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Unanticipated movement?!?!

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Mercedes1

• Brainerd, MN, USA

• Registered on 9/1/2004

• 25 posts

• 1

Posted:12/15/2004 23:25

I'll try to keep it short but I'm not sure how to so here goes...

I have been parking my X outside lately on my gravel driveway. Where I park, there is a slight incline going away from the garage. Since our last snowfall, the entire area has become extremely hardpack / ice covered. I usually have had no problem driving up the incline, parking on the slope and leaving it (read no or limited slippage while driving and no movement after parking). Well, tonight my X almost got it's first big bandaid

I parked it (automatic transmission) but did not set the parking brake. I sat there for a few minutes and then stepped out. After another 3-5 minutes or so, my X started to slide down the incline.

I saw the front tire rolling and the rear one sliding at first. Then, after a few feet, the back one started rolling as well! My X was heading right for a very large Oak tree

I jumped in, hit the brakes and got it stopped within a couple feet of said tree. Whew...I could have fixed the X but I never, ever would have gotten those tree huggin' environmentalists off my back

Anyways, logic would have it that the heat from the rear tires melted the snow/ice enough to break the rear tires free and start a slide. And, since the X was in P, the drive tires were not rolling, only the non-drive tires were. But here's my question... why would the drive tires start rolling after sliding for a couple of feet??? And would have setting the parking brake made a difference?

Also, this should make no difference since I didn't have it in 4WD but, the lockouts were locked on...Had it been in 4WD, would the results have been any different (i.e.: would all four tires have started rolling after sliding for a short distance)?

TIA for answering a (more than likely) REALLY stupid question. I'm not much of a motorhead but I try...

Keith

BTW, I really really really HATE these auto hubs.

I thought the Auto would act similar to the ones on my Exped but they're a joke. When they're locked, they seem to work fine but the Auto is worthless...(I know, I know, they're covered on another thread but I couldn't resist!)

I believe that heroes are those that do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the circumstances.

E. Long

• Subscriber since 1/1/2001

• Atlanta, GA, USA

• Registered on 1/23/2001

• 2,229 posts

• 1

Posted:12/16/2004 08:16

Keith,

First and foremost, I'm jealous that you have snow!! We have nothing down here in the twin cities.

It is possible for your wheels to start turning while in park. I'm not sure if you've ever done it, but if you've ever had your Excursion jacked up in the rear while in park (i.e. while rotating tires) and if you try to tighten the lug nuts without the wheels on the ground, you can spin the rear wheels. Not easily, but they will turn...even with park engaged.

(Someone else may be able to chime in here, but I'm almost positive that it's the limited slip "giving way" and not the transfer case. If the transfer case gives way while in park, you'll hear gears grinding as your driveshaft spins to a stop past each tooth on the gear.)

My theory behind why mine do this is because of the limited slip in the rear end. The clutches may be a bit worn on mine (130k miles on my X) and it's a little easier to "force" it to disengage to make the wheels spin. I could see this same situation happening if your X started rolling backwords on ice. Perhaps one rear wheel was able to move when it hit dry pavement or found some traction and mayve the other rear wheel was still skidding. Do you have a limited slip rear differential?

Hard to say. With regards to your question at the end...yes, leaving it 4WD would help prevent this problem. The parking brake would ultimately solve the problem but as you probably know, setting the parking brake during a Minnesota winter can carry its own surprises (i.e. it could freeze).

The best solution is probably to throw some sand/salt down in your driveway (or wherever you're parking) so the X doesn't sit on an incline with an icy surface.

-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

E. Long

• Subscriber since 1/1/2001

• Atlanta, GA, USA

• Registered on 1/23/2001

• 2,229 posts

• 1

Posted:12/16/2004 12:59

Quote:

(Someone else may be able to chime in here, but I'm almost positive that it's the limited slip "giving way" and not the transfer case. If the transfer case gives way while in park, you'll hear gears grinding as your driveshaft spins to a stop past each tooth on the gear.)

After reviewing my original post...it would actually be the transmission "giving way" as opposed to the transfer case...considering the "park" gear is engaged in the transmission.

-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

JohnBoy

• DFW, TX, USA

• Registered on 9/3/2002

• 972 posts

• 2

Posted:12/16/2004 14:56

Wow !!!
bet that one woke you up from your dreary day doldurms !!!!!!

We "suthernrs" never have anything exciting like that happen to us !!!!!

Except for the time I was on a biz trip in Denver and stopped the rental car at a red light, then thought the redlight was moving to the left from the wind....
OH NO... the rental was sliding sideways toward the ditch !!!!
I didn't wait on that red light !!!!

2005 6.0L 4x4 Eddie Bauer Ex
2003 6.0L 4x4 Limited Ex - traded in (BooHoo

)
"The Republicans should back off and let men marry men, women marry women, and legalize abortion. In three generations there would be no Democrats."

LANDYOT

• Subscriber since 11/23/2003

• Newport News, VA, USA

• Registered on 7/15/2003

• 1,110 posts

Posted:12/16/2004 19:02

Due to the designs of differentials (open or limited-slip), putting the truck into "park" only secures one wheel. If the secured rear wheel starts to slide on ice, then the other will turn. Once the secured wheel gets traction, it will turn while the other starts sliding on the ice. If you can still place the tranny in park, and the X doesn't move, count your blessings. It's a big job to pull the tranny just to replace two broken pawls that engage only when you select "park." I know ... broke a couple of 'em 20-some years ago. The pressure on those easily broken pawls when parking on an incline is the main reason I always use the parking brake.

Mercedes1

• Brainerd, MN, USA

• Registered on 9/1/2004

• 25 posts

• 1

Posted:12/18/2004 11:48

Thanks for the input guys...It's amazing the difference Eric but my wife just came up from the cities on Thursday and said the ground snow pretty much started just north of Elk River...WOW! Not saying we have a lot up here but I did get to plow the other day :

: .

Bottom line, it sure woke me up, watching my X slide down and towards the tree! Something I really don't want to repeat

. Landyot, are these "prawls" covered under warranty? Should I have the Dealer take a look or is it not worth my time. Just curious.

BTW, I put my new plates on.. "GOTGASS" .... "GOT GAS" was taken and DVS wouldn't let me get "MINSBGR". Something about it being sexual in nature. I tried to explain but....I guess it's an X thing