Hey folks, I just bought a black f250 lariat with the power stroke engine and absolutely love it so far. I do have one question though; there is a popping noise that comes from the rear end every once in a while when I turn the truck to full lock. It doesn't happen all the time and doesn't seem to happen in reverse. I have locked the rear locker, put it in and out of 4wd and nothing has alleviated the issue. Also, it may be in my head but it seems like there may be some slight resistance in the steering when I turn it close to full lock. Anyone else experience anything like this? It stinks because I really do love everything about the truck at this point. Thanks for your help!

 

With the locker engaged, the popping is the tires when turning slipping on pavement. Without it locked, it wouldn't do that. Does it do it only in 4*4 and locked rear end? Try it on slippery surfaces like gravel and snow, ice, if it doesn't do it, it's normal. New drivetrain is tight. If it's when not in 4 wheel or locked rear, then that is something else. Take it for warrenty to inspect and narrow down?

 

You said rear but have you checked the front wheel hubs are set to auto and not to locked? It is common to have the hubs locked from the factory so that is why I am asking.

Edit* and it would make a popping noise that you described and could just be the sound traveling and you "hearing" it from a different area.

 

[QUOTE=mhoefer;16888255]With the locker engaged, the popping is the tires when turning slipping on pavement. Without it locked, it wouldn't do that. Does it do it only in 4*4 and locked rear end? Try it on slippery surfaces like gravel and snow, ice, if it doesn't do it, it's normal. New drivetrain is tight. If it's when not in 4 wheel or locked rear, then that is something else. Take it for warrenty to inspect and narrow down?[/QUOTE

It does it while unlocked and in 2 high. I have never heard of a tight drivetrain, would that cause this sound? It is actually fairly subtle and only happens on occasion so I may just wait until the first service to have it checked out. Thanks for the reply.

 

I'm not for certain it's from the front but I am pretty sure that the rear locker is unlocked and it's in 2 high. It could be coming from the front end but I'm pretty sure it's the back. I was just wondering if this was something normal I shouldn't worry about or if it's worth taking into service for. Thanks for the reply.

 

Check that your front hubs are on auto.

 

When I took delivery of my f450 the first sharp turn I took I heard a popping noise coming from the truck. I checked the front hubs and they were locked in. I would check there first

 

I'm new to manual/auto hubs... why would the hubs being locked affect anything, except a tiny impact to mileage, when in 2 wheel drive?

 

Go to the front wheels and in the very center of the wheel there is actually a little turn **** with two settings on it. Auto and locked. Turn in the direction of auto. Just because rear and 2 wheel doesn't mean the front is unlocked at the actual hub.

The center looks like this

 

When hubs are locked then each wheel is trying to turn identical to the other side. On dry pavement this means that during a turn the inside wheel is trying to go the exact same distance as the outside wheel. This will cause binding in the gears if that inside wheel can't slip like they can on snow or slippery surfaces to go the same distance.

Driving straight and it's not an issue but turns are bad.

 

Yup, front hubs are still locked. Your dealer prep should have put them to auto.

 

That was it! Thanks for all the help folks.

 

I have seen several posts about hubs being locked, makes you wonder it the transport guys are switching them when loading vehicles onto steel ramps of the transport.