I rarely use the 4x4 on my truck but last weekend I was in a parking lot and it was very tight in trying to make turns, when I was turning the wheel sharp on turns whether reversing or forward drive it was making the vehicle stop on spot and hard to maneuver or even move but when the wheel was straight it seemed o.k.

Also I've noticed a higher sounding rev type noise when using the 4x4 in regular driving city or highway. I bought this vehicle last december and really don't drive it much, it had 64 000 km's when I bought it so it is not overworked...what gives?

 

That's just the nature of the 4x4. The front diff is locked (meaning both front wheels spin at the same rate all the time, regardless of turning) in 4x4. The rear differential works a little differently. When you turn, the outside wheel spins slightly faster than the inside wheel. For instance, if you are making a left turn, the right rear wheel is spinning faster than the left rear wheel, making turns very smooth. If both wheels rear wheels are locked into spinning at the same speed all the time, it will hop and jump when turning. The front differential doesn't allow for the power dispersion that the rear diff does. If you're in 4x4, the ride probably isn't very smooth in the first place . It's not meant to make sharp turns, and can actually bind the diff if done too often. The noise you heard is at speed in 4x4 is completely normal, as it is the front differential engaged and spinning. Just take it out of 4x4 before you hit the parking lot . Those noises mean your 4x4 is working.

Good luck and happy truckin!

 

Locked? Ford does not have any type of locking differential. Even though the wheels are hooked up with the axles, the differential is still open or LS. And the system gets bound up when trying to turn and the wheels cant slip. This is very bad for the transfercase, driveshafts, differentials, and axles, every thing, to drive in 4x4 on any surface that isn't going to allow the wheels to slip.

 

zman-
I did not mean a locker (even though ford does have a 9" locker), I mean it has no spider gears. If it was an open or LS diff, the tires wouldn't need to slip. I test drove a Chevelle once, with a 383 and the spider gears welded in the rear end. It would hop around corners, but it dug up the pavement when you layed on it.

 

The 9" locking diff. is not in a current generation truck though. I am pretty sure that the front differential is open though. I may be wrong, but this is what many people have told me.

 

Thanks for all the replys bros. If it is bad for it I will certainly not do it again.

Curious, how long does 4x4 need to be in operation for it not to get messed up...meaning if I switch on and off for really short periods while driving is it bad for it?

 

What's bind the differential mean bro?

 

The front and rear wheels all should be spinning at the same rate of speed. Both driveshafts are getting spun at the same rate of speed, both diff. have the same gearratio. When you make a turn the inside wheel is gonna travel less distance than the outside wheel. When all 4 wheels are getting turned at the same rate of speed the energy has to travel somewhere. Sometimes the wheels hop or chirp, other times axles, driveshats, or differentials fail. In your ford book it instructs you to only use 4x4 in a situation where the wheels are capable of spinning (braking traction)

 

Yeah, 4x4 on dry pavement is not a good situation to have the four wheel drive on. It is natural for the system to bind up on. This means the drive shafts and other components are "fighting" against each other when trying to function on pavement. The 4x4 is meant to be used in snow, ice or mud to gain traction with the tires. Pavement provides too much traction for 4x4.

 

I'm glad I joined this forum!

Thanks a million bros...I would wind up destroying this truck without the real knowledge I need to operate it.

4x4 on a paved highway is o.k. at 100 km/h+. What about 4x4 on winding mountain roads that have uneaven stone and gravel surfaces?

 

Not sure what 100Km is probaly about what 60 mph?

Really I wouldn't operate my 4x4 on any paved surface. Or any surface going over 45 mph.
Gravel is great, any wheel that needs to break loose can do it. Thats my rule of thumb for engaging 4x4 on my truck, if a wheel can break loose its safe to use.

 

Yeah....about. So it is bad to operate your 4x4 on the highway at 60 + mph

 

Im not sayin for fact. Thats just in mind that its not good for it, seems liek i heard it somewhere before. May have somethin to do with the transfercase not being able to handle the higher rpms or something. Try posting this in the 4x4 forum, you can get people alot more knowledgeable than me there.

 

Was also wondering. Last week I rolled up to a 10 inch high curb ever so gently in an outdoor parking lot and to avoid paying ridiculous fees I decided to drive over and on to the street(I know it's bad)
At first the 2WD would not go over and the back wheels were spinning causing tire burn. Once I put it in 4x4 it went over. Is that bad for the 4x4?
It's not a common practise of mine to do this...it just so happened to be the circumstance at the time....I was broke!

 

That would be the glory of 4lo

I have climbed 15 inch high mud walls to get back into some property before. Pulled up to it paralell put it in 4 lo cut the wheels she jumped right up it... Thankfully I have skid plates and 32" tires ha ha.