Turning my truck left or right while my 4x4 is engaged produces a lot of chattering and feels very sticky, more so than other 4x4's I've owned in the past. I know there's a lot going on up front when turning a tight radius with the 4x4 engaged, but this feels particularly sticky. Sometimes, it seems like I have to "goose" it a bit to get through the turns. Has anyone else noticed this? Will this loosen up over time? I've got a 2004 XL 5.4L, 4x4, 8ft bed with the heavy payload package and snow plow prep package.

 

Sounds normal to me. It always feels odd but that is how they are designed. No I don't think it will loosen up or brake in over time. Try not to make sharp turns in 4wd on pavement as it is hard on the drivetrain.

 

what your describing sounds like the drivetrain binding because the front and rear wheels cant differentiate their speeds in a turn when locked in 4wheel...the result is binding and chattrering/chirping along with the affects you described

this affect is 10 times more noticable on pavement than dirt

when you "goose" it, you are probably breaking traction just enough to relieve the bind....im not sure what kind of 4x4's you were drivin before, but the only way i could imagine there would be a difference is you having driven something with a SFA before this truck.
im thinking a sfa will absorb more of the bind due to the allowance of axle wrap...which your ifs front really doesnt have....hell i dont even know if there woudl be a differnce...just thinking out loud cause for all i know your last rig was ifs

 

yup sounds normal to me! Now try it with the front locked (welded front) lol it gets 10 times worse! BTW...please don't ever turn on pavement while in 4x4....cause you will almost definitely break something! I would be careful gooseing it that shock load on the front could cause something to snap!

-jason-

 

well with the options you listed you would also have a trac lock in the rear which will agrivate it more than open diffs on both ends, so that maybe part of why it seems worse than others you have driven, and if it does loosen up with time you broke something