I have a substantial popping noise in my front driveline when engaged in 4WD. The noise generally occurs when under power and not when just rolling. I am at a loss at this point and need some help. My thoughts, it is in the hub or maybe a VC joint going bad. I had a difficult time getting the 4WD to unengaged last time. Need help, please. If I could describe the popping noise it would almost sound like Mud tires rubbing on wheel well plastic with additional large pops which you car feel in the floorboard on both sides. By the way its not a tire rub.

 

Sounds like the 4X4 soleniod. Ive heard alot of problems with the soleniod that is bolted to the outside of the front diff, it get water damaged easily.

 

Sounds like the hubs are not fully engaged, and like stated above would probably be the IWE (integrated wheel ends) solenoid, or a vacuum leak. Try the IWE first.

 

Actually the solenoid is mounted right behind the battery on the firewall. It is prone to having water roll off the windshield cowl and right on top of it. The solenoid is like $30 I think. PM me if you need the part#

 

i am a small plastic distributor in cinti/no.ky if anyone has a sketch of what would need to be made to keep water off the solenoid i can bend one up from 1/16" or 1/8" clear lexan if anyone has this happening frequently.

just fyi

 

^That's a cool idea. I would buy one. It would look better than the piece of sheet metal I cut up with tin snips!

The 4x4 actualtor is on the firewall behind the battery like 96F150 said. But where is the IWE solenoid?

 

4door, that is the IWE solenoid. This solenoid is what turns the vacuum on or off down in the IWE(or hub as you may call it). There is a guy lurking around in here that works for Ford and says that a lot of them develop vacuum leaks on the passenger side. He said that if you look in your pass side wheel well, you can see where the vacuum line goes real close to the manifold. Just make sure that it stays behind the metal shield.

 

Thanks I will try the solenoid this weekend. Do you think I can mess up the locking gears at the hub and how hard is it to replace them. I know I did not use the right names for the parts I just dont play with the drive train much.