Clunk when engaging 4x4
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Clunk when engaging 4x4
Hi guys, so I have recently noticed that when I go to engage four-wheel-drive in deep snow or mud that even after letting it engage for a few seconds and then begin to drive I'm still getting a loud thump from directly under me some times 1 -3 of them am I not letting it engage enough ? I mean is it not suppose to be on the fly ? So far nor the locker or 4hi seems to be on the fly . Has anyone else's truck done this
#2
My '11 clunks when I engage 4wd. In South Mississippi we usually engage to go through a mud hole. For me that is seldom. So I asked my brother n law if his '13 clunked and he said yes. So I would assume that the clunk is a norm with the F150 4x4. I'm not worried about it.
#3
Senior Member
I have a '13 f250 & f150 and both clunk once in awhile or take there time engaging. I had a Chevy work truck before and it NEVER did this. Makes me mad that ford couldn't do the same
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Patrick Hoban (08-02-2020)
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ya it was scaring me was kinda embarrassing as it is noticeable outside does any one have and tricks to help it engage quick I kind of keep wheels straight , light on the gas , and some times reverse then fwd even that doesn't allways work
#5
Senior Member
Mine used to clunk, even when driving 40km/h and putting it into 4hi without accellerating after would clunk. But after enough uses it has seemed to stop clunking, and yes it is still engaging. So maybe over time it stops.
#6
Senior Member
A thunk is always heard when the IWE hubs lock in when engaging 4x4, always try to engage it below 35mph and without tires spinning or you may hear a clunk with grinding too, and grinding leads to breaking things.
Our trucks need to be rolling forward about 5-10 ft before the hubs lock in and are ready to go, it's normal operation
Our trucks need to be rolling forward about 5-10 ft before the hubs lock in and are ready to go, it's normal operation
#7
Senior Member
Clucking while engaging is normal. This happens on most 4wd and it has on everyone I've owned.
As to why some are quieter than others it depends.
You can be sitting still and engage and it still doesn't mean it's engaged, the cluck you hear is when you start moving and the transfer case finally meshes with the other gears and slips into place.
Then the hubs are another story as they also need to be moving to engage.
So if you're engaging 4wd sitting still, you will hear thugs as the actuators try to engage but when you get moving you will hear another series of things when they actually engage.
As to why some are quieter than others it depends.
You can be sitting still and engage and it still doesn't mean it's engaged, the cluck you hear is when you start moving and the transfer case finally meshes with the other gears and slips into place.
Then the hubs are another story as they also need to be moving to engage.
So if you're engaging 4wd sitting still, you will hear thugs as the actuators try to engage but when you get moving you will hear another series of things when they actually engage.
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#9
Senior Member
my 11 does it. It didn't before. This last 2 snowfalls i had to use 4wd even with just a coating as the stock hancooks suck *** in the snow. But the clunk is way to loud even if just going 10mph. My 97 and 98 f150's never made a peep when switching with the shift on the fly switch. Could be doing 40mph and you would here a slight click then its in 4x4.
#10
Member
Clucking while engaging is normal. This happens on most 4wd and it has on everyone I've owned.
As to why some are quieter than others it depends.
You can be sitting still and engage and it still doesn't mean it's engaged, the cluck you hear is when you start moving and the transfer case finally meshes with the other gears and slips into place.
Then the hubs are another story as they also need to be moving to engage.
So if you're engaging 4wd sitting still, you will hear thugs as the actuators try to engage but when you get moving you will hear another series of things when they actually engage.
As to why some are quieter than others it depends.
You can be sitting still and engage and it still doesn't mean it's engaged, the cluck you hear is when you start moving and the transfer case finally meshes with the other gears and slips into place.
Then the hubs are another story as they also need to be moving to engage.
So if you're engaging 4wd sitting still, you will hear thugs as the actuators try to engage but when you get moving you will hear another series of things when they actually engage.
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RES4CUE (12-22-2013)