Okay, so I bought a 2001 Superduty CC 4x4 (V10, 43K miles), and right away I notice that on sharp turns (a relative term when talking about a Crew Cab...) the front end does a grind...grind...grind thing, which to me means that the hubs are locked (been wheelin' since 1988, so I know the signs...). Get out to "unlock" them, only to find that the "AUTO" and "LOCK" letters are rubbed off on each side. No problem, I'll just find another parked Super Duty and look at the hubs on it to see which way is which. So I do and I "unlock" the hubs on my truck. Only problem is that the next SD I see parked, the "AUTO" and "LOCK" are opposite of the first one I found (in other words, "AUTO" and "LOCK" were counter-clockwise and clockwise on the 1st truck, and opposite on the 2nd truck).

What gives? Did Ford do the switch-er-roo at some point in time, or am I just getting senile? Right now MY hubs are turned full counter-clockwise, but I STILL feel the grind...grind...grind on full-lock left and right turns. Which way is which on your trucks (and what YEAR is your truck)?

Guess I'm going to have to jack up the front end and spin the wheels myself to see which way is which.

Thanks for your help.

 

why would the hubs being locked have to be the cause for a grinding noise up front?

 

That's exactly how my '88 Toyota would sound/feel when turning tight circles when the hubs were locked. Maybe not exactly a "grind-grind-grind" sensation...

 

All the way counter-clockwise on my '00 for "Auto".

It shouldn't grind though. Could it be the tires rubbing (if you have larger tires)? My truck doesn't grind even when I'm on pavement with the the 4x engaged (has happened on accident), it'll just hop and jerk the truck around a bit.

 

Could be the tires (285/75R16s on stock suspension). I'll put that on my "to check" list also. Thanks.