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2001 F250 4X4 question

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Old 03-17-2007, 06:11 PM
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2001 F250 4X4 question

When in 4x4 mode when taking an extreme turn is the steering wheel suppose to go right to left a little?
Feels kind of like a wobble.
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Old 03-17-2007, 06:18 PM
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Yes, it's normal.
 
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Old 03-17-2007, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Gmeanie
When in 4x4 mode when taking an extreme turn is the steering wheel suppose to go right to left a little?
<!-- / message --> Feels kind of like a wobble.
Sounds normal, if you are on a surface with fairly good traction. It's the u-joints at the front wheels. U-joints are not constant-velocity when they have an angle on them. The higher the angle, the less "constant" the rotational speed will be.

In other words, with the wheels perfectly straight, the wheel will be turning the same speed as the axle driving it. But as you turn the front wheels to one side, the u-joint will impart a sinusoidal difference in speed between the axle and the wheel, and something will have to give. It's only one of the reasons that driving in 4wd on hard pavement is not a good idea.

The reason you don't notice such problems in a driveshaft is that there is another u-joint at the other end, with the same angle on it, cancelling the speed variation. But your front end doesn't have that second u-joint to cancel it out, so the wheel speed actually goes up and down during every revolution, and you will feel it pulling on the steering.
 
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Old 03-17-2007, 07:12 PM
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OK Thanks.
Reason I asked is I don't remeber that feeling on my old 85 toyota.
But good to know it is normal.
 




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