Yes I know "don't leave them locked, unless 4WD is engaged. But here in the winter you just never know when you'll need it so I leave them locked in most of the time (even in two wheel). My question is at full lock turn i hear a binding/clunking noise is this normal? It doesn't do it if I unluck the hubs. Also when in 4wd sometimes i feel a little slacky feeling in the wheel. Not very often but usually on tighter turns.

 

Yes, it's normal, and yes, you can leave the hubs locked when you think you MIGHT need 4. The clunking on tight turns is because U-joints (specifically the ones inside your steering knuckles) are NOT constant-velocity (CV) joints, so they bind at high angles (and Ford TIB/TTB suspensions are the tightest-turning front ends ever on a light truck). All you're doing by leaving the hubs locked is spinning the front driveline, which slightly reduces mileage & slightly increases noise, vibration, & wear. If you read your owner's manual, it tells you all that and why to leave the hubs locked.

 

Also when in 4wd sometimes i feel a
>little slacky feeling in the wheel. Not very often but
>usually on tighter turns.


I only lock my hubs when I plan on using 4 wheel drive. Otherwise I unlock them. I don't understand why some people leave them locked all winter or for long periods of time. You get out and walk by the hubs when you park your truck so why's it so hard to bend over and unlock them before you get in, or after you get out of your truck? That sensation you feel is binding in the system. The front wheels spin at a slightly different speed than the rear wheels, and when you feel that, it means that the stress between the two is great and you need to relieve that stress. You can do so by shifting out of 4wd, or being on a slippery surface where the tire can spin. That's the reason why you don't drive in 4wd on dry pavement, because on dry pavement there is no way to relieve that stress by spinning a tire. When you're on a slippery surface, the stress can spin that tire to relieve the stress on its own. Watch how tight you're turning in 4wd, and always be easy on the throttle when turning sharply, nice way to break a U-joint.


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Justin - One Happy FTE Member

 

I only do this because when on the highway after it is hard to pull over and lock them. Sometimes our ice/snow can be patchy because the plowers are lazy.