it thumped on turns...till i backed up a bit..Normal??? Nothing in the book about it!

 

Boy - lot of possibilities. The older 4WD used to require you to back up or spin a back tire to get everything disengaged, but the newer vehicles aren't supposed to require that. Were you driving on dry pavement w/it in 4WD before (that will have a tendancy to tear up your front end)? Were you able to recreate it afterwards? From what you've written, it sounds like the 4WD drive was trying to disengage but wasn't quite making it.

 

Sounds like your hubs are a bit dry and not fully disengaging. Take them out and soak in ATF for about an hour while every 15 minutes turning the dial back and forth a few times to work the ATF in. Add this to your quarterly preventive maintenance schedule and you shouldn't have further hub problems.

 

My truck has been like that since day one. Always had to back up.

 

Hughesm1, you take the hub apart, could you give me a little more detail on that because I am interested in adding it to my pm, just wanted a little more background first. Thanks.

 

My 2003 does the same thing. After I've driven and noticed the noise, I turn the hubs to lock them and then immediately unlock them (without actually engaging the 4WD). That seems to work every time.

I had a 2002 gasser with the old "pull the lever back" 4WD system ( ), and never had a problem. With the 2003, it's the "turn the switch" style of 4WD. ( )

I knew that the older systems required you to back up to ensure that they were fully disengaged, but that doesn't work with mine.

 

My buddy just had the same problem - one was unlocking and one wasn't. I think it's more of a problem with the "dial" 4x4 auto/manual hubs but they can all do it. He took his to a shop and had them pulled and cleaned just like Hughesm1 said.

 

pbuzz- my truck has the same problem (2000 f-350 4x4 dually) thumps like a buggar on tight turns, I found that the hubs were not disengaging. It is at the shop and I will pick it up thursday, let you know how it does when fixed.--- Greg B

 

pbuzz- Got my truck back today with new hubs in place and the thumping noise is gone. Hope this helps --Greg B

 

Thanks...how much was the hub repair?? Same thing...its on the tight turns only!

 

spitball: you don't actually disassemble the hub assembly, simply remove the circlip and pull the hub out, then take an empty pop or water bottle and cut the top off, place hub in and fill with ATF. Go with the procedure I mentioned earlier to keep your hubs lubed and easy to turn.

 

So pull tire off and is the circlip is at the base of the hub? Thanks for the comeback I will need to add it on my PM

 

You don't have to pull the tire, simply remove the "hubcap"

 

Thanks, that sounds like a must do PM, to my knowledge has not been done to my truck since I am second owner, but is there a need to clean with some gas or something before soaking in the ATF?

 

pbuzz- sorry for the delay in a reply but work is hecktic- anyhow I don't know the cost of the repair to the hubs because it was a warranty repair. The thumping noise is gone and the front drive shaft no longer turns when set to the auto position. Good luck --Greg B