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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/F250 doen't disengage properly

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Expert: - 8/5/2007


Question
I have a 2001 F250 4x4.After leaving the beach yesterday I noticed the front driveshaft still spinning in 2 wheel drive.I backed up a good ways tried re engaging several times but the front shaft still spins in 2 wheel drive.I have 4x4 switch on the dash. The hubs are unlocking so the truck spins like its in 2wheel drive. Years ago I painted the front shaft & remember while in park u could freely turn the front shaft.not any more .I tried several times this morning in the dirt moving back & forth, same results the hubs would unlock but the shaft still spins in 2wheel drive.Is this normal & I'm just thinking of my last truck or am I just losing my mind????

Answer
Mark,

If you are positive that the hubs are unlocking, then there is a chance that the transfer case is not completely disengaging.

If you have manual hubs, and you are turning them to the free position, sometimes they still hang up, and may need to be checked.

I would have your transfer case, and hubs serviced and all fluids checked in the transmission and differentials at the same time.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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