HeavyCal

For some time I've been getting a really loud CLUNK from my front end when the truck's hubs engage in 4WD. This will happen usually under heavier acceleration such as hammering it in 4AUTO on a slippery road, or givin' er in 4HI after shifting gears (i.e. from drive to reverse and back again). I took it to the dealership yesterday and road tested it with the tech that was going to work on it, and was easily able to replicate it on a snowy patch of road. He said "Oh yeah we DEFINITELY will fix that!" It only seems to happen once in any particular gear and will only happen again when re-engaging from a different gear OR when 4AUTO is engaging.

I just got the call back from the dealership that they couldn't find anything wrong. They went through the whole front end they said and nothing seemed amiss.

I've read that the Fords are in fact "clunky" like that and the noise is normal, but it literally sounds like someone is under the truck swinging a sledge hammer against the drivetrain. Is this truly normal or is the tech missing something?

<-KJP->

Are all the tires the same size? Is there a large thread depth difference between font and the rears (Have you rotated recently) I remember having a similar problem on my last truck.

HeavyCal

Tires are all the same size, were rotated about 8000 km ago, and tread depth is within 1/8" to 1/16" of each other. How would any of that have an effect on this symptom??

Ricklee4570

Mine will clunk going into 4 wheel drive sometimes.

<-KJP->

Like I said on my last truck I used 2 winter tires and 2 all seasons both same size on the side wall. They must have been different diameter (two diff brands) my 4x4 system made a clunk, that is why I was asking. As soon as I changed back to all 4 (all seasons) there were no more issues, quiet as a mouse when engaging.

Delavan

Mine did something like that a few times, engaging the 4wd. Now, I avoid pressing the throttle during shift. It didnt help I was on slippery surface when it occurred. Kind of like a very small patch of black ice then pavement. Seemed like the perfect worse case.

Meserve007

chnage the iwe. It took me about an hour and all is fixed. If you need help or advice email me

ABf150outdoorsman

I’m brand new to the forum. Just signed up. But have been researching this issue for a while now.

I have the exact same problem with my 2011 F150 FX4. I’ve had it at the dealership 3 times here in Alberta and they cannot replicate the noise on the lift. In 4x4 high/low on slippery surface there’s a loud clunking sound coming from either drivers side front wheel or from transfer case. Or when there’s load on the 4x4 system like trying to climb up a steep hill it will clunk. I’m wondering if the original poster changed his IWE and if it fixed the problem???
Also I recall one time hearing the same loud clunking sound while in 2wd on a soft gravel road.

So far I’ve replaced all fluids in tranny, transfer case and front diff. Installed a new seal on back of transfer case where drive shaft goes in, but it still continues to leak. I installed new vacuum hose between iwe up to solenoid as the old one was leaking. Everything seems like it’s holding vacuum now. Could the IWE just be wore out from previous failing vacuum hose? Could the transfer case be damaged internally? Any insight welcome’d.

Shawn Goughnour

Would you mind sharing

Freddy&

my truck is doing the same clunk noise.wat is a IWE?