FordExcursions.com Forums
Mike Rizzotti
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• Fremont, NH, USA |
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• Registered on 12/8/2003 |
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• 6 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:12/8/2003 21:05 |
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We had our first major snow storm up here this past weekend ( about 18" here ). I have a very steep driveway and anytime I went up it, the X really struggled to make it, wheels were spinning. I was in 4 High and tried to manually lock the hubs ( just in case ) and it made no difference. It seems fine in 4X4 on the street, just does not like my driveway. For comparison, I have had two Expeditions and both would make it up the same driveway without any trouble. Is the extra weight of the X the problem or should I have the 4X4 system looked at ? tires ? I have the stock Firestones on there.
Thanks !
Mike
Mike Rizzotti
2000 Excursion Limited V10 3.73
1991 Eagle Talon AWD
[email protected] 494 WHP |
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E. Long
 
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,228 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/9/2003 08:00 |
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| Quote: | | We had our first major snow storm up here this past weekend ( about 18" here ). I have a very steep driveway and anytime I went up it, the X really struggled to make it, wheels were spinning. I was in 4 High and tried to manually lock the hubs ( just in case ) and it made no difference. It seems fine in 4X4 on the street, just does not like my driveway. For comparison, I have had two Expeditions and both would make it up the same driveway without any trouble. Is the extra weight of the X the problem or should I have the 4X4 system looked at ? tires ? I have the stock Firestones on there. |
Hi Mike,
Welcome to the site.
The weight of the X should actually help your traction problems. Did the 4x4 light come on when you activated 4-wheel drive? Are you sure the front wheels were spinning?
What's the tread like on your Firestones?
18" is a lot of snow, you definitely had to have been dragging the differentials on your axles.
I would have to say that I am quite pleased with how my X handles in 4x4 in the snow. I drive quite frequently in the snow during the winter time here in MN. One tip that I can give you is if you are driving up your driveway and you are spinning the wheels, turn your steering wheel back and forth so that your front tires can gain more traction rather than spinning on the snow in the same spot and melting it into an ice patch.
I would also personally rate the Firestones as a satisfactory snow tire, not particularly impressive but at the same time, there is a lot worse out there that you could have.
My guess is that 18" of snow and the combination of going uphill without much momentum is why it struggled so much.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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Texas4x4
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• Tyler, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/25/2003 |
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• 289 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/9/2003 08:39 |
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True that the weight of the rig should help... but going up hill?
Mike, once you have verified you 4WD is working properly, you may also consider bleeding 10-15lbs of air from your tires.
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Kevin Curry
Staff Writer: www.ROCKCRAWLER.com
[email protected]
http://www.texas4x4.com
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Edward Newman
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• Long Island, NY, USA |
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• Registered on 12/9/2003 |
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• 18 posts |
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Posted:12/9/2003 10:29 |
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I've had my exursion out in 2+ feet of snow a number of times and it is great. A couple quick thoughts...
Tires - I ordered the optional all terrain tires on mine. They are good in the snow, but not as good as BFG T/A All Terrain KO's I have on now. If you have factory all season tires, they are a HUGE weakness.
Diff. - Did you order the optional limited slip rear diff? If not, that is another strike against you.
Conditions - This last storm started off down here with sleet. This resulted in a thin layer of ice under the snow and this will definitely decrease the traction of ANY vehicle unless you are running studs. The conditions may have been different enough to be the main diffeence between this time and the previous snow events with you Expedition. |
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E. Long
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,228 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/9/2003 16:45 |
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| Quote: | True that the weight of the rig should help... but going up hill?
Mike, once you have verified you 4WD is working properly, you may also consider bleeding 10-15lbs of air from your tires. |
I think every force of nature is working against you going uphill in 18" of snow. Regardless, it is very hard to compare due to so many variables. I whipped through the 4-6 inches of snow we got here in MN today without a problem. I think (like in the above post) there must have been a layer of ice or his tires are not sufficient.
I certainly had better luck in other vehicles with BFG all terrains vs. the Firestone Steeltex's on my Excursion right now. The Steeltex's just last so much longer with all of the highway driving I do it's hard to justify switching. Just look out for the folks around you who don't know how to drive on the snow!!
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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Mike Rizzotti
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• Fremont, NH, USA |
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• Registered on 12/8/2003 |
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• 6 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/9/2003 22:00 |
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Thanks for the tips guys. I am fairly certain the tires are the problem. I had a chance to look at them the next day and the tread was " packed " with snow, which I'm sure was not helping the situation. I also figured out that my plow guy had come by early in the morning, and the snow was still falling ( heavy ). So the plow made a packed/icy surface underneath. I know the 4X4 light was on and I could also see the front tire ( on the driver's side ) spinning. The tires on my previous Exp's were Good Year and had a more aggressive tread. The X has the stock Firestone which I may replace.
Mike Rizzotti
2000 Excursion Limited V10 3.73
1991 Eagle Talon AWD
[email protected] 494 WHP |
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Douglas Dircks
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• New Richland, MN, USA |
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• Registered on 11/13/2003 |
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• 118 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/10/2003 21:24 |
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I took my wifes X out today with new stock Firestones on it and I was very impressed at how it moved on the snow. Actually the truck stayed in two wheel drive mode the whole trip of around 100 miles including plowing through a few nice drifs in the driveway before it was plowed. The truck does have the limited slip 3.73. With new tires and all that weight the rear wheels really bite.
