please help 4x4!!!
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please help 4x4!!!
hey guys... first time posting. just got a 99 f150 with 5.4 4x4 with 6 inch lift and 35" tires. i got it cuz i love fords and i love off roading. this is my first 4x4 and i wanted to make sure the 4 wheel drive worked so on the street near the place i was goin off road i stopped the truck and put it into 4 hi. then when i started to go the truck did not want to move... it felt like the breaks were stuck on or something. then when i tried to switch it back to 2wd it wouldnt... i had to reverse it to get it back to normal. its a dash switch 4x4. i hav like no experience with 4x4 but i hav lots of experience working on cars. somebody please help me!!!! i know its probably a dumb question and im expecting some ripping and if i find the answer it will be well worth it... thank u guys and i have spent hours reading threads but havent found anyone with similar issue... 
Laughing Gas
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From: DC
There is a vacuum operated actuator on the front differential. It's under a plastic cover. Make sure it moves when you turn the switch in the cab. Sometimes it gets gummed up with dirt, etc.. You can spray it with some lube. Also, make sure the actuator is getting vacuum.
Edit: The fact that the truck didn't move makes me think it might be going into neutral vice 4x4. That would be happening at the transfer case. I'm not exactly haow that works on the electronic shift system since my truck has the shift lever. You may want to take a look at the transfer case and see if anything looks out of place.
Edit: The fact that the truck didn't move makes me think it might be going into neutral vice 4x4. That would be happening at the transfer case. I'm not exactly haow that works on the electronic shift system since my truck has the shift lever. You may want to take a look at the transfer case and see if anything looks out of place.
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ok thanks will check it out... and to clarify it does move in 4 hi... just barely though. i push on the gas and it barely moves and feels like its struggling... almost like your driving a car with a strong e-brake on. barely moves and really struggles. thank you!!!
Last edited by 4x4 newbie; Oct 5, 2010 at 02:54 PM. Reason: forgot to thank
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and how would i check for that? put it on a lift and see if they spin at different rates in 4wd?
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Laughing Gas
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From: DC
Yes, binding would only occur in 4x4. You can do a crude gear check by comparing the number of wheel rotations vs the number of driveshaft rotations on both differentials. The sure check would be to pull the covers and count the teeth on the rings and pinions.
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one last question...is there anything else that would cause that? it will drive straight for a couple feet then just not want to go... like it was towing something way to heavy and just stops moving even when i push on the gas. thanks again.
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From: dayton texas
sounds to me like a broken gear, or maybe even a shift fork inside yout transfer case. have you tried 4 low? you said you had to reverse out of 4wd right? one thing to check is the couple of feet you can move is your front drive shaft turning. that could eliminate a problem to your front diff or the transfer case.
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You need to check a few things, not sure on your model but a 6" lift maybe causing some tension on the drive line through the u joints because of the angle. You can check this by lifting the wheels off the ground and rotating by hand to see if there is any resitance. Ford trucks do tend to bind slightly in 4 X 4 especially on dry pavement after being in 4 lock you should always back up (reverse) for 20 feet or so to remove some of the torsion.
Another solution is to count the cogs on your front and rear differential pinion and ring gears to ensure the gear ratio is the same. Check with your local ford dealer to find out the proper ratio for you rig and go from there.
Some serious 4 X 4 enthusiast will run different ratios front to back,but these rigs are run on loose muddy or snow conditions or in the rock climbs never on the street.
The simplist solution would be to call the original owner and ask, if he is honest and not a dick I'm sure he would be glad to give you details of any work that was completed.
Another solution is to count the cogs on your front and rear differential pinion and ring gears to ensure the gear ratio is the same. Check with your local ford dealer to find out the proper ratio for you rig and go from there.
Some serious 4 X 4 enthusiast will run different ratios front to back,but these rigs are run on loose muddy or snow conditions or in the rock climbs never on the street.
The simplist solution would be to call the original owner and ask, if he is honest and not a dick I'm sure he would be glad to give you details of any work that was completed.
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