I'm a newbie and this is a GREAT site. I just bought a 2003 F150 crew cab King Ranch 4wd. When I test drove the truck, I threw it into 4wd and heard some bearing noise up front. I took it back out of 4wd, and when it disengaged, the noise stopped. I should say this was on dry pavement. I took it back in and they fixed my driver's side heated seat ( what a nice feature!), but they said the 4wd noise is normal. It engages and disengages ok, but that noise! I had an Expy with A4WD and it was quiet as a mouse. They said since I don't have A4WD in this truck, the noise on dry pavement is normal. I want to call Bull$#!+, but I don't know if this is normal. I have looked through the site and have found a few things about this, but nothing that satisfies me.

Is this a normal noise? I love this truck, but I don't want to walk into $1000 or more in repairs.

Thanks,
jblueguy

 

I can't tell you what your noise is but to tell you the front drive shaft, the front differential, the front CV shafts can all cause noise when worn.
It's up to some one to check it out and find the cause.
Once a used vehichle is sold and issues come up it an exchange of words by the dealer trying to get out of it.
A test drive would have shown this up before the sale.
Good luck.

 

Maybe I wasn't clear. After I test drove it, I mentioned the noise to my salesman. When the Service Dept. took it for a ride, they said it was normal. When I drive it on snow or mud, where the tires can spin, the noise will not be there - So I am told.

 

Well the point of all this is we don't know what you are hearing and you have nothing to go on but what your told.
What can we do for you here?
My 02 with 184,000 does not have noise in 4wd high or low in a straight line on dry road.
All 4 tires must be reasonably the same diameter so they turn at the same rpm being the drive line is all hooked togather in 4wd.
When the steering is turned right or left, one front wheel will try to sprag because it cannot adjust to a difference in turning radius, being locked togather.
Again, in the front driveline you have CV axles with joints inside the boots, the driveahaft has U joints and the front axle assembly could cause noise.
I don't have anymore to offer that would be usefull to you.
Good luck.

 

As Bluegrass mentioned, driving straight on pavement shouldn't make much if any noise. Any turn, things start to wind up.

AWD compensates with a center differential or sometimes other device to allow all the wheels to turn at different speeds in turns. 4WD locks things up, and turns on hard surfaces wind up the driveline, stress every part, and will make the tires slip, jump and/or chirp. You can break parts in some cases.

We can't hear what you hear. If you don't like the sounds, pass. Millions served, find another.

 

I got the answer I was looking for. The noise is not usual. The dealership said it will be quiet in snow when the tires can slip a bit. We should have some snow here in Toledo soon. The truck has Toyo tires on it and I'm thinking they are a big part of the problem. I'll check back in after it snows. I bought this truck, so whether its a problem or not, it's mine to deal with.

Thanks

QUOTE=85e150six4mtod;12774956]As Bluegrass mentioned, driving straight on pavement shouldn't make much if any noise. Any turn, things start to wind up.

AWD compensates with a center differential or sometimes other device to allow all the wheels to turn at different speeds in turns. 4WD locks things up, and turns on hard surfaces wind up the driveline, stress every part, and will make the tires slip, jump and/or chirp. You can break parts in some cases.

We can't hear what you hear. If you don't like the sounds, pass. Millions served, find another.[/QUOTE]