On a recent ski trip, I was making a sharp right turn up a hill and started spinning the back tires. I reached over and turned the **** to 4 high. I know you're not supposed to engage 4x4 while spinning tires and I thought I had let off the gas before engaging. When I started up the hill again, the front left made a grinding/popping sound as it engaged. It worked and I didn't think of it again.

Recently, I tried running around with just the hubs set to lock and the transfer case still in 2wd. Whenever I make sharp turns, there's a horrible popping sound from the front left. It's not like the skipping you get when in 4x4 and making a sharp turn on a gravel road. There's just that noise. I wiggled the u-joint at the front left tire and it doesn't seem loose (not like the last one I replaced on an old F-150 where I could see it rattle when I moved the driveshaft). So is this noise normal? My thinking is that with the open differential in the front and 4x4 not being engaged, there shouldn't be any front end noise.

Harald

2000 F350 4x4 CC DRW V10 4.30ls Lariat LWB.
Firestone Ride-rite airbags, Rancho RS9000 shocks and Torklift Superhitch.
1998 Alpenlite Pendelton 11'10" camper held on by Torklift tie downs.

 

This seems to be common on Superdutys. If you crank the wheels to full lock you will get some popping sounds.

Les

 

It's perfectly normal to hear this during tight turns when a 4wd has universal joints in the axle shafts.Which the SD has.CV joints are another story when they are noisy.

 

Check your front left hub, it may be broken. I had that problem once and the hub was broke so i put the locking hubs on that u have i think. I had automatics. But i say check the hub that may be your problem.

 

I would agree with the blown hub. I toasted mine in much the same manner, thought I had been out of the throttle long enough and wasted both of them. Dealer replaced them under warrenty. I now manually lock the hubs before leaving on snowy days if I think that I am going to need 4x4.

 

Mine only does it on the 4th of July


:P


hick-up:+

 

Thanks for the replies. I've got the laundry list of problems for the dealer to look at, so I'll add the possibility of a blown hub. Gotta get all that stuff fixed in the next year before the warranty expires.

Harald

2000 F350 4x4 CC DRW V10 4.30ls Lariat LWB.
Firestone Ride-rite airbags, Rancho RS9000 shocks and Torklift Superhitch.
1998 Alpenlite Pendelton 11'10" camper held on by Torklift tie downs.

 

 

Sounds like the axle may have a wear mark where the spindle bearing rides causing the axle to walk.