So I've had four wheel drive trucks my whole life, This is my first ever ford, but the other day I was driving with the kids in the truck and the roads were very bad so I hit the 4hi **** and got a loud bang, felt it engage and seemed like it jerked, then the drive line sound and vibration through the floor boards was more than I've experienced before.

I wasnt real happy and figured trip to the dealer but I thought well lets see what happens. I left it in four wheel and by the time I got home it had mellowed out. Now when I engage four wheel I still get a little clunk which I attribute to normal, but the horrible vibrations are about gone.

Its just crazy to me because even my old Chevy with the manual transfer case didn't even slam like that and my 02 ram was seamless and quiet, if it wasn't for the light on the dash you wouldn't have even known it was in four wheel. Anyone else experience the same?

 

The clunk it makes when engaging is normal, and if the vibrations are gone then it seems like you're good to go!

 

I wonder if it has to do with the electric shift motor, I had a manual 4wd lever on my Jeep and you could slip it smooth as anything but with my truck I get the clunk even when letting off to prevent bind when engaging.

It's not loud at all and I have no crazy vibes just the typical drivetrain whine.

 

Thats what threw me off, just comparing, my Ram had electronic 4wd and when i turned the ****, smooth quiet engagment, no clunk and almost no driveline noise. This new truck about scared the crap out of me when it went in. But all seems well now.

 

Were you accelerating when you went to engage? Try giving it little or no gas when its engaging it should be smoother

 

^ +2. I take my foot off the throttle when engaging 4wd and is smooth. If there's stress on the driveline when you're trying to engage you're going to get a harsh engagement.

 

No I always let off to engage 4wd. My procedure usually goes, let foot off completely, switch **** to 4hi, wait for indicator on dash to change ( and in this truck feel the clunk ) then back on throttle.
Same procedure I used in my previous vehicle. Hopefully with time it will smooth out.

 

My truck clunked the other day when I forgot to ease off the throttle. Normally, it is seamless and you cant really tell.