sammyg

When I shift 4HI or 4LO and the front axle is engaged on my 07 Supercrew it feels as though something is binding up if I make a hard turn. I've been driving Ford 4X4 vehicles since 1976,everything including F150 & F250 trucks along with Rangers and full size Broncos.This 07 is the first I've had with the front drive system and suspension that Ford uses now.Is this bind-up a normal thing with this set up,or could it be something going bad? It is not real bad but it still concerns me.I had the truck in the shop late last year for an alignment and the tech said everything looked good.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

what type of surface is this happening on ??

sammyg

It does it on slick surfaces ,sloppy mud or even snow and ice.I would expect some kind of binding on a dry surface but not something slick.Last time I had a problem with a front end binding was on a 79 F150 I had years ago,one of the u-joints in a front axle shaft went bad.I just would like to know if what I'm experiencing is normal for this front axle design.I looked underneath the truck myself and did not see anything wrong except the design.It does not look to be a very strong set up in comparison to a Dana 44 that was in my older trucks,or even the twin traction beam axles Ford went to in the 1980's.I remember when Ford switched to the twin traction beam axles in the F150 and 250 trucks and remember reading articles back then about their weaknesses,and how the TTB axle setup cost Ford a military contract when those axles failed the testing the military put them through.

Dirttracker18

It is common on all 4x4 vehicles when engaged and making a tight turn. I have owned many and always notice this.

It is, however, more prominent if you have a locker in the rear. Do you know if you have the ford limited slip rear axle?

viper_crazy

I was just thinking, half way through reading, that a limited slip will also make the same scenario.


OP, did you buy this second hand or new? Maybe you have a locker, but more likely a limited slip.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

front diff is open

sammyg

I did not buy the truck new,and it does have a limited slip rear axle.While I've never had a true locker in any 4X4 vehicle I've owned,I have had several with what Ford calls their Trac-loc differentials in the front and rear axle and have never felt one bind up on a slick surface like this truck does. And like I said I've had them all,77 and 79 F150 trucks,84 and 88 fullsize Broncos,85,88,92 F150 trucks,89 Ranger,95 F250,2000 F150,and now the 07 F150,and last but not least 74 & 76 early Broncos.My first 4X4 was a 72 Intl Scout. All were 4 wheel drive vehicles and none of them would bind up like this unless something was bad or worn out.I would just like to know if what I'm experiencing is a characteristic of this trucks design or if I need to look for bad parts in the front axle.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Hard to say because we cant feel what your feeling.. you should not feel any binding on snow/ice or mud ... i drive all day in the snow 4H no binding except if you hit your locks.

davickers

I had a binding problem on my 06 XLT. After 3 years, 2 complete sets of CV's, a set of actuators, and a bearing...found out I had different gear ratios on each end. Previous owner apparently replaced the stock rear axle with 3.73. Front is still original at 3.55 and my door code is 3.55 as well. Don't know if this is helpful or not - but this is the 4th shop I have used and the tech thought of checking the rear end just for the hey of it. Luckily winters in WA haven't been bad the last couple years.