2014 Explorer pulls left after letting off the gas... what’s going on?

Discussion
1

I recently did some front suspension work on my Base model Explorer, but as of yesterday, it started veering heavily to the left when I let off the gas (no braking involved). I’m a bit confused about this, but here’s what’s happening:

  1. Accelerate, vehicle feels light at the front and pulls to the right.
  2. Decelerate, vehicle immediately shifts weight and pulls left.
  3. Traction control light comes on occasionally.

Someone suggested it’s just torque steer because I have a heavy foot, which I admit is true, but I’ve never had this much torque steer before. This started just yesterday.

UPDATE: I found the issue. I missed a bolt that connects the knuckle to the control arm on the driver side. Looks like I hit a big bump and didn’t notice. I tightened it with some blue thread lock, and now I understand why the alignment was off. When I accelerated, it shifted the weight mostly to the driver side, losing contact on the passenger side until I let off the throttle and the weight redistributed.

2

Sounds like an alignment problem. Should be easy to fix.

3

Niko said:
Sounds like an alignment problem. Should be easy to fix.

I thought so too, but I did an alignment when I worked on my suspension, and I just did it again, but the issue is still there.

4

@Tal
Did you check the rear suspension too?

5

@Tal
The traction control light is odd though!

6

Niko said:
@Tal
The traction control light is odd though!

Yeah, the rear suspension is fine. I do plan to replace the rear suspension at some point, but I don’t think that’s the cause. I’ve been doing more test driving, and the issue only happens when I apply or release throttle. It gets worse when I let off the gas.

7

I’m not too familiar with this platform, but it could be bad cradle mounts or bushings causing the shift based on torque from the wheels.

8

Tan said:
I’m not too familiar with this platform, but it could be bad cradle mounts or bushings causing the shift based on torque from the wheels.

If by cradle mount, you mean the engine mounts, then maybe. I replaced all 3 of them, and I checked them earlier today, and they seem fine.

9

@Tal
No, not the engine mounts, but it doesn’t seem like my suggestion fits this vehicle.

Have you replaced the LCA bushings or the tie rod ends?

10

Tan said:
@Tal
No, not the engine mounts, but it doesn’t seem like my suggestion fits this vehicle.

Have you replaced the LCA bushings or the tie rod ends?

I’ve been checking everything for the last few hours and found the issue. One of the control arm bolts came loose.

11

The traction control light could mean an issue with a speed, ABS, or wheel slip sensor. Did you get any codes?

12

Ali said:
The traction control light could mean an issue with a speed, ABS, or wheel slip sensor. Did you get any codes?

I found my issue earlier today. I overlooked a loose bolt until I lifted the vehicle up.

13

This might sound strange, but try turning off the traction control and see if the problem still happens.

14

Tyson said:
This might sound strange, but try turning off the traction control and see if the problem still happens.

I’ll give that a try.

15

You definitely need an alignment after doing suspension work. You might be toeing out.

16

At first, I thought it was an alignment issue, but then I considered that something in the front suspension could be broken, causing a misalignment when the front settles after letting off the throttle.