I have a 97 f250 4x4 crew cab short bed 40k miles (yes only 40K) and the 4x4 does no work anymore: what happend?
In short: I only use the truck to tow my trailer on the week-end, or the boat to the local lakes, once in a while trip to home depot, take the dogs in the canyon: no rough stuff at all.
Rarely used the 4x4 but wanted to have it so I dont get stuck at the boat ramp.
I put it a couple times in 4x, drove around the block just to keep the gears running.
My wife borrowed it and said that as she was using it on a piece of land (using the 4x not to get stuck) she heard a "clunk" when shifting from 4XH back to 2XH (it has the manual shifter on the floor but automatic hubs) and a chain like noise.
Based on little I know I told her that sometimes gears stick and driving in reverse loosens them up.
She used the truck after that and said it was fine.
This week end i take the truck to the land (loose dirt) and you guess it: I got stuck, rear wheels burried to the hub: I spent some time digging and cussing!
The 4X does not work anymore at all: the shifter allows you to go through all the positions: 2XH-4XH-N-4XL and all the proper dash indicators light up but it stays in 2X.
I tried everything before getting burried to test it: in park, neutral, in motion, forward reverse trying to get these 4X gears to engage: NOTHING
So question of the day: what happend?
is that normal occurence when you dont use 4X enough, is it the transfer case?, the hubs?
I live in SoCal SanFernando Valley, can you guys recommend a 4X4 shop/guy who knows whats going on and not some shop who's more interested in selling me a lift kit or chrome stuff.
Any help will be welcome

 

Welcome to FTE! I'm in the San Fernando Valley too! It sounds like it may be your hubs. I know that the auto hubs are prone to fail and can be replaced with manual ones. But when you say you heard a chain like noise it has me wondering if its the transfer case because these are chain driven. I would take it to Offroad Unlimited in Burbank or people advise against this shop because they are overpriced but there is a 4 Wheel Parts also in Burbank. I know they sell lift kits but they do know there stuff.

 

thx I will call them in the morning, probably drive the truck there so they car try/hear things,
thx again

 

ps: you guys have a quicker response time than calling 911 from a cell phone!

 

LOL we try! Good luck man hope it works out. If it is the hubs I would go with Warn premuim hubs they will last you forever because they are made of metal. I have the Ford stock manuals on mine and they have plastic turn ***** and its corroding so I'm gonna have to upgrade to Warn premiums soon.