I am not certain but my 2001 SD 250 supercab long box seems too have too much binding when in 4x4 and making real tight and moderate tight turns like in a small parking lots. I was in a small lot today in about 5 inches of snow and needed 4x4 to move around safely and every time i would turn the front seemed too bind way too much and clunk. My old 150 used do the same thing. I figured these new trucks would do alot better but I guess not. Am i wrong or is this not normal. I am not happy with this binding ford needs to do something.

 

Sorry man, nature of the solid axle beast. There will always be binding at the u-joint and t-case on pavement and in turns. Nothing Ford can do but go AWD like the Exploder.

Oh yeah, welcome to FTE!

 

I gotta agree, if it doesn't bind, it isn't a real 4X4.

Waxy

 

i would assume this is the first four wheel drive you have ever owned, its not due to the fact were solid axel, it due to the fact its 4x4 not AWD, your only supposed to be in 4x4 when your on traction limited surfaces, when your on dry pavement you shouldnt be in 4x4.
Jetjock16

 

Yeah I guess just thought after all these years they would of figured something out. last new truck was a 1987 150

 

I was in 5 inches of packed snow not pavement. Have had 4x4 since 1982. just never had one bind this much but never had a solid axle before.

 

Hey Lonewolf,

These trucks just do that. Mine was even doing it a few months ago driving on wet grass, which is a very low traction condition. I think it is partly due to the fact that the V10 or PSD Superduty is very heavy in the front end and the weight causes the front tires to get more traction than other trucks.

Also has alot to do with the type of tires you have. I have BFG ATs and the fact that the front end will bind on ice or wet grass/mud just tells me the tires are doing what they're supposed to do.

A little binding now and then won't hurt but don't force it. My opinion is it's better to take your time and back up a time or two if you get into a situation where you have to turn the wheels too sharply. Better to take a few extra seconds to turn around than risk tearing up something.

And contrary to what some may say-SFA pickups do bind worse than IFS ones. I had a Ram 1500 and and old Dakota 4x4 that was nearly as bad to bind in 4x4 as the F250. Also had a Silverado 1500 and a Ranger that were both IFS and they didn't have anywhere the amount of it that the SFA pickups did. Either on pavement or offroad/snow.

 

the way the 4x4 on our solid axel and the IFS rangers are about the same concept. A front driveline from the trasfer case to a front diff(housed in the Right IFS arm) then axel run out to the wheels through those arms to the hubs, there is built in up and down movement capability at the diff for the IFS to flex, but there is NO added slip in the front driveterrain anywhere to the Ford IFS setup, If your older trucks had less binding it was not do to IFS, it was probably do to a different type of transfer case, or maybe a shot front Diff?
Jetjock16.

 

I have noticed the same thing. My 02' binds something feirce when turning a tight radius. I too have been driving 4x4 trucks since the early 80's and never noticed anything like this. It's very noticable when the bottom layer of ice starts melting while plowing a parking lot.
I agree that it is the nature of the beast. I have the supercab and also attribute the binding to the extra length of the wheelbase. I just kick it in & out of 4x4 when needed. Jake.

 

You mean that this could be an ADVANTAGE of ESOF?!

(you do have ESOF, right?)

 

Absolutely Monsta! The switch makes it nice.
I used to leave the hubs locked on my older trucks and just shift in and out when needed. I didn't need to do it quite as much back then because the binding wasn't as noticable. Jake.

 

NO!!!!! Neither of my sd's or other trucks bind with the hubs locked and in 2 hi while turning.

 

Same here. Done it for years. SD's & older trucks. Jake.

 

Ditto

No disadvantage for being a cheapskate(myself) in this circumstance.

 

Like you all said binding in 4x4 with wheels turned sharp is the nature of the beast, but my 99' F-350, PSD, SC, 4x4 w/ 9' dump has started binding with the hubs locked in 2Hi, with the wheel turned sharply, mostly when I am making a left hand turn, it just started doing it this winter, it has 45 k miles on it, I wonder if the axel u-joints are getting rusty, (no grease fittings on them )

It makes clunking sound when hubs are locked turning sharply to the left in 2 WD, unlock the hubs,,no noise sounds like axel u-joint trouble to me, did'nt do this last year, seems fine when running straight or slight turns.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mark