Hello,

I just bought a used truck and wanna see if 4x4 works.

So I never had a 4wd and dont know what to do.

its a 2001 f250xl 5.4 with the selector lever on floor

DO i lock hubs first in park than switch to 4wd?

Thank you for the help I am blind with this as I always was a 2wd guy

 

Here is the 2001 Four Wheeling Supplement
http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../01fwsup3e.pdf


Here is the 2001 Owner's Guide:
http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../01f23og4e.pdf


Should have lots of good information between the two of them.

 

Looks like the manual says to stop, lock the hubs, then shift to 4wd hi

 

In some 4x4 vehicles, the front axle is engaged at all times. It's not receiving power, but the axle shafts are being turned by the wheels when the vehicle is in motion, which turns the ring and pinion, which turns the front drive shaft, which spins freely in the transfer case because it's basically in "neutral" when in 2HI, where only the rear is getting power. It's easier and more reliable, but it means the drivetrain is doing more than moving the vehicle forward when running around in 2HI.

For our trucks, the hubs can be disengaged, such that the wheels spin freely over the axle shafts. So the shafts don't turn, the R&P stays still, and the front driveshaft isn't being turned by anything (it's still in "neutral" when in 2HI). So there's less drag and wear. If you were to engage 4HI or 4LO with the hubs in this normal "free" position, it wouldn't help you because now the transfer case is indeed turning the driveshaft, which turns the ring and pinion, which turns the axle shafts, but they're just spinning freely in the hubs, so you're not getting any work done out of the front axle.

When you turn the hubs from the "free" to the "lock" position, you're forcing teeth in the hub to engage with teeth on the axle shaft (basically), so that when you get back in the truck and shift into 4WD, it's not just the axle shafts that are being turned, they're forcing the wheels to turn with them.

So, basically, if you want to engage 4WD and have it do anything useful for you, you must lock the hubs first. Then when you're done with 4WD, hop out and turn them back to free spin. Does that help?

 

Well, yes, you have to stop and park to lock the hubs............or run along side of the truck and try to lock the front hubs.................your choice.

OK, if your front hubs are locked, you can shift between 2H and 4H without stopping. WARNING: Do not attempt this if the hubs are not locked, you will hear a lot of grinding and other bad noises.

You must stop and shift to N or P in order to shift from 4H to 4L, or 4L to 4H.