I was going up a medium grade hill that had ice on it. When my rear wheels started to spin, I swittched to four-wheel drive high. There was a loud thud that could be felt through the whole truck, but then it seemed normal. Now when I put it in four-wheel drive, it seems fine when I'm driving straight, when I try to make a turn, it seems like a wheel is locking up. Any thoughts?

 

Your rear tires were probably spinning so it clunked, I've had the same thing happen. Were you on dry pavement when it felt like the wheel was locking up?

Mark

 

If you are troublshooting this on dry pavement, you are binding up the t-case, and the truck will hop, and feel funny while driving. This is not a good idea. Try to engage on a dirt road or something that will provide the tires to slip a little. If you are on a loose surface, then you may have bigger issues.
Did you engage 4wheel drive while the rear tires were spinning? That is not good. The rear end would have been spinning at an entirely different rate than the front. Shift on the fly is designed to be engaged while the vehicle is in motion (not spinning tires) up to speeds = < 55mph. If the hubs were not already locked,and the vehicles rear tires were spinning faster than the front, and you were still on the throttle, it could have broken a side (spider gear) in the front diff.
You can troubleshoot this by manually locking the front hubs, select either 4LO, or 4HI, jacking one front wheel in the air and turning it, by hand, feeling (and listening) for any problems. Repeat for the other side. Then select 2WD, and turn the driveshaft (front) with one wheel off of the ground, and again look for rotation at the wheel, and axle stub, while you feel for any binding. Repeat for the other wheel, and you should isolate the problem. Don't think it is in the t-case, this would probably not cause a steering issue. Good luck, I hope it is a simple fix.

 

When I was on the icy hill and shifted to 4-wheel drive, the rear wheels were spinning and I was on the throttle a little...that's when I heard the noise. It was later when I was on dry pavement that I put into 4-wheel drive again to check it...that's wheen I noticed the wheel hop/locking sensation. I'll check it the way you suggest. Thanks.

 

Chances are, you are going to be alright. If the front end is not making any noises, then you may have dodged a bullet. That hop/locking sensation was probably due to the dry pavement. The loud engagement of the front end while you were climbing the hill, was just that. Try to be cautious when engaging 4-hi if the tires are spinning. Much has to happen in order to get power to the front wheels, and getting the t-case to engage, as well as both hubs to lock while the vehicle is spinning the rear end, is asking for a little trouble. Good luck.

 

Thank you for the responses. I don't detect any noise or roughness in the front differential, so I'm hoping all is well. Thank you again.

 

It was just the t-case turning the front shaft, axle and "catching up" with the spinning rear.

 

yeh, 4x4 doesn't like being engaged with the rears spinning. I've noticed the 350 is a little more sensitive making turns than my 150 was with binding. With ice there can be no traction here and then dry pavement there. If it has to be in 4x4 on a turn and it's binding just try to go slow and make the turn as wide as possible.