4 wheel drive question

[CATCH17]

The other day we had some ice storms so I had to use the 4 wheel drive on my truck.

Well when I put it in 4 wheel drive it would make a loud clunk noise but once it made that noise everything worked fine.

Well now all of a sudden when I have my truck in 2 wheel drive I hear a clanking noise that sounds like metal is dangling from something and hitting something else.

Its in my front left wheel and I can't figure out what it is.

Something just sounds loose and the metal is clanking together.

Any clue what it could be?

 

[Jon88]

Is this a Ford or a Chevy?

 

[CATCH17]

Is this a Ford or a Chevy?

Ford and its old with about 182 thousand miles on it.

Its been a very good truck and what ever screwed up is because of something I think I did.

I put it in 4 wheel drive when not completely stopped and I think that may be what screwed it up.

What ever it is it clunks when the wheels are turning and sounds like something is loose and is causing it to clank when im in 2 wheel drive.

 

[tomson75]

Does it have locking hubs? Do you have jack stands?

 

[CATCH17]

Does it have locking hubs? Do you have jack stands?

Its an auto 4 wheel drive. I just have a switch to turn it off and on.

Yes I have jack stands.

 

[Jon88]

Its an auto 4 wheel drive. I just have a switch to turn it off and on.

Yes I have jack stands.

I would see if I could take the wheel off and take the hub apart. I thought you could turn on 4wd while you're moving, but I guess this is an older model. Look in the instruction manual and see what it says about putting the truck in 4wd.

 

[Wolfpack]

Back it up 15 feet once its in 2WD then you should be good.

 

[CATCH17]

Back it up 15 feet once its in 2WD then you should be good.

Ive tried that.

The clunk noise wont go away.

 

[Jon88]

Ive tried that.

The clunk noise wont go away.

What did it say in the owner's manual? Have you tried taking it apart?

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

Ford and its old with about 182 thousand miles on it.

Its been a very good truck and what ever screwed up is because of something I think I did.

I put it in 4 wheel drive when not completely stopped and I think that may be what screwed it up.

What ever it is it clunks when the wheels are turning and sounds like something is loose and is causing it to clank when im in 2 wheel drive.

What year is the truck?

I'm thinking that it could be a universal joint or that you might have an internal gear problem.

If it is a gear issue, then you may have knocked a tooth off and it is bouncing around inside. The bad thing would be if it should jam between the gears!! It would cause that wheel to lock up while you are driving and could cause you to loose control. So be very careful.

 

[CowboyWay]

Keep it in 4 wheel drive.

 

[CATCH17]

What year is the truck?

I'm thinking that it could be a universal joint or that you might have an internal gear problem.

If it is a gear issue, then you may have knocked a tooth off and it is bouncing around inside. The bad thing would be if it should jam between the gears!! It would cause that wheel to lock up while you are driving and could cause you to loose control. So be very careful.

It is a 97.

It never did this until I used the 4 wheel drive the other day.

I heard a few loud pops when putting it into 4 wheel.

Next thing I know after im done useing the 4 wheel, I put it back into 2 wheel, and there is this clunk sounds that sounds like if I had a metal bucket and I stirred the inside of the bucket with a screw driver (the sound it would make).

It just sounds like something is loose and its metal clunking on metal.

Its not overly loud but it is very noticable.

 

[CATCH17]

Im having it looked at this morning so anyone else who wants to make a guess to see if they are right is more than welcome.

 

[trickblue]

Im having it looked at this morning so anyone else who wants to make a guess to see if they are right is more than welcome.

My guess is [strike]either the U-Joint or a broken gear tooth[/strike] the axle...

 

[Duane]

Im having it looked at this morning so anyone else who wants to make a guess to see if they are right is more than welcome.

I'd vote U-Joint as well.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I say it's the thinga ma jig connected to the thinga ma bob. :

 

[Jon88]

I say it's the thinga ma jig connected to the thinga ma bob. :

I agree. I think something is broken.

 

[CATCH17]

It was the Axel.

 

[Yeagermeister]

It was the Axel.

Are those important?

 

[Jon88]

It was the Axel.

I knew it.