Attention: TDR Forum Junkies No, I'm not asking you all to think back to the 60's... .
Truck is an '02 with 80k on it, about 20k of that towing a heavy 5th wheel.
I've been chasing this problem for a couple of years now, and believe it is the LSD acting up. When slow turning with the front wheels turned all the way to stops, in either direction, I am getting a surging that really feels like one of the front wheels is loose, egg-shaped, or about to fall off (very technical description, I know. ) I looked at u-joints, steering linkage, over-sized tires rubbing, and everything else I could think of in the front end and found nothing.
I don't drive the truck as a commuter anymore, and the problem hadn't shown in over a year until on vacation last week. Same thing happened, and in a good spot for my son and I to stick our heads out the windows and watch the front tires - nothing abnormal. What I did notice was the rear inside wheel spinning fast then slowing in a cycle that matched the binding feeling in the front end.
After some TDR reading I'm pretty sure it is the LSD, and I'm hoping for some concurrence or other ideas. I'm also writing this thread so that others won't spend the amount of time I have chasing what is likely a non-existent front end problem.
Looking back, I'm not sure the proper additives were used last fluid change. My plan is to change out the diff fluid with proper additive and see if that does the trick. Will report the outcome here.
Truck is an '02 with 80k on it, about 20k of that towing a heavy 5th wheel.
I've been chasing this problem for a couple of years now, and believe it is the LSD acting up. When slow turning with the front wheels turned all the way to stops, in either direction, I am getting a surging that really feels like one of the front wheels is loose, egg-shaped, or about to fall off (very technical description, I know. ) I looked at u-joints, steering linkage, over-sized tires rubbing, and everything else I could think of in the front end and found nothing.
I don't drive the truck as a commuter anymore, and the problem hadn't shown in over a year until on vacation last week. Same thing happened, and in a good spot for my son and I to stick our heads out the windows and watch the front tires - nothing abnormal. What I did notice was the rear inside wheel spinning fast then slowing in a cycle that matched the binding feeling in the front end.
After some TDR reading I'm pretty sure it is the LSD, and I'm hoping for some concurrence or other ideas. I'm also writing this thread so that others won't spend the amount of time I have chasing what is likely a non-existent front end problem.
Looking back, I'm not sure the proper additives were used last fluid change. My plan is to change out the diff fluid with proper additive and see if that does the trick. Will report the outcome here.
