Pothole made me swerve. Sign off a problem?

[Chapap]

After paying attention, there’s allot of play in the steering system and I have at least one bad tie rod end. The truck wanders like crazy on rough patches. I guess I hit that one bump perfectly to make it pull one way like it did.

If I’m turning hard over big potholes (neglected parking lot), it sometimes feels like I get a bit of rear wheel steering. Is that something a solid axle can mimic if one side is significantly higher than the other?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If I’m turning hard over big potholes (neglected parking lot), it sometimes feels like I get a bit of rear wheel steering. Is that something a solid axle can mimic if one side is significantly higher than the other?

Yes. One side the spring is straight, the other it is curved. So the axle is not perpendicular to the frame any more.

 

[19Walt93]

I’ve seen a video, that I can’t find again, of a car on a lift demonstrating the steering. It had two separate lower control arms and when the wheel turned, they acted in a trapezoidal motion (kinda similar idea as a watts linkage). Thought it was over complicated for no reason, but I’d imagine that every steering mechanism has some inherent problems, and this was a solution to one of them.

Edit: it’s multi link suspension. Of course Audi likes to complicate things.
View attachment 70592

The guys who sell ball joints have to eat, too.

 

[19Walt93]

After paying attention, there’s allot of play in the steering system and I have at least one bad tie rod end. The truck wanders like crazy on rough patches. I guess I hit that one bump perfectly to make it pull one way like it did.

If I’m turning hard over big potholes (neglected parking lot), it sometimes feels like I get a bit of rear wheel steering. Is that something a solid axle can mimic if one side is significantly higher than the other?

If a tierod is loose enough to make it wander, change it. Now, before it pulls out.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Sounds like a classic case of bump steer

 

[superj]

i cant remember what i used to have that you could turn the steering wheel from 10-2 with no change in tire angle. might have been my 65 mustang but its been so long i cannot remember.

 

[Chapap]

Can I press out the old bushing thing out of the linkages, or do I need to get the entire thing? I feel like I’ve changed tire rod ends before without changing the whole rod… only the swively part.

 

[SenorNoob]

The "swively part" on the outside threads out of the adjusters. The inner 2 require changing the tire rod. If you've got ne worn that bad, they likely all need replacing.

 

[Chapap]

Well I’m coming back to this thread. I wiggled the whole steering system with a helper, and it seems like most of the play is a combination of tires and steering box. Everything else seems fine.

I’ve gone over one set of bumps recently. Pretty deep holes on one tire patch. If I hit them dead on, the truck wanders a bit and it sometimes slides sideways. It literally feels like it has rear steering sometimes. The truck body will turn left a noticeable number of degrees but will still move forward. Ive jacked it up and everything feels just fine.

Only thing I can think of is leaf springs bottoming out.. but it really doesn’t seem like there’d be enough arch in the springs to change the angle of the axle that much.

That or the frame is cracked and flexing.

 

[Roert42]

Have you considered that with the rear end being so light, the rear is just bounce/ sliding around?

 

[Blmpkn]

Have you considered that with the rear end being so light, the rear is just bounce/ sliding around?

This.

Even a brand new truck will skitter around out back if the bumps are just right.

Blown rear shocks make it way worse.

 

[Chapap]

This.

Even a brand new truck will skitter around out back if the bumps are just right.

Blown rear shocks make it way worse.

I had an Explorer of the same year that never acted like this, but it was probably a bit heavier. I guess it could be hopping around back there, but I find it difficult to imagine that much movement. It must be like one of those high dollar nitro rc cars.

 

[Bgunner]

I think your issue is coming from a combination of things. The steering box having that much play will definitely cause some wander when hitting bumps, I had to change my box in my '94 due to this.

If your rear is getting sideways/bouncing around on you it is time to check rear shock absorbers for proper function. The combination made my truck a handful at times till I replaced all the shocks. I still had some bump steer over the railroad tracks but that was cured by changing out my steering box with one with much less play at center.

If I remember correctly you are not supposed to have more than 1 inch of play in the steering on a steering box.

 

[Chapap]

I think your issue is coming from a combination of things. The steering box having that much play will definitely cause some wander when hitting bumps, I had to change my box in my '94 due to this.

If your rear is getting sideways/bouncing around on you it is time to check rear shock absorbers for proper function. The combination made my truck a handful at times till I replaced all the shocks. I still had some bump steer over the railroad tracks but that was cured by changing out my steering box with one with much less play at center.

If I remember correctly you are not supposed to have more than 1 inch of play in the steering on a steering box.

I just recently replaced all shocks, along with all suspension bushing up front (minus steering linkages). It feels like I have an inch or two of playwhen the truck is off, but when driving it feels like 4-5”… like some steering bushings are worn, but it takes a good bit of force to get them to play like that.

 

[Roert42]

An explorer has a lot more weight hanging off the back end.

Could do a test. Toss 4/500 lbs in the back of the bed and see how it acts.