4x4 high feels like binding up

[89LSC4ME]

Ok I have done a search here for this and found very little. I just picked up a 99 XLT 4dr and this is what I noticed when I got it home. Just on my street going maybe 15klms I shifted into 4high to see if it was working, when I turned the bend I got this binding kinda feeling and some odd noises. Like it was sticking unsticking kinda thing. Did the same going in reverse also. But seems totally normal in auto selection. Now I know it will do stuff on dry pavement like one wheel turning slower. But I also have a 96 XLT 4dr and an 01 Sportrac and I don't recall either one of these doing it. And I have big chunky 31's on the 96 and only half dead stock tires on the 99. Now I am not trying to find problems here just want to know it is not going to lock up on me or something I drive highway. I read somewhere something about a module behind the glovebox? Any advice as always would be great. Oh one more thing is the 4x4 system on the 96 the same as the 99? The switch is the same!!

 

[rhauf]

in 4 wheel drive, (not the same as all wheel drive) the front and rear axle do not have a differential between them (like awd) so they are forced to make the same amount of wheel rotations. if you go around a corner, the front of the truck will take a larger arc than the rear, therefore, the rear will have to drag slightly, (or the front slip slightly) that's the binding feeling you're getting, it's normal and means everything is working. if you notice this when driving STRAIGHT then check to make sure all tires are the same size, if they are then somebody could have changed an axle with one that has a different gear ratio (bought a truck that way once)

it's not really a very good idea to drive on dry pavement in 4wd and make sharp turns, and that is the reason why. on those sharp turns there is a LOT of torque between the front and rear axles (through the drivetrain and transfer case) and it's tough on stuff.

 

[gtyates]

Probably not a bad idea to go ahead and change out the front and rear differential fluid as well as transfer case, especially if you do not know the history of the vehicle. My wife's '04 was exhibiting some binding as well. I had the fluids flushed, and no more binding at all.

 

[jchopo01]

My binding was cause by my front prop shaft CV being eaten away because of a torn boot. Just go out and find the prop shaft and wiggle the transfer case side. Should have no play what so ever. When mine was bad it made all sorts of binding and crazy clunking and even squeals... rebuilt and it was like new with no binding. Thats if you are blessed with the CV prop shaft. It could also be a bad CV axle too I believe.

 

[JDraper]

4WD (not 4Auto or AWD) is NOT meant for use on pavement. It will bind up some when cornering as rhauf said. The sharper you turn, the more binding and popping you will have. This is just how 4WD works. If you use 4WD on the pavement you are putting a lot of stress on the drivetrain and you can cause components to fail.