kevin1000

To all,

I have a 2005 F-250 with 9000 miles that my company uses for plowing. When I put it in 4 wheel drive everything is good except when I turn the wheels at about 90% of turning capability. When I do that the front-end seems like it slips...moves very eractically. Is this the way it should be or is something not working like it should? The truck has manual engage 4 wheel drive.
Thanks
Kevin

Mr.runner

are you on dry pavement when it does that or snow?

kevin1000

We're using it for plowing snow so its a combination of snow/ice but it happens in both cases.
Thanks
Kevin

Mr.runner

but slipping, do you mean the truck kinda shakes and hops up and down?

wwb

It's working just fine. When you drive in a straight line, all 4 wheels are rotating at the same speed, and the whole driveline smiles happily.

When you're turning sharply, the rear wheels will "cut the corner".... the front wheels will need to travel farther than the rears. This would be fine and dandy if they were allowed to rotate faster than the rears, but they're not.... the transfer case is locking the front and rear propshafts together, forcing the fronts to rotate the same speed as the rears, so something has to give.

Depending on the load distribution, the available traction at each wheel, and whether or not you have limited slip differentials, one wheel (either front or rear) is going to either spin (a rear) or skid (a front) intermittently. That's what you're feeling.