Throttle Steer

[Chewman]

I have read alot about the Ex's rear end and springs causeing the vehicle to steer over bumps or with the throttle but I never experienced it with mine until now.

I was out scouting a new spot to hunt and on the way back was rounding a right corner when I had to veer hard to the right side to avoid a guy using the entire dirt road to pull his 5th wheel camper. I ended up hitting a washout really hard with the right side.

After replacing the front ball joints, the drop bar to the drag link, and a front end alignment, my truck is again running straight. It pulled to the right after hitting the washout and my sterring wheel was at 8 and 2 instead of 9 and 3. Inspection of al lthe other front end parts looked good.

Now when I get on the gas the truck feels like the rear is moving and it veers to the left. When you suddenly get off the gas it goes right.

I have inspected everything underneath and it all looks good. Nothing bent. Nothing moves any differnt than the other side with a prybar. The shocks arent leaking oil and I have no broken springs that I can see. Adding air to the rear bags doesnt change this. Power braking and inspecting the suspension and rear end is showing me only rear end rotation, nothing side to side.

I am out of ideas as to the cause being I never had this before. Is this what the rest of you have experienced? Any ideas as to where to look for a correction to my problem?

Thanks for your help!

 

[CHPMustang]

Unfortunately it is Ford's Excursion suspension design that causes it to off track steer.

The only known true fix is upgrading with a set of Radius Rods by Landyot

One of these days I'll have a set installed on our Excursion

 

[Chewman]

Unfortunately it is Ford's Excursion suspension design that causes it to off track steer.

The only known true fix is upgrading with a set of Radius Rods by Landyot

One of these days I'll have a set installed on our Excursion

Thanks for the heads up. I was hoping it was the suspension design and me not missing any damage.

 

[tfalk]

It almost sounds like you have a hanging brake caliper...

 

[BBBxcursion]

That would happen if he was braking, but he's accelerating

 

[DaveBen]

It almost sounds like you have a hanging brake caliper...

Or maybe a broken center bolt in one of the rear springs. They locate the axle on the spring and it would slide forward and backwars, causing steer.

Dave

 

[DR.billZ]

Yet ANOTHER idiot cutting a left-hand turn. I hate when people do that. Why do they think it's NOT OK to drive on the wrong side of the road going straight but somehow think it is when turning to the left?

 

[Chewman]

Or maybe a broken center bolt in one of the rear springs. They locate the axle on the spring and it would slide forward and backwars, causing steer.

Dave

I'd hate to dissassemble the wrong sides springs, so If I am throttling up and it wants to turn left, throttle down and it wants to go right, what side would you look at first?

I would look at the right side first because that's what I hit, but if throttling up wouldn't it slide the rearend forward on that sdie and thus want to steer to the right and throttle down steer left? Or am I over thinking this and need to just get under my truck this weekend and tear into it?

 

[Wawuzat]

I'm taking a wild-a$$ guess here because it sounds like one of your FRONT hubs is locked into 4WD (giving you 3WD?). With your X in 2WD mode, see if you can turn the front driveshafts by hand when reaching behind the right-front wheel. They should both turn freely by hand. If one is locked, then maybe one of the vacuum lines got displaced during your off-road excursion (pun intended).

 

[DaveBen]

I would look at the right side first because that's what I hit, but if throttling up wouldn't it slide the rearend forward on that sdie and thus want to steer to the right and throttle down steer left? Or am I over thinking this and need to just get under my truck this weekend and tear into it?

I would agree with you on this one. Go for the side that sustained the damage.

Dave