're sure it wasn't sliding, I'd lift it up, check out the front end parts, look over the rear end links and be good with that.
 

1955moose

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Sounds like your drifting on ice, or something close to it. If all was fine last time you drove it, it's hard to imagine something happened since. But to be sure, you or a shop should rack it, and shake down all four corners. I too had one of those stabilizer bolts break. I noticed no Ill driving effects. I ordered the dealer bolt and bushings, and corrected the problem.

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4whlmama

4whlmama

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Are you sure the sideways movement wasn't due to incline and Beastie literally sliding sideways? I've had that happen before... backed out of the driveway (I live on a hill) on a snowy/icy day and I started sliding down my road sideways. Backed her up while sliding to straighten her out, drove down into the caldusac, and back up and out.

Have you driven her since? On a dry or wet (not icy) road? To see if it still happens?

Nope. I haven't driven her since. We got about 8" of snow during the night. Gonna check it out again. This time a friend of mine that also owns an expo gonna test it out and see what he thinks. I'm thinking it's my CV boot/joint/axle/seals... Something along those lines... In my axle.
 
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4whlmama

4whlmama

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If you're sure it wasn't sliding, I'd lift it up, check out the front end parts, look over the rear end links and be good with that.

That's that plan. I did notice oil marks on my front drivers wheel. Two and two together, I'm suspecting the front axle! I'm sure my rear diff could be serviced as well. Been a while.
 
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4whlmama

4whlmama

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Sounds like your drifting on ice, or something close to it. If all was fine last time you drove it, it's hard to imagine something happened since. But to be sure, you or a shop should rack it, and shake down all four corners. I too had one of those stabilizer bolts break. I noticed no Ill driving effects. I ordered the dealer bolt and bushings, and corrected the problem.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

Actually, all was not fine when I drove it last. It has had a drifty feeling for a while! I have taken it in and had it all checked out a few times, but I have been convinced that the supposed techs have not been very thorough. Since it was my tire shop that I have had look at it, I'm thinking I need to step it up. Well, the tire shop did point out the missing bolt from my suspension stabilizer bar that had apparently just broke and fell out at some point. Which is what I just replaced. I replaced both of them as well as the bushings (in 12 years this is the 2nd time) a common Ford issue. However, this did not really make a difference in the feel of the trucks stability while driving. It did feel slightly better while at higher speeds though. Anyway, I'm thinking it's my front axle at some part. Boot/joint/seal.
 

1955moose

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Makes sense that at higher speeds it would be better, due to the fact it's a stabilizer bar. Tire shops usually aren't your best bet for 4 wheel drive diagnostic. Do you have any 4 wheel drive specialized shops in your area. I was online, but mostly tire places popped up. I'd call around, find out what shops know their stuff, maybe ask others who they use. Normally you think dealer, but they may not be your best bet.

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