Front end clunking while turning
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,203
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From: Carlsbad, California
Front end clunking while turning
I have 37000 miles on the truck and I just noticed that the truck started doing this while on a trip to AZ this last week with the toyhauler.
I was driving with the trailer detached and noticed that when I make a sharp turn in 2WD with the hubs unlocked, or at least in the unlocked position anyway, I hear and feel a clunking noise from the front end. It happens in either direction but seems more pronounced on left hand turns.
I have checked and the tires aren't rubbing. It feels almost as if the U-joints are binding or knocking but when I looked under the truck I didn't see anything unusual.
When driving in a straight line the truck feels and sounds normal. It's only on sharp turns where I'm near lock on the wheel.
Any ideas?
Daryl
I was driving with the trailer detached and noticed that when I make a sharp turn in 2WD with the hubs unlocked, or at least in the unlocked position anyway, I hear and feel a clunking noise from the front end. It happens in either direction but seems more pronounced on left hand turns.
I have checked and the tires aren't rubbing. It feels almost as if the U-joints are binding or knocking but when I looked under the truck I didn't see anything unusual.
When driving in a straight line the truck feels and sounds normal. It's only on sharp turns where I'm near lock on the wheel.
Any ideas?
Daryl
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 554
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From: Lowsyana
Daryl...I had that problem on my 2004F250. That was the only 4x4 I've ever owned and it developed the noise about 9 months after I got the truck. I realy only noticed it when I was hauling my car trailer or other heavy trailer. It's a hard noise to isolate where the heck it is actually coming from. I went through the normal FORD channels but the tech never found the noise. I told them time and time again that it didn't make the noise when not towing. I offered to leave my trailer for them to figure it out, but of course declined. In the end they said "Well it's a 4x4 they get like that after a while". I changed dealers on the next truck I bought, but never found out the problem. Lucky for me I used their lack of help when I traded the truck in on the 05.
I noticed that I could hear the front tires chirping and thought that they were still engaged. It was one of those things that didn't always happen and I tried to duplicate what I did when it happened, but never found out. I think it's along with what BowTieHatr posted.
I noticed that I could hear the front tires chirping and thought that they were still engaged. It was one of those things that didn't always happen and I tried to duplicate what I did when it happened, but never found out. I think it's along with what BowTieHatr posted.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 645
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One of the front "auto" hubs is engaged, even with the ESOF off. VERY common problem. Because it's more pronounced when making the left turns it probably the left side.
Even though the hub is still engaged the U-joints are straight so there is no binding. I removed my auto hubs and installed a set of MileMarker manual hubs for about $160. New auto hubs are $300/per side; new ones occasionally come up on E-Bay but ususally sell for $140-180 due to the frequency of the problem.
When driving in a straight line the truck feels and sounds normal
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 488
Likes: 142
From: Indianapolis
My new 2004 F250 with factory manual hubs does the same thing when the hubs are locked in and the manual transfer case is in 2WD high. Took it to the dealer with 100 miles on it and they said it was normal during tight lock turns. My truck is nearing its 36K warranty, I think I will take it back before then to another dealer just to CMA. Philip.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 645
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Originally Posted by BlackV10
I have this exact same problem, what is the easy solution?
How do I know If my hubs are locked? Turn the front DS?
My hubs dont say whether their locked or unlocked, their all black.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2006
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I do have the ESOF switch in the cab and It is in 2wd high right now. I had the original hubs replaced last week because they were seized up and I couldnt turn them but I didnt notice this problem until they changed them out. The original hubs said AUTO and LOCK or UNLOCK I believe but these new hubs they put on only have a white dot on them, other then that their all black.
Im trying to understand how my 4wd works, If I want to engage 4wd do I even have to touch the manual hubs or can I simply use the Incab control? Thats how I understood what the manual said. Im not sure If I read the manual correctly.
Im trying to understand how my 4wd works, If I want to engage 4wd do I even have to touch the manual hubs or can I simply use the Incab control? Thats how I understood what the manual said. Im not sure If I read the manual correctly.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Milky Way Galaxy
Before you blame the hubs, start with the easy, and less expensive solutions. Get under the front end with a grease gun and lube all the grease points. There are zurks from the pitman arm down to both ends of the tie-rod. It could just be the tie-rod or draglink connection points banging together on a hrad turn. Then check the bushings on the trac-bar and swaybar (including endlinks).
If you think it's because your hubs are staying locked, lift the front end and spin both tires one at a time. If either one turns the front driveshaft your hub is locked.
BlackV10- Turning the switch on the hub counter-clockwise will put the hub in "AUTO". Clockwise is "LOCK".
If you think it's because your hubs are staying locked, lift the front end and spin both tires one at a time. If either one turns the front driveshaft your hub is locked.
BlackV10- Turning the switch on the hub counter-clockwise will put the hub in "AUTO". Clockwise is "LOCK".
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,203
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From: Carlsbad, California
Thanks guys!
On the way to work today I cycled the 2WD/4WD switch a few times and then at lunch time I turned the hubs from auto to lock and back a couple of times before I headed out to grab a bite. That did the trick, no more clunking.
Don't know why it didn't occur to me that the the axle shouldn't have been turning in the first place
, but as soon as I saw the first post from BowTieHatr I knew that's what it had to be.
Isn't FTE great!
On the way to work today I cycled the 2WD/4WD switch a few times and then at lunch time I turned the hubs from auto to lock and back a couple of times before I headed out to grab a bite. That did the trick, no more clunking.
Don't know why it didn't occur to me that the the axle shouldn't have been turning in the first place
, but as soon as I saw the first post from BowTieHatr I knew that's what it had to be.Isn't FTE great!
Last edited by Daryl Hunter; Sep 29, 2006 at 05:34 PM.