Hey guys, it snowed for the first time this year so I desided I would try out my 4X4 on my '99 EB expy with 5.4L, 4R100 tranny and AWD. I have never owned a 4X4 vehical before let alone the fact that this is my first truck. Well after using the 4X4 yesturday I have a few questions. In 4H when turning onto different roads or pulling in driveways for example, I can hear a moaning like sound coming from the front end. Its not very loud either. I know its dirrectly related to being in 4H cause in AWD mode it does not make this moaning sound. What could be the cause of this? Transfer case fluid needs changed?

My other question is if I am stopped and in 4H and turn the wheel pretty sharply to change dirrections it acts like it does not want to go anywhere and I have to apply more gas than usual to get it going. Is this normally what a 4X4 is supposed to do while its in 4H? Like I said this is my first truck and first vehical with 4X4 so its a totally new experience for me. I am used to MN12 chassis Thunderbird SC's cause thats all I have really ever owned until the expy came along.

If there is anything wrong here that should not be happening and I am just not realizing it since I dont know anything about 4X4's please let me know guys! I dont want to kill my expy's 4X4.

Shane

 

Sounds like everything's pretty much okay. Just a suggestion, check out this book since you're new to the 4x4 world:

xxx.amazon.com/gp/product/0760310564/002-2585186-6519218?v=glance&n=283155

Tons of useful info about your truck, 4x4 operation, and proper offroad technique. Hope this helps.

 

When in 4 HI the front wheels are being driven by the transfer case, In AWD power is only sent to the front wheels when there is a lose of traction at the back wheels. In short AWD will automatically turn on and off, you probably do not here the moan in AWD because the front wheels may not be getting power. Changing transfer case fluid is fairly inexpenxisve and a good idea if you do not know the service history of the truck. I would bet the moan is the normal noise generated by all the moving parts when in 4 hi. As a rule never try to make tight turns, wheel turned to full lock when in any 4 hi or low especially on dry pavement. The reason the truck feels like it will not go is the axle shafts binding, both front wheels are trying to turn the same amount of revolutions and since they are locked together they will bind. The outside wheel on a turn needs to spin more than the inside wheel during a turn, in 2wd they are not connected and can do this. In 4x4 mode they are connected at the front differential and they binding can occur. It sounds like everything is normal in your situation, when turning in 4 x 4 mode I turn as sharply as needed and if it starts to bind you will feel the steering wheel kind of yanking back and forth and then you just turn a little less sharply until it goes away. You won't hurt anything by occasionally having that bind happen, go to a big parking lot and try a few turns in 4 hi to get the feel for it and you will be fine. Again it will happen more when the tires get traction in very snowy conditoions or on grass, gravel, mud when the tires can slip it will be less noticable.