4x4 Clunks & binding?
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4x4 Clunks & binding?
Evening, gents
It's snowing here today and I decided to have some fun doing donuts in 4x2. Then I decided to put it in 4x4, and at about 30 mph it'd have this funky double clunk noise. What is this? Am I causing catastrophic damage?
Also in 4x4, when I go make a tight turn in 4x4, like say pulling into the driveway, the front axle binds so much it will stop the truck from moving and depending on where the wheel is in its rotation, the truck will roll forward or back. Is this just a problem with lack of lubrication and use? I have no idea how long the truck has sat, and it's relatively new to me (4 months give or take).
If these are signs that I'm about to drop a driveshaft or blow out the front hubs, please let me know ASAP
Dan
It's snowing here today and I decided to have some fun doing donuts in 4x2. Then I decided to put it in 4x4, and at about 30 mph it'd have this funky double clunk noise. What is this? Am I causing catastrophic damage?
Also in 4x4, when I go make a tight turn in 4x4, like say pulling into the driveway, the front axle binds so much it will stop the truck from moving and depending on where the wheel is in its rotation, the truck will roll forward or back. Is this just a problem with lack of lubrication and use? I have no idea how long the truck has sat, and it's relatively new to me (4 months give or take).
If these are signs that I'm about to drop a driveshaft or blow out the front hubs, please let me know ASAP
Dan
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4 wheel drive and dry ground (especialy blacktop) do not get along!
It sounds to me like maybe you have two different gear ratios in the axles.
Has anyone ever swapped axles? The other possibility is bad (very bad) axle joints. Does the front axle have a locker of any type? That would bind on dry ground also.
It sounds to me like maybe you have two different gear ratios in the axles.
Has anyone ever swapped axles? The other possibility is bad (very bad) axle joints. Does the front axle have a locker of any type? That would bind on dry ground also.
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No they're both 3.5ish open differentials. I do have 31s, but this was on an inch fresh snow.
Would greasing the yokes make things a little more kosher? It doesn't look like they've been greased in quite some time
Would greasing the yokes make things a little more kosher? It doesn't look like they've been greased in quite some time
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From: Ideeho
Wouldnt hurt to grease things up. Id also take a look at all the U-joints on the driveshafts and the knuckle joints in the front end while I was under there to make sure they are all OK. Sounds like you could have a bad knuckle joint.
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Alrighty, I'll pick some up at farm and fleet today.
Any specific problem I should be looking for? Like if I have a bad knuckle joint will one be bent or the snap ring bent out or something?
Any specific problem I should be looking for? Like if I have a bad knuckle joint will one be bent or the snap ring bent out or something?
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From: nicholasville, ky
it would be loose, if its bad you should be able to grab the axle and move it around. i just done mine about a week ago preparing for snow. i have all ne u joints in the truck and replaced the bad axle joint. i have 33's and was also driving in the snow and when i would turn all the way to the right it would kinda lurch. but it didnt do it on the snow so my guess would be the axle joint for sure. you need a big hammer to get the old ones out lol
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Brett Foote
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What he's saying is that his joints were worn out to the point they were sloppy, I have seen them that were so rusted tight they would NOT move.
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From: nicholasville, ky
it took some muscle to ge tmine out lol. yea my front drive shaft u joints were rusted tight and when i locked it in it broke the caps. it sat for a year before i bought it and the man never used the 4x4 since 85. so it took me some time. its pretty easy to get everything apart. but the ujoint its self can be a pain to get out. lots of pb blaster and a really big hammer
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Hahaha well I do have a 12 lb sledge and a 5lb dead blow so I think I'm set in that department.
When you replace these, can you just unbolt the knucle to get at em? Or do you have to remove it step by step like wheel, caliper, hub/rotor?
And did you have to replace your yokes too?
When you replace these, can you just unbolt the knucle to get at em? Or do you have to remove it step by step like wheel, caliper, hub/rotor?
And did you have to replace your yokes too?
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From: nicholasville, ky
its all gotta come out.take caliper off, take the hub apart, wheel bearings come out, pull rotor off, the take th 6 or so bolts off the spindle and pull it off. although it took some prying to get my spindle off. it took me about an hour if not less to have everything apart. but it took forever on the ujoint but thats because i had to wait on a bigger hammer lol
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From: Ideeho
If the spindle is stuck or rusted on after you remove the bolts that retain it................screw one of the nuts that retain the wheel bearings back on then hit on the nut to move the outer end of the spindle downward with a good dead blow hammer.........will usually pop it right off!!!!