Ford 4x4 engagement question, Loud clunk
01-03-2013, 10:21 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
What your hearing is the splines on the vacuum hubs lock onto the splines of the cv axle, its completely normal. Sometimes when disengaging the system one will take a 1/4mi or so to unlock completely if they are stuck a bit.
Personally i try only to engage only if under 35MPH and rpm under 2.5k, it is gear on gear basically so i feel that's the safest way, Def don't floor it while engaging the system, and also engage and disengage it a few times if your not using it for a few months, it helps keep everything free from binding.
Personally i try only to engage only if under 35MPH and rpm under 2.5k, it is gear on gear basically so i feel that's the safest way, Def don't floor it while engaging the system, and also engage and disengage it a few times if your not using it for a few months, it helps keep everything free from binding.
So how do I best keep it from happening? I am guessing it doesn't engage right away because the splines don't match up. So driving a short ways is the only way to do it?
I wonder if there is a way to trick the system and keep the front hubs always locked in sometimes. Like when there is alot of snow and I want to slide around, that's when I like to switch quickly.
01-03-2013, 10:34 AM
#12
Senior Member
best way to avoid the loud clunk bang is to engage the system while at low speeds on level ground, when the truck is on an incline or stuck and spinning the torque doesnt distribute evenly and your hearing all that power transfer right to the hub which makes it sound like the hub is blowing out. Its not "bad" per se in an emergency but its always better to engage it before pulling in driveway etc when you know you need it
01-03-2013, 10:59 AM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
best way to avoid the loud clunk bang is to engage the system while at low speeds on level ground, when the truck is on an incline or stuck and spinning the torque doesnt distribute evenly and your hearing all that power transfer right to the hub which makes it sound like the hub is blowing out. Its not "bad" per se in an emergency but its always better to engage it before pulling in driveway etc when you know you need it
Oh for the simplicity of manual transmissions and levers. I swear if any of the big 3 starts offering a stick shift again I am so trading in my current truck for it.
01-03-2013, 11:09 AM
#14
Senior Member
The only truck I trust to shift to 4x4 at highway speeds are dodges due to the front end always maintaining speed with the rest of the drive train.
All the fords I have owned however (explorers, mountaineer, f150) always have been a clunk-bang, good to go kind of affair lol
All the fords I have owned however (explorers, mountaineer, f150) always have been a clunk-bang, good to go kind of affair lol
01-03-2013, 11:12 AM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The only truck I trust to shift to 4x4 at highway speeds are dodges due to the front end always maintaining speed with the rest of the drive train.
All the fords I have owned however (explorers, mountaineer, f150) always have been a clunk-bang, good to go kind of affair lol
All the fords I have owned however (explorers, mountaineer, f150) always have been a clunk-bang, good to go kind of affair lol
01-03-2013, 11:53 AM
#16
Senior Member
technically ours free spin (if you spin the shaft the front end is always "locked") but the hubs are what lock the shafts to the drivetrain. Similar system with different sounds and clunks to be heard
01-03-2013, 04:00 PM
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter