So ford gurus and super duty experts, if you can help me with this problem I'll be amazed.

I was driving to work this morning and hear a sound that sounded like metal parts dragging on the ground. Immediately pull over give it a once over and everything appears to be in order, figured it must be some hoopty around me.

Take my first smokebreak, drive of the Steelcase complex (no smoking on the 1 mile by 1.5 mile property) and there's that noise again. No other vehicles around, get out inspect everyhting more thoroughly. Yet again no visible problems, sounds came from the front so I locked my hubs in in case there was some sort of issue in there.

No problems on the ride home, park in my driveway rip the hubs down. Yet again everything is in order. Found a loose something or other on the centerlink of the steering system assumed that was my noise.

Go to back out of the driveway (on a steep grade) get about 2 yards and there was a loud clunk like i backed into a brick wall, and the truck comes to a screeching halt. I figured i hit somethin I couldn't see in the mirrors, get out nothing there. Put it in forward, try backing up again and all was well. Get about 10 miles to the nearest meijers, slow down from 55 to about 10 to make a left hand turn, all four wheels lock up and i spun out on the wet asphalt.

Try to drive, truck is sluggish, another loud 'BANG THUNK' and it drove fine. Inspect everyhting very thoroughly in the parking lot, yet again, nothing visibly wrong. All U joints tight but spun freely, nothing externally impeding the driveline.

Now everytime i slow down, then accelerate I get a horrendous storm of banging and thinking that sounds similar to a grenade going off, and it shakes the whole truck. This is primary vehicle, I need to get to work tomorrow, any ideas what in the bloody __________ is wrong with it? If I severly break it, I can promise yall I aint got the cash to fix it

 

All 4 wheels locked up?

Were the front hubs locked when that happened?

 

nope, i left them unlocked... unless they're part of the problem I assume they locked all the way around becasue i lost control of the front before the rear then the whole truck slid sideways

 

I'm just trying to get my mind around why all 4 would lock up when the hubs are disengaged.

Maybe take a look at the oil in the T/C.

Sounds kind of serious.

 

Unless it was in 4x4 with the hubs locked there is nothing that would lock all wheels except your foot on the brake. If it was in 4x4 it could have been one of the diffs. You better pull the diff covers off and make sure you didn't loose a tooth off a ring gear. the transfercase may be dropping into 4x4 for some reason also. Does your truck have a 4x4 shifter or is it push button (electric shift)?

 

Well the beast has ESOF, WARN manual lockouts, and the NP273 transfer case. The only thing really 'traumatizing' the truck has experienced lately was an 18 inch sink hole filled with water I hit dead on at 35mph. Could that be part of this?

 

I'm thinking the rear end is toast or the tranny or transfer case. I would not drive it at all. I'm guessing the front wheels didn't lock up just the rears. Impossible to lock the fronts without the hubs locked. Get it checked out...wrecker time..


Dick

 

Oh! No test drives to see if it happens again. Time to jack up the rear end and spin some things or take the cover off. You may be able to save some of the parts if you don't totally destroy whatever the prob is..



Dick

 

So what if the short axle on the front end isn't where it's supposed to be? I just noticed the snap ring isn't sitting in the channel like the passenger side. I noticed the axle seal on the back of the hub is slid out towards the axle about an inch. COuld it be possible this axle is 'flopping around' so to speak, and when the u-joint jams up it locks the front diff? So I guess only one front wheel would be locking... is it possible to jam up the transfer case and lock the rearwheels becasue of this?

It's a long shot but really all I got

 

I had a 2000 sd with a 5.4 in it. anyway, one night I was backing out of the gas station and one of the bolts came out of my rear ring gear. It punched a hole in the case cover. It made my rear axle lock momentarily until the bolt got pushed out of the way by the ring gear itself. When my mechanic fixed it he said there were 3 other bolts loose in the ring gear, he had to retorque all of them. Thats probably not whats wrong with your truck, but when you mentioned your axle locked up, you made me think of that. Good luck.

 

Nope it won't do anything you would still need the hubs to be locked in on both sides..
Thats the way I see it. One side in the front if it were locked can't lock the rears..



Dick

 

if all four tires locked up I dont see you "spinning out" at 10mph. either you have a broken hub, brakes grab the disc but it grinds on broken hub, or you have axle drive problem. Does it only happen when braking? or when driving?

 

Ill go for the simple stuff U-Joints worn and binding?

 

Maybe this is *not* what it is, but...

I experienced the exact sounds and symptoms you describe awhile ago in my 2006. It turns out to have been the vacuum hubs trying to lock as I was driving down the road.

Please forgive the interruption if that report is not helpful.

 

At lower speeds while accelerating, decelerating, turning, or a big bump. I goin to tear ino this beast again right now, I'll keep you posted. The only reason I think the front end locked is because I lost control of if before the rear, which has never happened to me before. I know it's bizarre, but could this be something 'outside the box'?

I appreciate all your help!