Clunk......clunk.......clunk

[sundown]

Yo fellas!

When I drop my 96 Sport into 4Lo (yes, always off road)and turn moderately to sharply, I get all sorts of clunks and shudders, and the truck hesitates, like something in the driveline is binding. Doesn't do it in 4Hi, so I don't think it's a U-joint, and it's only got 40k on it, so I doubt it's the tranny or Tcase. The dealership said that they couldn't find anything wrong and blamed my "oversized" tires. (33x10.5 KO's)

Anyone else have this problem? Thanks!

 

[mbryda]

I've been wondering the same thing

Took the truck on some mountain dirt/gravel/rock roads this weekend and in 4WD she was making all these weird popping and moaning noises, especially when turning.

I'm hoping it is normal, as I was in the right enviroment (ie: not on concrete or asphalt). But the other side of the brain thinks that maybe something is wrong, as it shouldn't make these noises.

-Matt

 

[sundown]

I wonder if it isn't just normal....there is no differential between the front and rear driveshafts, when you turn the front wheels, the shafts will turn at different speeds, something has to give......but why doesn't it do it in 4hi? My '96 has the ControlTrak feature which supposedly proportions only the torque needed for the conditions to the front.....I think I read that 4Lo sends it equally to front and rear? Am I on the right track?

 

[mbryda]

Originally posted by sundown
I wonder if it isn't just normal....there is no differential between the front and rear driveshafts, when you turn the front wheels, the shafts will turn at different speeds, something has to give......but why doesn't it do it in 4hi? My '96 has the ControlTrak feature which supposedly proportions only the torque needed for the conditions to the front.....I think I read that 4Lo sends it equally to front and rear? Am I on the right track?

Mine is a 2K with the ControlTrack as well. My understanding of the system was that Auto would only engage 4wd at times when the rear was slipping. 4Hi and 4Lo work the same, with power going to all 4 wheels. 4Lo just has an extra low gear to help out.

But, I thought the whole point of only using 4WD off road was to avoid all this clanking and binding up. I just hope it only sounds bad and is OK for the truck.

-Matt

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by sundown
I wonder if it isn't just normal....there is no differential between the front and rear driveshafts, when you turn the front wheels, the shafts will turn at different speeds, something has to give......but why doesn't it do it in 4hi? My '96 has the ControlTrak feature which supposedly proportions only the torque needed for the conditions to the front.....I think I read that 4Lo sends it equally to front and rear? Am I on the right track?

You are correct. Your 4-high mode is the same as my '97s Auto mode. You aren't driving the front wheels unless your rear wheels slip. Since you aren't driving them, they won't be making any noise. In 4 low, your front and rear are locked together so you are supplying 50% of your torque to the front wheels. I quess without hearing it it is hard to diagnose. Mine makes some noise in low (and even high to an extent) when turning sharply on dirt roads, but nothing to be alarmed about.