04 F350 locking hub question
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04 F350 locking hub question
04 F350 4x4 work great.When i shifted into 2wd i forgot to unlock the hubs.I noticed today when turning left or right in parking lots,a ticking or cliking noise is coming out from them. 4X4 is not engaged when this happens.
When I unlock manual hubs there is NO noise.
I dont like the sound but it doesnt sound destructive like a wheel bearing.Just wondering if this is normal behavior for locking hubs
Thanks in advance for any help!!
When I unlock manual hubs there is NO noise.
I dont like the sound but it doesnt sound destructive like a wheel bearing.Just wondering if this is normal behavior for locking hubs
Thanks in advance for any help!!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Preston co. WV
It could be your front axle ujoints binding up. you can check them out by putting it up on jack stands, turning your wheel all the way to one side and manually spin your wheel with the hubs locked in. Look and listen to your ujoints and hubs while spinning the wheel. Then do the same to the other side.
This might give you a better understanding of where the noise is coming from and what may be going on.
If it still does it when the hubs are unlocked you may have a spring in the hub going bad or some grime in there, and may need to dissasemble the hubs and do some PM.
PS. It's not recommended that you run on hard dry surfaces with your hubs locked in.
I do leave mine locked in all winter to save time, just in case.
This might give you a better understanding of where the noise is coming from and what may be going on.
If it still does it when the hubs are unlocked you may have a spring in the hub going bad or some grime in there, and may need to dissasemble the hubs and do some PM.
PS. It's not recommended that you run on hard dry surfaces with your hubs locked in.
I do leave mine locked in all winter to save time, just in case.
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Thanks for the advice!
I ran things today and all seems fine.I recently bought this truck so its possible it hasnt been in 4X4 in quite some time.I will however pull the hubs apart and grease things up.
Axle joints are possible,but the sound seemed quite a high clicking,my cherokee's axle joint slop sounded more clunky.
Either way the truck is new to me and cant assume all the maintenance was done.
I ran things today and all seems fine.I recently bought this truck so its possible it hasnt been in 4X4 in quite some time.I will however pull the hubs apart and grease things up.
Axle joints are possible,but the sound seemed quite a high clicking,my cherokee's axle joint slop sounded more clunky.
Either way the truck is new to me and cant assume all the maintenance was done.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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Had the same noise on my front end also with hubs locked.. Would go away when I engaged 4X4... Traced the problem to a bad u joint .. So just changed them both and all fixed.. Seems to turn smother now less binding on those dry patches..
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If it is a new truck I would replace all fluids and regrease anything that I could. It will cost you some money (especially for good synthetic oil) but could save you some real heartache down the road.
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Normal. Take it out of 4wd and unlock the hubs. I've done it many times while plowing going from snow packed pavement onto dry pavement.
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My 03 350 dually is doing this and I just bought mine as well..... I in no way consider this normal. Though I've had hubs and a wheel bearing replaced and havnt helpeod. Axle u joints are newer as well as ball joints. Actually feels like parts hitting each other. Investigating this issue is why I've joined this forum lol
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I bought my F250 brandy new in '02. I've been plowing with it for 8 years now. In and out of 4WD on snow, dirt, sand, wet and dry pavement. I have never had any problems with my 4WD or my front end what so ever. I've experienced the same noises when my hubs were locked and I was on dry pavement. Put your truck in 4WD, lock the hubs and go for a ride on a dirt road. I betcha' you don't hear the noises when turning. Get back out onto dry pavement, take it out of 4WD, unlock the hubs and drive. Again I betcha' you don't hear the noises when turning. Stay on dry pavement, put it into 4WD, lock the hubs and drive, turn left and right and I betcha' you will again hear the noises when turning. While turning you will also feel the truck shuttering. Do not drive for long or far on dry pavement in 4WD with hubs locked. Do not drive for long or far on dry pavement in 2WD with hubs locked. Both scenarios WILL cause serious and expensive damage to your front differential, front axels and front u-joints. Just my .02 for what it's worth. 
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I had this same issue last year after I installed new ball joints. When I would make a corner the front end would bind and make a clunking sound. Turns out my hubs were actually locked in. Since then, I Marked the hubs with a silver paint pen so I don't have the issue anymore.
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To lock, turn the selectors as far clockwise as they will go and you will hear them "click" or "snap". The hubs are now locked. To un-lock, turn the selector counter clockwise as far as they will go. You will NOT hear them "click" or "snap". The hubs are now unlocked.
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