Buying an 04 > clunk after engages 4 hi >normal?

[65fordguy]

I own a 2001 supercrew lariat.... when I put it into 4 hi or lo.. its a smooth transition... I have driven several of the newer model trucks and each one of them have a clunk or clank after it engages. The process of engaging is solid and smooth... but a few seconds afterwards there is the noise... is this the lockers locking and im just not used to it? After all all of them have done it... or all of them flawed? All have been 04 model years. Thanks for helping.

[tylus]

it's normal for some slight noise


there are alot of metal components that have to get spun up to speed and rotate.


a continual noise is not good. but just that initial noise is just fine.


for those 04 models, are they the new body style or the old body style (like your 01)? because there are some pretty extreme differences between the 2 bodystyles in 2004.

[tbear853]

You have the transfer case in which the forward drive shaft's output is engaged, then you have two actuators that engage the front lockers which lock the front axles to the wheels. The three points are all machanically locked once engaged. There are no smooth clutches doing te locking.

Some momentary noise as splines / dogs line up and find their places together is normal.

Also why you don't run 4wd on non slick surfaces, and why you back up to release as these components get "wound up" against each other due to slight differences in front to rear loading, air pressure, and travel through corners.

[65fordguy]

It's the new style... What are the differences