I have a problem, and I'm sure glad for my FTE friends, a plethora of quality mechanics I can turn to, especially considering that I am a novice to 4x4 trucking. I took my 99 F250 SD, 4x4, v10 our this afternoon to test the 4 wheel drive.

Snow is coming and I have plowing to do. When changing my front brakes and calipers earlier this week, I noticed the vacuum line to the ESOF was dry-rotted on both the nipple (at the knuckle) end and the end that attached to the hose adapter assembly on the frame. That explained why I did not have 4x4 when I tested it a week earlier in the rocks. I didn't know about locking the hubs then, but thanks to FTE, I do now.

Anyway I clipped the dry rotted hose at both ends and reattached the ESOF. Tonight, I shifted in the 4x4 high, felt it kick in, and felt a bit of resistance, thinking it was simply those extra tires that were being driven, but was glad my little nip and tuck trick worked. Overall it drove OK. About a mile late, I drove into a parking lot, began to turn left, and I thought my wheels were coming off! I felt an awful grinding-line vibration coming from the left wheel and it almost felt like I was skidding, though I assume that was just an effect. After taking it out of 4x4, no problem turning. So I did some testing. I disconnect the vacuum hoses, plugged them with small bolts, and went out to try it again. When the hubs are in AUTO, I kick into 4x4 and no problem. But when the hubs are in LOCK, I get that same grinding feeling while turning, both left and right. Only while turning - it feels OK when i am going straight.

What say ye?

 

I say ye shant not be driving your 4x4 locked on dry pavement

I'm not familiar with your fancy shmancy 4x4 push button hoopajoob jobber, but it sounds like you described what happens when an older 4x4 locks in his hubs, Tcase and proceeds to mall crawl. When your turning, your U joints are binding up, becuase you have no tire scrub on pavement. Same for when straight line driving, no tire scrub bewteen the different speeds of your front and rear end. Then when taken out of 4x4, the binding goes away becuase nothing is locked in and can turn independently

Help any?

 

I wondered about whether this would be fairly common since 4 wheel drive is more for loose terra firma and not for dry pavement. You are from Va. Beach - r u Navy?

I lived off Great Neck Road for a while, and over on Shore Drive for a while during my Navy tour. I had a 4x2 Chevy inline 6 back then with bias ply tires. During the blizzard of '78, I took that truck through a corn field of deep snow in order to get around a bunch of cars that were stuck. I got to my ship (in Little Creek) with only a couple of minutes to spare before they pulled the gangplank. Great memories, Va. Beach!

 

Nope, non-Navy. Thats pretty funny with the chevy, it snows so rarely around here that everyone either freaks out or they "think" they know how to handle it. . .and they all wreck To bad commonsence isn't so common

Wait. . .Blizzard of '78? A real blizzard, or just a few inches of snow?

 

I was in Virginia from late 78 to mid 81. Don't remember what year the blizzard hit.

 

You should take the system apart and look for rust within the hubs/axle. It has been 5 years since working at Ford, but, I remember the hubs use to fill with water.