Need a bit of help with my truck

[MTboatguy]

Well, I have a bit of a problem with one of my trucks that I have never experienced before? 1984 Ford 3/4 ton 4x4, runs just fine in 2 wheel drive, but when I lock the hubs in, it makes a very loud clucking noise and finally gets to the point it will not move, acts as if something is bound up, yesterday, I checked it again, but, if I unlock the hubs, moves forward just fine, if I lock one hub, moves forward just fine, unlock that hub, lock the opposite hub moves just fine, lock both hubs, binds up!

I had my wife move the truck forward with both hubs locked so I could look under it, when it made the bang noise, I noticed the transfer case jump!

I am at a loss on this one, never have had a truck act this way, figured it would not hurt to ask if anyone has information on something like this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

I forgot to add, this is a Centurion Model, it is a duelly, and it has a red pull switch taped to the manual transmission shifter, I have traced the cable and it goes to the transfer case, when you pull the switch, it seems to activate something in the transfer case as it sounds like something is sliding on a shaft in the transfer case.

Thanks.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Tires of unmatched size, even due to excessive, uneven wear, can cause that exact problem. I've had my t case make the bang sound once and another time it felt like the vehicle was binding up accompanied by a whine that grew louder until the front axle went over a patch of ice and the bound up tension released when the front tires spun. The front end ball joints were worn causing uneven tire wear and essentially made them slightly smaller than the rear tires.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Thanks,

Another thing I forgot to mention, It has not been shifted into 4 wheel drive, this is just with the hubs locked and the transfer case in 2 wheel drive mode..

But I will check the tires to make sure they are correct.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Centurion is a conversion company........ I have seen this before....... and you will not like my answer. If the tires are all the same diameter (Size) then I would absolutely check the ratios in the front and rear ends. In 1984 Ford had both the 8.8" and 9 " rear end and if someone along the way swapped out a rear..... they might be mismatched. I have actually seen a factory one come through that way.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Hi Bob,

I will double check the pumpkins again, although I believe they are the same, this is a rig with the 4.10 posi in the rear, and I have plowed three times with this truck now, I really think I broke something, I have drove this truck a few hundred miles now with no problems, but I did hit a hell of a rock in the road the other day when I plowed, it broke one of the spring eye bolts on the plow I had to replace, so I am thinking the impact may have also broke something in the drivetrain.

Dp

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Centurion is a conversion company........ I have seen this before....... and you will not like my answer. If the tires are all the same diameter (Size) then I would absolutely check the ratios in the front and rear ends. In 1984 Ford had both the 8.8" and 9 " rear end and if someone along the way swapped out a rear..... they might be mismatched. I have actually seen a factory one come through that way.

Still doesn't explain why it's making the noise without 4wd engauged though.

MT, have you put it up on stands to see if it's really in 2wd or if it's stuck in 4wd even though the lever shows 2wd?

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

I will double check, I did crawl under it and the shift lever on the transfer case is in the 2 WD position, but I may have broke something in the transfer case, I just don't want to have to pull it, this close to heavy snow season!

 

[rbh]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

I think you will find that the hub is done fore, I am hoping its not the front diff.

If you can drive in 2 wheel high and the issue is not even putting the transfer case in 4x4 the only thing left would be the hub or the front diff.

Crawl under and wiggle the front drive shaft, possibly you will find excess movement at front diff, this could be crown and pinion or just pinion bearing.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Thanks rbh,

Yesterday, when I was trouble shooting, I was thinking the same thing, another has suggested it could be a front axle u-joint, which I am going to check here in a bit, I don't think it is the front diff, but if it is they are really not that hard to change, just didn't want to have to do that this late in the season.

Dp

 

[rbh]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

I guess your next move is to get out the tool box, find your Allen keys and pop off the hubs.

If it DUN BLOWED UP!!! there going to be a crud load of steel and aluminum to clean up.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

I love it,

Dale what happened?

BLOWED UP!

LOL

 

[bassman284]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

My favorite is one time Michael Waltrip was walking back to the pit after his car quit and a reporter ran up and asked, "Michael, what happened?" Michael says, "Something broke that makes it go. Whatever it was, it was fairly important."

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

I love it,

Dale what happened?

BLOWED UP!

LOL

as an old school mechanic and having previously owned a truck very similiar only difference was year model mine was 82. first the red button on shifter is most likely for a PTO attatchment on the transfer case. most likely for a winch.. maybe this truck is an old tow truck.. but for your problem if its just when the hubs are locked in and transfer case in 2 hi its in the front end. because the drive shaft shouldnt engage until u got to either 4 hi or 4 lo. i have seen busted hubs (especially in manual lock hubs) cause the axles to bind up. i prefer auto lock hubs, but i would start with pulling the hubs all you need is allen wrenches and a metal pick to remove the locking ring. pull them and inspect for metal shavings or chunks. next source of problem would be internal in the ring gear or pinion. try leaving the hubs UN locked with transfer case in 4 hi and see if it will duplicate problem.. (front drive shaft will turn all the gears in the front end except the axles) so if this goes well your trouble is in the hubs.. and if you have to replace the hubs i suggest warren auto hubs... if u prefer manual still warren i suggest.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Is there a broken transfer case mount? You said it jumped. I've seen that cause that exact issue your having.

I'd also check it in 4 hi with hubs unlocked as the guy above said (except he's off saying the axles won't turn, they will and you'll be checking them at the same time. Only the hub/ wheel combo won't turn)

Also remember if you don't have a locker in the front (which you most likely don't) locking just one hub is just letting the dif spin freely, so until you lock both of them your not actually putting pressure on the front drive shaft.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Well I found one of the problems, the U-Joint at the front of the transfer case has come apart, looks like it somehow lost one cup and it came apart, the U-joint is still in the transfer case yoke and one cup is still in the front drive line, one cup is completely gone! So will get that fixed and go from there!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Right on, sounds like a good start.

Man is my internet slow lately, took forever to load this. Funny thing the thread I want to read most on the boat forum is about four wheel drives.

Saw over 100 dolphins in the river the other day and one bald eagle. There I talked about boating.

Post us updates.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

Hey Craig,

I am working on getting both of the front driveline u-joints changed, but as of late it has got Darn cold here, Had to buy a new jack and a set of jack stands, this is on Da*n heavy truck with that plow on the front, I called the guy I bought it from and he had it weighed, tare on it with the plow is almost 8500 pounds, I did not have a jack that would handle that much weight!

100 dolphins????????????????

Geeze I have not seen anything like that since I lived in Hawaii, Bald eagles, they are dime a dozen where I live, they hang out over the pounds and pounce on the ducks!

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

sounds like you have found the problem. when you locked in the front wheels the dif was turned and that in turn made the shaft turn with out the cup so hopefully thats going to be the only fix required. just have to wonder why the clip that held the cup came out and hope the knuckle hole is still round.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Need a bit of help with my truck

I bought my 3/4 ton truck without 4 wheel drive for this reason. I prefer to keep things simple. Of course, we seldom see any snow in the Mid South.

The price difference between 2x4 and 4x4 would pay for 70 wrecker visits.