i have a 1989 f150 4x4 4.9 5spd. bone stock. i locked in my 4x4 last night to climb a hill playing more then anything. i get up the hill and i can't turn in 4x4 the truck wont move. it acts like something is in a bind. in 4x2 it can turn just fine. lock it in and try to turn its ok for small turns but sharp turns and it wont move at all.

 

...I was gonna be all for the "that's just a typical 4x4 thing" until i realized it had trouble turning in general, and you didn't say anything about tire skip...

First time it's happened? Have you used 4x4 on it before?

 

Yeah i have trucks been in my family since new. No tire skip at this time. It use to like normal. I was turning right on top the hill to follow a trail. I did find my transfer case ingaged already how long it has been like that idk.

 

Check your linkage from the t-case, for kicks since you said it was engaged. As for the turns... All that makes snese to me is if your ujoints on the axles were bad and binding with the torque applied up front. But even that seems like a stretch in my head.

 

Here are some pics i did change the outer tie rods last week first time useing the 4x4 simce then. If i lock it in 4 low it pulls but u still get a bit of binding with popping

 

U joints up front do look like they need to be changed

 

id say change your u-joints in your front axles. when mine went bad they binded up on turns but they were also bad enough that i could SEE them moving when i shook the front axles. that being said they could be full of rust and not wanna move and give you the same prob without the loose play. sorry to say that changing them is NOT fun at all. everything has to come off. wheel, bearings, hub, spindle(good time to replace spindle bearings BTW) the drivers side slides right out but the pass side has a slip joint covered by a boot on the axle, then it just slides out. even if its not your main issue they prob need done, plan for it to take a whole day (depending on how many beer breaks you take) to get it done. oh and ther are like 3 seals on each side, axle seal, inner and outer bearing sealand a dust seal, and the usaul 2 wheel bearings and a small needle spindle bearing. thats the run down on my 95 f150 anyhow. good luck finding your prob bud.

 

Well this is what i found, the kit dont say what is all in it tho. Hell im there ball joint and tie rod ends will get replaced

 

Also, while putting the passengers side back in, make sure to line it up EXACTLY how it came out to avoid driveline vibration. I was taught that being even 1 spline off can cause vibrations

 

Thanks for that tip, never would have guessed