Hello, I have a 2004 f150 4x4. My question is should my front drive line turn freely when the truck is in 2wd? I noticed the truck steering a little different than usual and I was looking it over and I tried to turn the front drive line and it would not turn like the truck is in four wheel drive. The truck has the turn **** to put in four wheel drive and when yo turn the **** you can hear the transfer case motor click and it's lights up 4x4 on the dash. Just wandering what might be wrong or if the drive line should turn free in 2 whelk drive. Thanks .

 

Your 2004 actuators on the axles are operated by vacuum . When the truck is NOT running the front axles are locked in by default (no vacuum) . When you start the truck and you have it in 2WD the vacuum disengages the axles . There are several ways to check that they are disengaging , but you should have the dealer check for you if you are not familiar working on your truck .

 

Thanks, so it sounds like the way you explain it this is the way it should work. The front drive shaft will not turn when the truck is off but when it is running the drive shaft should turn free.

 

Correct .

 

This is a minor drawback of having automatic front hubs instead of manual ones. If you were having a problem with the front axle being engaged all the time you would feel the front wheels drag as you turned right or left, just like it WAS in 4 wheel even if the light on the dash is off.