It's a pretty snowy day here so I was using the 4WD on the way home from work, and I'm finding the truck really feels like it's binding in 4WD, with lots of wheel hop on turns in parking lots.

I would have thought it wouldn't exhibit this on very slippery surfaces. My previous vehicle, a Toyota Sequoia, was buttery smooth in 4WD. I've checked the hubs and they're both solidly in the "auto" position.

So, just looking for some much-appreciated feedback from other owners as to whether this is normal for these trucks, or not.

 

Sounds to me like your driving on a surface thats not as slippery as you think. I wouldn't be in 4x4 in a parking lot unless there was at least a few inches of snow all over it. The hubs being engaged in auto does not have anything to do with what your feeling. Just a guess here as I don't know, but was the Sequoia an AWD? If it was that is why you are feeling the difference. The AWD will allow for slippage on dry surfaces whereas a regualar 4x4 will not.

 

Mine binds severely also.
My Jeep with Quadradrive, and my Jeep with Quadratrac2 were both smooth wet or dry.
Maybe the first few 4WD designs by Ford were also smooth, and people complained, and wanted something clunkier? (sarcasm)
I think the thing to do is to turn off 4WD when making sharp turns, unless you are in deeper snow.
My '06 felt smoother...

 

I was actually going to start a thread on this.Thanks for doing it. I have had an 04 and an 06 and the 2011 really binds. What did they change in the front end that would make the 2011 bind so bad and no I'm not on sticky surfaces. It's almost embarrasing when the truck is lurching around. I thought the front drivetrain didn't change from the prevoius years. I am also concerned about longevity of the front end. Any thoughts?

 

It's super greasy here today with about 4cms of snow on the ground. I did think about turning off the 4WD for low-speed parking lot driving, so that might be what I have to do.

The Sequoia was 4WD for sure, and I could feel it bind on very tight corners if the surface happened to be on the dry side (ie. if I forgot to turn off the 4WD while parking back in the driveway after pushing the trailer into the side yard, where I often need 4WD to keep from spinning and tearing up the grass).

 

Noticed the same on mine today.

 

I have a 91 explorer (might as well be a Model T compared to the 2011) and had an 03 F-350 before the 11 and they all bind about the same or so I think. I dont notice it when I am on anything slick which is what I expect but as soon as I am on something that has any amount of traction I know exactly what you are talking about.

You gotta realize that when you turn right the left front wheel is turning faster then the right rear wheel (and vise versa) and they are both hooked to the same drivetrain so that is gonna cause some jumping and jerking if there isnt any way for it to slip. All my vehicles have always done it so I dont find it odd, I just dont turn as sharp! Just my .02!

 

My Dodge wasn't this bad and I don't remember my '04 F-250 being like this either. Now the '04 was an extended cab and my "11 is a crew, not sure if the extra length is causing me to turn sharper or not. Just feels different. I shouldn't say they never did but you had to be almost to the stop before it did it.

 

Normal to feel this. All of the wheels are connected together and are spinning at different speeds while turning. It has to give some where and this give is the tires slipping while in a turn.

If you had a solid rear axle and turned real sharp one of the tires has to skid. But we have a gear differential to allow the tires to spin at different speeds. Thus the name differential!

Now add a front axle to it and we have yet another speed. In a turn the front tires are traveling further thus spinning the drive line faster than the rear. Now the transfer case spins the drive shaft to the front and the rear at the same speed. Something has to give.

Now in some of the vehicles they could compensate for this by have another set of spider gears in the transfer case which would allow different speeds of the front and rear drive shafts.

This was called all time 4wd back in the day. I had a F150 which was all time 4wd and it worked great. But it sure like to be gassed up more often! We called it one wheel wonder because you could spin just one wheel in all time 4wd. Then you could lock it in to 4wd which would send power to the front diff and the rear diff. That is where you are at with these trucks. Sending the same speed to the front and rear axles. 2wd then you can go to 4wd and then to low 4wd. It has to give!!

If you are feeling it bind then I would take it out of 4wd because there is plenty of traction at the time. But traction varies. Just like at intersections the road could be slippery and you need 4wd but next intersection is dry and bingo ya feel the driveline trying to keep all of the wheels at the same speed and thus the "binding" is what you will feel.

You will feel this and there is nothing wrong with the truck.

 

Just because its a brand new truck doesnt mean theres not problems. i would check your backlash and pinion depth. my uncle bout a 2011 super duty and his had the same problem. he had me check it out for him and the front diff had to much backlash

 

Well it is a good thing you checked it. But even if the backlash is perfect the truck will still have the binding feel due to the set up.

But one should look at all of the driveline components to make sure there is nothing else wrong.

How much back lash did you take out? Was the contact pattern on the heel or toe of the tooth?

Did you shim the pinion and/or the carrier to correct it?

Do you work at a dealer? Are you seeing alot of this?

Would like to know!

 

i cant remember exactly how much i took out i shimmed the pinion and i do not work at a dealership but graduated from wyotech not to long ago and a have few buddys that have had the same problem and taken them to dealerships and its seems to be a common problem

 

Hmmm? You did a repair on a vehicle that has full warranty?

 

Hmmm? You did a repair on a vehicle that has full warranty?

 

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH yeah. my uncle didnt wanna fool with our dealership in my home town