The only thing I found I dislike about the SUV is it's tendancy to want to wander.
00 Excursion Limited 4x4 PSD 265/75/16 Ravo's Centerline rims Python 871XP
99 F250 x-cab short bed XLT 4x4 PSD 295/75/16 American Racing rims Viper 550 ESP stainless steel MAAP nerf bars Putco four piece grill inserts bumper poles and mud flaps air bags triple pillar pod Autometer Ultra Light fiberglass tannue cover and topper programmed pcm pulling 22 psi
99 F350 crew cab long bed drw Lariat 4x4 PSD 255/85/16 Python 871XP AIS fold down fifth wheel ball |
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gomobius
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• Granger, IN, USA |
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• Registered on 4/2/2003 |
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• 42 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/11/2003 09:12 |
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Hello Mike,
Welcome to the site. Here is my .02 for what it is worth.
One item that is often overlooked is the differential, not only if you have limited slip, but also is it working properly. If you are not sure if limited slip is installed here is how to check. There will be a metal tag on the rear axle, between the first and second number will be the letter "L". For example my axle has 4.30 gears with limited slip 4 L 30 on the tag.
Another way is to raise both rear wheels and turn one by hand if the other wheel turns in the same direction it is limited slip, if the other wheel turns in the oppoisite direction it is an open differential.
Ok, lets say you have limited slip installed is it working properly? They do wear out and fail. Ford uses clutch pak type limited slip differentials. These clutch paks transfer torque from the wheel that is loosing traction to the other wheel. The axle is posi type and only suppose to slip when you are turning the truck going around a corner. To learn more on how differentials work go here, these guys explain it better then I can.http://www.truckworld.com/How-To-Tech/Lockers-Differentials/4x4Lockers-Diffs.html
Here is how to test your limited slip. Find an open area where you can't crash into anything. Raise one rear wheel, so that the wheel is not touching the ground just a couple of inches of the ground, put it on a jack stand. Get in the truck start it, and put it in drive with your foot on the brake. Slowly take your foot off the brake and accelerate. The raised wheel with spin and with a little acceleration the wheel touching the ground should try to turn and walk the truck forword if the clutch paks are not worn out and the limited slip is working correctly. BECAREFUL if it is working properly it will walk the truck off the jack stand, thats ok remember only raise the wheel high enough so it is not touching the ground, simulating a loss of traction. The truck will lunge forword, jackstand fall forword, and the truck drop down.
When I tested my axle the truck would try to go forword, just a slight tap, I had the speedo up to 40 mph it did not even come close to walking off the jackstand. Remember just because when you raise both wheels and they both spin by hand in the same direction that does not mean it is working correctly, on the ground with weight and torque applied is totally different.
I had a Auburn limited slip installed in my X and it works great. I only occasionally have to engage four wheel drive, and I live in the snow belt. I can not emphasize enough the value of a good limited slip.
One other thing to the guys having a humming noise / vibration at 60-80 mph, I had that also, when I changed the differential the problem went away. I do not believe it was the differential being changed that corrected the problem, but rather all the bearings that are required to be replaced when changing the differential.
just my .02
good luck,
gomobius
2000 LTD 4X4 V10, Transgo Tugger Shiftkit, Auburn limited slip, poly bushings, helwig anti sway bar, ranchos, centermatics,kevlar brake hoses,and a cool looking SUPERFORD.ORG sticker |
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neilc88
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• Cleveland, OH, USA |
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• Registered on 8/13/2003 |
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• 53 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/15/2003 15:05 |
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| Quote: | Hello Mike,
Here is how to test your limited slip. good luck............
gomobius |
What about just flooring it on a snowy road. Mine leaves two tire marks. Is this a valid test or is the procedure you mentioned the ONLY valid test?  |
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gomobius
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• Granger, IN, USA |
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• Registered on 4/2/2003 |
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• 42 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:12/17/2003 10:23 |
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That is the old down and dirty method for checking your limited slip, mostly it was a way to see if the vechile even had a limited slip installed verses an open differential. What would generally happen is if you floored it and got both wheels to spin in the mud or snow the rear of the vechile would start to drift either left or right depending on which tire is getting the best traction and leave two tire paths.
What I don't like about this test is it can not tell you how much spring pressure it took to get torque transfered from the wheel that is spinning (or loosing traction) to the wheel that is not spinning.
I want torque transfered to the wheel with traction with the least amount of wheel spin from the wheel without traction. That means the minmum amount of gas pedal. If I get on the gas hard enough spring pressure will increase in the clutch paks enough to transfer some torque to the other wheel, but by then both wheels are spinning in the snow and you are loosing traction.
gomobius
2000 LTD 4X4 V10, Transgo Tugger Shiftkit, Auburn limited slip, poly bushings, helwig anti sway bar, ranchos, centermatics,kevlar brake hoses,and a cool looking SUPERFORD.ORG sticker |
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