Hey guys,


I'm a long time reader and first time poster. I just recently picked up a 2000 Ford F-350 Crew Cab, short bed. It has the 5.4L engine.

For the first time I tried the 4x4 as it was snowing and I noticed that I was having trouble when doing sharp turns. It was like the front wheel were having trouble moving. The truck would "buck" until I straighted the wheel.

Driving around town was fine just had a problem with sharp turns

I'm new to this big truck, is this normal?

Thanks

 

This is normal for any 4WD vehicle with a transfer case. You're feeling binding between the front and rear driveshaft. The bucking sensation is the release of binding through movement of the front wheels.

When in 4WD the transfer case is locked causing the front and rear driveshafts to turn at the same rate. While turning, the front driveshaft is spinning at a different speed than the rear driveshaft. The tighter you turn the greater the difference in speed. Your transfer case will not slip. It puts stress on the transfer case and this is the reason why you should not operate 4WD on a dry roads. Only use on slippery roads, or a surface that will allow tires to slip.

This isn't noticed on all-wheel drive cars and SUV's because the center differential slips, and this is the reason they can operate in AWD 100% of the time. Much more handy for driving on slippery roads.

 

In addition to what QwkTrip said, you may want to check to see if you have some type of L/S in the front.

 

-unless its some aftermarket thing there is no checking--limited slip is for the rear

 

Thanks guys, I feel much better now. For some reason I had assumed that 4wd High was like a SUV and 4wd low was locked

 

I have this problem with my SWB F-150 with limited slip front with just the hubs locked

 

don't know about later model trucks but in '70s and '80s limited slip was offered for front

 

Unless the front axle has a locker, you wouldn't even notice. Any locker would be aftermarket. In that case the risk would be broken axle shafts. Nobody in their right mind would put an automatic locker in the front axle of a street driven vehicle.

 

the three I had and still have one the limited slip worked good
they were all dana 44