Help on 4-wheel drive

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Mar 17, 2010 | 09:38 AM

buck1974

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Help on 4-wheel drive

I have a 08 F-350 SRW crew cab pickup. I have a question about the 4-wheel drive. I was pulling up some crape myrtles today, they were rather big so I put it 4-wheel drive to be safe. I tried 4-wheel low, high, and then even locked the lugs up front and only my rear tires were spinning. This was on payment. They went more than several revolutions and no sign of the front at all moving. Any ideas, what could be wrong. I had someone look and drive shaft it was turning, but nothing to the front wheels. The lights were on as normal, and when I was in low it was low like it was in 4 wheel low. Is this under warranty if I have 55K miles? what could be the problem?

Mar 17, 2010 | 09:52 AM

jasfaa

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From: Snohomish, Washington

did you drive it for 10 feet to get it to click in? Sometimes that has to happen. If you tried that trick and it did not work, then you Pulse Vacuum (airline) is leaking and won't go in. It is a known problem. Thats why I went with a manual transfer case. too many issues on my 99 Ranger with the same setup.

Mar 17, 2010 | 10:26 AM

senix

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From: Frederick, MD

If you manually locked the hubs then it still should have engaged unless you didnt move it a bit to get it locked in or you also have a transfer case motor for the ESOF system bad too.

Manual 4x4 system is the way to go.

Mar 17, 2010 | 10:32 AM

jasfaa

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From: Snohomish, Washington

Yeah I re-read that and realized he tried that as well. Again, why I went with the manual transfer case.

Mar 17, 2010 | 11:50 AM

dchamberlain

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From: Scio, OR

Quote:

Originally Posted by buck1974

Are you absolutely positive that neither front wheel was spinning? If the 4x4 light is on, the transfer case is engaged, unless it's totally broken which is highly unusual. The fact the the front driveline was turning also suggests that the transfer case was certainly engaged. If you manually locked the front hubs then it is highly unlikely you have a front hub problem. I'd also check carefully and make sure you had the hub locks in the right position. Sometimes the lettering wears off and it's hard to tell which is locked and which is auto.

Thing is, with an open differential in the front, one wheel can turn while the other does not. If you're sure neither front wheel was turning, then lift each wheel off the ground, lock the hubs manually and turn them, making sure that the axle and u-joint behind the wheel turns. If one of them doesn't, then you have a broken hub.