I had this weird issue today where when I tried to reverse out of my parking spot, I could feel my steering wheel get really difficult to turn and I could feel my front wheels start binding up. At first I thought I was going over a rock or something so I stopped putting pressure into the steering wheel to turn and kept reversing until I heard a metal pop sound. I immediately went back into drive and parked to avoid breaking anything.

I've been able to reproduce by putting my Wrangler (2010 JKR) into reverse until I can feel it binding again, then going back into drive and parking. Going forward I don't feel anything but going in reverse I feel it every time after moving a couple feet. Any idea what this is? I went underneath to look for any obvious signs of damage or leaking and didn't see anything.

 

cosmojk, first welcome to the forum, glad you are here. Binding in reverse is a strange issue probably why no one has jumped on it. I would guess it might be a broken mount, transmission maybe, possibly an engine mount. good luck , let us know what happens.

 

Thanks for the reply - been lurking a few months and figured maybe now is a good time to join haha.

I got it towed to the dealership so I will hopefully have an answer soon. Pulling out of the parking spot and onto the tow truck, I realized it wasn't limited to just going in reverse. Will report back when I hear from the techs.

 

This is one of those things that if it turns out to be anything gearing related, you'd be better off at an offroad shop than a dealership. Those guys just don't know how to do much besides replace a full axle.

 

Did you ever get an answer?

 

Yeah they said the locker actuator (edit: the actuator sensor) was in backwards. Idk if thats true but that's what they said...

 

That is impossible they're just making shit up now. Odd. I would have like to know what it really was. For what it's worth, this is the locker actuator right here -

 

Sorry I meant the actuator sensor - would that cause it to bind? They said it was an aftermarket sensor but I went to an off-road shop sometime after and they said no, the one I have installed is OEM. 2010 JK rubi

 

Nah, that makes no sense either. The actuator sensor is this little guy right here, and it just slides back and forth as the actuator ring is engaged or not.


Those things can bend if people are not careful reinstalling the carrier back in the diff, but they can't cause any binding. The only scenario that i could picture that is if the head broke off and was getting tossed around in the gears.

I guess this one will remain a mystery. Good thing is you're rplling around with no issue again.