I have an '09 F350 crew cab. When I engage the 4WD I hear what sounds like front end gear noise. It's not real loud but noticeable to me. A whirring sound. Now, it might just be because I've never owned a full size truck this quiet before but it seems like I shouldn't be able to hear the front differential any more than I should be able to hear the rear differential - right? What's the hive mind say?

 

Mine doesn't make any noise when 4WD is engaged.

08 F250 4WD 6.4L PSD

 

I have a 2010 F350 super cab with manual transfer case I also here a little bit of noise when I engage four-wheel drive it sounds like a whirling noise is that what you're describing if so unfortunately it's normal apparently the transfer stick resonates the sound of the chain in the case itself into your Interior, this is the explanation I have received from Ford upon my complaint, I had the same issue with an F150 with manual transfer case I just figure they fixed it by now especially with 350 being so much more truck I was wrong :-) , it will lessen in the snow and ice and a more aggressive tire you have on the truck the more you'll notice the sound. One other funny story I was told by the Ford mechanic not to use 4 Wheel drive on dry roads "no kidding ;-)" I told him last winter on a two-hour ride to Poughkeepsie New York in the height of the storm I wasn't going to take the truck in and out of four-wheel-drive so I just listen to the whining on the Thruway all the way down there I'm glad I got rid of that truck the F350 is noticeable but nowhere near what the F150 did you couldn't even drown it out with music it's probably due to the location of the F350 transfer case further away from you so the sound has time to dissipate or perhaps they're using a better isolator into the transfer case itself I hope this helps

 

you can have a little noise from the transfer case, it is normal. I have had it on almost every 4x4 I have owned. Just for comfort, verify that the front diff and transfer case is full.

 

good advice Senix

I`d rep ya but got the message,,,blah blah

 

I'll get him for you

 

thanks guys

 

Well Ford may say it's Normal,,,But it certainly is NOT !!,,,I have Driven 6 Ford F-250's & F-350 4x4's,,and owned 5 of them since, 1976,,,plus 4 other Ford SUV's ,,and the only one to make any noise in 4x4 was my 04' F-350 V-10,,,when on the gas around 30 to 40 mph,,,in 4x4 Hi,,made a wirring/Howling noise like a ring & pinion gear noise,,,all have been manual T-case trucks(only type I will buy) My 06' F-350 make No noise at all in
4x4!

Only time 76' F-250 4x4 ever made noise was when the front drive shaft u-joints were shot.

 

On any new ring-and-pinion, it's somewhat normal to hear something when in 4WD. Depending on how much tread is on the front or back tires, you may ride on the backside of the ring gear which usually doesn't get any wear, so it'll whine a little bit.

It all depends on how loud it is.

Lock the hubs manually and drive it around and see if it makes any noise. If not, it's probably not an issue.

 

check the fluid level in that pumpkin..

but i bet its like krewat says... its just normal gear noise from something thats new with no mileage on it yet...

 

I'm afraid that's exactly what Ford told me some trucks do it and some don't, I can live with the noise from this F350 it's minor, although I think it shouldn't be there I put in a register complaint LOL like that will do anything. I agree he should check the front differential but I guarantee it's full also the transfer case oil level I just went through this three weeks ago. after two years of going death when using four-wheel-drive in my old f 150 I brought it to a transmission shop and paid out of my own pocket to have it looked at, the answer some transfer drive chains are Slack causing the increased noise level which travels up the lever into the cab, if I had kept the truck i was thinking about replacing part of the control lever with high-strength plastic or carbon fiber to help stop the noise after revealing these findings to Ford I was told "yes we know that", and you still haven't solved it? you expect people to just live with it!! if Chevy were in better shape I was going to sell the truck that day . while Ford had my f150 they gave me a truck with the switch for 4wd on the dashboard of course it was quiet as a church mouse even on dry roads so I guarantee you it's just the transfer case chain coming into the cab. I should've bought the new truck with the switch rather than the manual engagement I just don't trust all that solenoid controlled garbage manual hubs and manual engagement is old like me :-).

 

I have a 2008 F250 Diesel. I have been complaining about a similar noise since I bought the truck. It was a howling noise from the front driver side hub area. I took a F350 2010 for a ride today and it has the same noise mine. I have been told it is a normal road noise. It is very annoying noise, but I have finally been convinced that it is not just my truck.