F350 front end binding
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F350 front end binding
I hope someone out there can help me. I have an 06 F-350 that has an strange feeling in the front end. When the truck is being driven on wet or dry roadways and the steering wheel is being turned a little I can feel something binding or jumping as if it was locked in on dry pavement but this is not the case. I thought is was the hubs but I don't believe that's the case. I have pulled the hubs when it's in this condition and have reached behind the wheel to check to see if the axle is free or locked and it is locked as if it were in 4wd but it is not. Any thoughts from anyone?
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Missoula, MT
check the steering stabilizer. Mine broke right at the axle about a month after I bought it, and it's no easy fix, it's all one piece with the passenger side front leaf springs (if memory serves me correct). I had my welder at my shop but a couple passes on it with some 7018 and haven't had a problem since.
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Thanks for all the input, but already looked at these things. The thing that is most puzzling is this. With the truck in 2wd, with the hubs NOT locked in the front axles are locked in place. They should be free wheeling in this mode. Like I stated earlier, the front end feels like it is ratcheting when making a slight turn. The vehicle is equiped with manual or auto hubs. I did find some broken pieces of plastic in one of the hubs but as I said it does it even when the hubs are removed. ????
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: The Land Of Time
Sounds to me like the hubs are siezed. I just went out to my truck, its an 06 too, and I can turn the axels freely with the truck running and not in 4wd, hubs in auto postition. I would take the hub out and then see if the axel turns freely...if it does you found the problem.
If mine ever go bad then I am going to put a set of Warn Premiums in it. I will have to get out and lock the hubs manually but it will eliminate the vaccum part of the circuit.
Good Luck,
Sarge
If mine ever go bad then I am going to put a set of Warn Premiums in it. I will have to get out and lock the hubs manually but it will eliminate the vaccum part of the circuit.
Good Luck,
Sarge
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F-350 front end binding
Sarge, with the hubs removed the axle feels like it is locked. You can reach and try to turn the axle by the steering knuckle and it wont move. Both sides are like that when this condition is present. This does not happen all the time. Does vacuum play a part when the vehicle is in 2wd. Those Auto hubs are the worst!!!
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From: Fort Collins
I'm thinking that that is normal. The hubs are free wheeling until it gets a signal to lock to the axle. The axle shaft itself will only turn when 4WD is selected and the transfer case engages the drive shaft to the front differential. When the truck is in 2WD the actual axle shaft does not turn and the hubs rotate freely by themselves. My disclaimer is that I am an amateur and did not sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night. But after fooling around with my old axle for a while I think this is how the system works. I think that there is a good chance that the problem lies in your hubs.
Posting Guru
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sounds like the transfer case is stuck in 4x4. take the front driveline out and try it.if the hubs are stuck it should bind with the driveline out, if it dont bind youv'e got power coming through the transfer case.
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f-350 front end binding
From my experience if the transfer case in NOT locked in the front axle should be totally free wheeling. If you looked at the old Dodges the front drive shaft was always turning. This is not the case for Fords or at least wasn't, not sure now. With the truck in 2wd, nothing in the front axle should be turning including the drive shaft from the t/c to the diff. Don't know if that's true, but if anyone can reach around and check to see if their axle from the diff to the wheel is free with the truck in 2wd there must be something going on with either the front diff or the t/c. I will disconnect the front drive shaft and see if that makes a difference. will keep you all posted but am still open to suggestions. thanks all
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i can turn my axles with it in 2wd, in park. i can also turn the front driveline in 2wd, park. the dodges had a vacuum dia. that would engage when it was put into 4wd, and it would shift a sleeve over the splined axleshaft which would engage the front axles,so yes, the front end would spin all the time.
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That's the way it should be and mine is like that most of the time but when it starts with that strange feeling I'll get out, reach behind the spindle and attempt to turn the axle but it is locked up on both sides in 2wd. Had a Dodge, had problems with the rear end "ratcheting from the rear end, traded it for the Ford and now almost the same symptoms but with the front end.damnation!!