Four wheel drive problem?

[90ramair]

I'm not sure if this post belongs in this area? Here it goes, I have a 2002 F150 FX4, last night i used the 4 wheel drive for the first time since during the test drive. I was in a parking lot and making a sharp turn(wheel almost fully turned) under 5 mph in 4high, there was a pretty good vibration and the front tires kinda hopped across the ground. During normal driving it seems fine... a bit louder than i would expect while coming to a stop in a straight line (a humming sound). Could there possibly be some sort of a locker in the front? Or is something wrong? I have not driven many 4wheel drive vehicles, other than my samurai...does not do this. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[DirtyMax]

When turning in 4WD on dry pavement, your inner wheel is turning at a different rate than the outer wheel. This is why you get the "hop". It is essentially locked. It's not recommended but you didn't hurt anything by doing it once. The humming on decelration is normal too. Hope this helps.

[markstang]

that is normal for a real 4x4 truck. & not good to do on dry pavement. you don't have a locker in the ft.....


Mark

[SuperSonic]

Like the guys said, that's pretty much normal. On my F150 4x4, I actually put about 400 lbs in the bed over the rear axle during the winter so I have a little better traction in 2wd on roads that are just a little slippery, and only use the 4wd when the roads are pretty bad.

[markstang]

yeah I try to stay in 2 wheel drive on the roads also unless it realy bad.
the 4 wheel drive is for when you need to get out of the ditch. or make some $ & pull somebody out of the ditch.... :beer:


Mark

[DirtyMax]

or make some $ & pull somebody out of the ditch.... :beer:


Mark

I liked doing that too. But the 4x4 haters at ford decided to put "car-like" tires on my new truck and they aren't the best in snow. Probably in their efforts to make the quietest pickup on the planet.

[90ramair]

Ok this eases my worries i had...i wasent too worried about it, but my buddy who was in the truck with me kept telling me something was wrong.
Thanks everyone! :beer:

4eyed: I would have to agree with you on chittyness of the stock tires on these trucks...they are horrible!...the biggest complaint i have about the truck!
its even worse for me because i bought the truck with 32k on it from the dealer, two front tires are original, and they put brand new ones on the back, so when i need to replace the fronts, the rears will be more than half life...i dont like to missmatch tires, but i refuse to by these pieces of crap! i'l have to eat what life is left in the rears when i buy new ones. :rolleyes:

[Mark302]

I also have a 2003 FX4 SuperCrew. The dealer told me that the tires are really soft and would wear right out.

[90ramair]

I have had many people tell me that these tires suck, I dont like em because they are not very agressive, also half of the tred is gone when half of the tires life is gone...if you look close down the center section of the tire the cuts only go half way into depth of the tred...Garbage!
I've thought about writting Ford about it, not that it would do anything?

[fast1990gt]

You can't turn that sharp on dry pavement with that truck because the u-joints in the steering knuckle will bind up and that is what you are feeling. When you do that on the snow the tires slip so it isn't as noticable.

[LangeStang]

Definitely a "normal" condition!
I have to totally agree about the tires Ford uses! Ford should really start using some more agressive tires for the 4x4 trucks! The stockers on my 02 F-250 are a "street" tread- aren't going to be helpful off road. When I need replacements, more agressive will be used!
LangeStang :hbullet:

[DirtyMax]

Check out the Bridgestone Dueler A/T. When I had to replace the tires on my F250, I bought those and really liked them. 285's I think. Still fit fine on stock wheels but gave a bit more size.

[LangeStang]

I know for sure I'm going with 285's! Just not sure which manufacturer just yet!
LangeStang :hbullet:

[90ramair]

I know for sure I'm going with 285's! Just not sure which manufacturer just yet!
LangeStang :hbullet:

I was thinking about going to some 33'x11.5" or 33"x12.5" allterrains as long as i will not have any rubbing? I have to check on that, does anyone know if the 33x12.5 will fit with out rubbing on a stock F150 FX4?
Also how does the 285's size compares to 33" tires?

[DirtyMax]

Wow, I must be bored but you asked :D

285/70R17 tires are your only "285" option with your 17" FX4 Wheels.

That being said....

Using the metric conversion rate, a 285 tire is 11.22" wide.

The 75 means the sidewall is 70% tall as it is wide, so each sidewall, on both side of the rim is 7.854 inches each. Factor in your 17" of rim and you have 32.71" worth of tire height.

Equation. The 285/70R17 is essentially a 32.71 x 11.22

Now...willa 33x11.5 fit...it should. Will a 33x12.5 fit?... very close but it will probably rub in alot of places. On an F150, a buddy ran 285/75R16, which using the same conversion would be 32.83" x 11.22" (basically the exact size as the 17) and they only rubbed at the extreme end of the steering lock.

Hope this makes an ounce of sense. :thud:

[90ramair]

Hey thanks again! I did catch all that. I know i have that metric conversion in a mag somewhere. I figured someone could save me trouble of lookin for it. :D I would really like to get some 12.5s under there...maybe with a 1/2" or 3/4" wheel spacer i could get them to fit with a minimal amount of tire stickin out past the fender? I really dont want to have to get some new back spaced rims. I'll have see when the time comes.