My dad's 2006 4x4 f150 wheels bound up and would not allow the truck to move(rear tires spun but the fronts wouldn't budge). After getting it towed home I lifted the front end and found that when I rotate one tire, the other tire would rotate in the opposite direction. Note that this is in 2 wheel drive and the results were the same with the truck both off and with it running. I think this points to some sort of 4x4 vacuum problem, however, I don't know where to even start looking for the issue. Anyone had an issue similar to this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Plenty of guys on here to help you shortly . I don't know since I haven't worked on one . You tube ford malukoco probably has video .

 

Thanks man, I will try finding some videos on that.

 

Was the vehicle off when you rotated the wheels? If so, it's designed to work that way. You need to crank the vehicle and see if they spin freely when running.

I must admit, I'm a little baffled here... The truck should move even if the wheel hubs are locked in. I'm wondering if something might have happened inside the T case.

 

Agree with Rivera.. motor off the IWE's will lock in the hubs.. motor off no vacuum applied.. motor running will apply vacuum to the IWE's and unlock the hubs.. tires should spin freely. Either case this should not prevent the truck from moving.. like Rivera stated you may have a t-case problem.

 

The wheels should not engage the front axels when the truck is running and in 2wd. Since you said they do in fact turn in that situation then you do indeed have a 4wd issue. That should not have caused the wheels to lock up. I would be suspicious of the wheel bearings although it would be weird for them to both lock up. Since they are easier to diagnose, jack up the front of the truck, put your hands at 12 and 6 on the tire and try to rock the wheel top to bottom. It should not have any play. If that is tight then we can start to work on the 4wd. If not then replace those and then we can work on the 4wd.

 

If you have play when you shake the wheels at:

12 and 6- ball joints
3 and 9- tie rods
12 and 6 and 3 and 9- wheel bearings

 

Thanks for the info guys, Im at work now but I will try to inspect the wheel bearings tonight. However I fear that it may be something in the T case myself. Just to clarify it does this regardless of if the truck is running or off.

 

Just to be clear.. your IWE system will never dis-engage if there is a vacuum leak.. motor running or not.

 

Did anyone figure out the issue with this problem. I am in the Process of taking apart the truck due to same issue. mid drive didn't bump 4x4. while driving heard snap, metal noise (like gears grinding or chain dragging) and pulled over. front of trucked locked up and will not rotate. Im thinking front diff or T-case???!!!