Is my truck "stuck" in 4 wheel?

[lilfk430]

my 03 mountaineer is making a humming sound at highway speed.. (my wife doesnt hear it) truck does not pull to the left or right just this humming.. today i jacked up the truck and tried to rotate the front tires.. they were "locked".

this was a hell of a winter and the truck took a beating in the snow..

are they engaged in 4 wheel? if yes, can I somehow disengaged them?

should they be free wheeling?

i cant recall if they ever free wheeled in the past..

any thoughts?

thanks

 

[Infinity08]

Is it 4wd or AWD? My AWD is pretty much locked in due to the viscous clutch in the transfer case. Very expensive fix, unfortunately.

 

[bender]

If you are/were stuck in 4wd, you'd know it more at low speeds parking and such as it would buck and hop. if the only symptom is humming, i bet your wheel bearings are going. very common, and a simple (but not necessarily cheap) fix.

 

[sjr033]

Most (every one I have seen) 3rd gen Mountaineers are AWD. I second the "check the hub/bearings" statement.

 

[muzzymaniac]

Bearings

 

[lilfk430]

thanks all.. any idea what bearing replacment should cost?

 

[lilfk430]

what about the fact that i cannot freewheel the front wheels when i jack up the truck? should i pay able to rotate the front wheels

 

[lilfk430]

Yesterday i had the front drivers hub replaced.. problem solved!!!! Now just waiting for the other side to start failing.. paid (some one else) $325.. and i didnt get dirty