I got a 03 F350 4x4 with 4xABS. This truck also have the electronic shift on the fly 4x4. Anyway, my problem is a clunking when turning real sharp. It still goes in and out of 4x4 fine. But it acts like it is still in when turning sharp on the pavement. Can the 4x4 hubs be taken apart and examined or rebuilt or would it be more the bearing hub. It only does it on one side, the drivers side.

The is also another noise and I don't know if it is related or not. When driving normally down the road or corn field. Whenever a small bump or anything is hit, you hear a clunking noise coming from the front drivers side as well. The two sounds are totally different, but they might be related somehow. I was at my mechanic tonight and the first thing he wanted to do is examine the 4x4 hub. Past that, everything looked fine and tight in all the joints and linkage.

Any Suggestions.

Matt

 

Your ESOF system may not be releasing. Crawl underneath with the ESOF switched off and see if the front axles will rotate by hand.

 

hmmm, so what you are saying is that I should be able to turn the front axles with out the tires turning when everything "should" be in 2wd. We had the truck up on the lift tonight and when we spun the tires, the axles turned with it. There was some slight play in this. When we turn the tires, it took a split turn before the axle would begin to turn.

 

Yes that is correct.

 

The clunking is probably sway bar end links. Big problem on the superduties and they have been redesigned recently supposedly eliminating the high failures.

To check the hub locks, remove them! Then spin the tires and see if the driveshaft moves. There is a needle bearing in the hub that the shaft rides on when it isn't engaged and turning the same speed as the wheel. That needle bearing as well as the hub need to move freely or the drag will turn the axle shaft too. If you pull the hub lock and the shaft still turns with the wheel, there could be some binding in the needle bearings. If the shaft no longer turns with the wheel, the resistance was in the hub lock. The real issue is if the shaft becomes rigidly locked to the wheel with the hub lock in place. Turning because of drag is one thing, actually being locked in is another. With the hublock installed, grab the shaft and hold it while gently trying to turn the wheel. You can also do this on the ground. Turn the steering wheel all the way to one side. Makes it easier to reach the axle shaft. Grab the shaft, I usually us the u-joint area, and try to turn it. If it doesn't turn, the hub locks are pulled in. Of course the truck must be in 2wd. The hubs don't need vacuum to stay locked. The vacuum only causes them to "switch" .

 

Well this morning I played around in the driveway engaging and disengaging the 4wd until I could hear them both going in and out. So far today, I haven't had any problems.

On the common clunking issue. I got a buddy with a 07 SD the he lifted right off the dealer lot. He still has the rear shocks and is going to pretty much give them to me. Will these fit on my 03? I will start there and then replace the fronts. These are things I wanted to replace any way. I just got this truck not to long ago and most the front end looks like it has all been replaced or fixed recently.