Yesterday afternoon I bought an 05 FX4 and on the way home I started having a few issues (I test drove the truck the day before and none of these problems happened during the test). As I got up to speed I heard a fast ticking coming from the front right(the noise would stop if I got off the gas), the alignment is pretty off so I think it might be something to do with that, and I hope its not the cam phasers or something else in the engine. The other issue I noticed is that the rear end would stutter. Either going up-hill or just getting on the gas the rear end wanted to stutter, and if I let off the gas and got back on it the stutter wouldn't happen again until the next uphill. From what I've been reading I think it might be my clutch packs? This is my first truck so any info will help, thanks!

 

rear end chirping due to clutch pack ( lack of anti friction lube) normally occurs when turning a corner and one wheel is going faster than the other. Noise while climbing a hill is "normally" not a symptom of clutch pack / oil / lube.

 

to check ticking related to engine speed. You might be able to set in the driveway and run motor at 2500 rpm and listen... Also leave transmission in low gear and climb hill to load up to 2500 RPM.. see if motor related or ground speed related.

 

How many miles on it?

 

Welcome to the club? How much did your money pit, err, I mean F150 cost ya?

I can tell ya that I paid $7000 for my '04, but it eventually cost me @ $17,000. On the bright side, I have a helluva nice truck now

Hope ya saved some money for repairs...

 

I paid $15,140.90 $1,500 down so $13,987 financed APR 12.9% on 12/07/14 with 197002 miles paid off in full 6/18/18 (whatever the math is on the total of payments). Have roughly dropped $5,000 in total oil changes, random parts and the full timing, lash adjuster, roller follower job. It's a 2008 F150 4X4 King Ranch fully loaded except sun roof with 281,xxx miles now looking to score 500,000 miles and have it last well into 2030

 

I did some tests and I'm 99% sure the tick is an exhaust leak. My buddy told me the 5.4's were notorious for leaks, and sure enough with my leaf-blower attached to the exhaust pipe, I heard it hissing in the engine bay

 

I only paid 4300 for it, 185k on the dash, and yes I have a small stash for repairs

 

185 thousand

 

The rear end is more of a "pause" rather than a noise. It happened going straight, going over bumps, and up and down hill.

 

My 08 5.4L has permanent donut gaskets on exhaust manifold. This is what I used to seal the flange.

Permatex 80335 Muffler and Tailpipe Sealer, 3 oz.

 

Regarding the stuttering, it sounds a bit like the transmission is slipping in a gear, then you let off the gas, it shifts to the next gear, then you step on the gas and and in this gear it doesn't slip. I'd need some more detail to say this with more certainty though.

 

Yeah the stutter I'm unsure about, before I register it and start daily driving it I'll put new fluid in the rear and see if that helps.

 

Hope this helps

 

Thank you! I'll give those a watch before wrenching on it