I was testing my 4wd the other week and noticed while making a u-turn my truck felt like it was being restricted from moving forward. Did it a few more times and still felt resistance from moving forward while my steering wheel was turned all the way. Didn't matter if I u-turned left or right I still felt resistance and a slight vibration around my front axles. The roads around here have no snow just wet from the rain. Is this normal for a truck in 4wd to feel resistance and a slight vibration while making a u-turn? Truck runs fine when driving straight and making normal turns left or right in 4wd. No problems in 2wd while making u-turns either. What do you guys think it is?


99 F150
5.4l
116ooo miles

 

well i would say that when making sharp turns or u-turns in 4wd high or low, you are gona feel some resistance. both front wheels are trying to pull you forward.its just the dynamics of making the turn in 4wd, im not sure how to properly explain it but im sure sombody might chime in. i dont think its anything to worry about though. mine does it.

 

^^^ that's good news to me. i didn't know if that was normal or not.

 

You aren't going to have 4 wheel drive for long driving it like that. You should never use the 4 wheel drive unless you are on a slick surface. Wet roads are nowhere near slick enough to count. It will tear it up.

 

I'll second what RRanch said, You should never uses 4x4 on dry surfaces....there is nothing to "give" when you'r turning on dry pavement.
Rich

 

yes, youre diffs are meant to have an amount of give in them except for locked axels

 

What you're experiencing is called "axle windup", and I'd expect to see it if you're in 4x4 on a surface that's wet and not slippery. This stresses the hell out of the driveline. Don't do it.

The front and rear axles travel through circles of different size. Because the t-case does not have any differential gearing, the system will bind up if you're not on a slippery surface. If you're on a slippery surface, wheel slip takes care of the situation.

 

incorrect, your front axel has the same gearing as your rear axle...on a side not, take off your front driveline and examine the center bearing in your cv joint and if it has too much play, thats what happened to mine and i had the same symptoms

 

gearing is not the problem, both axles have the same gears. What Mark ment is when you turn left in 4 x 4, the front left tire turns a very sharp corner, while the right side and rear right side turn a much bigger circle. THAT is the problme, that at least 3 of the 4 tires are trying to turn at 3 different speeds relative to the ground. THe LS unit in the back is what slips to compensate for that. There is no compensation between front and rear, there fore the dragging or jump movement.