poping in 4 wheel drive

[dougs3.0L98]

hey guys! i have a 98 ranger 3.0 5 speed manual 4x4. for a while the front end has been poping when i use the 4 wheel drive. i haven't been worried about it but tonight it did it really loud when i was trying to drive my dual axle car trailer over a couple of trees. it seems to do it when i turn on a surface that has good traction like rocks or dry mud. I can also generate the pop when i drive forward and put in reverse and pull out sorda fast, like half throttle. As far as i can tell the front tires are pulling just fine. i can fill the noise in my seat when it happens too. It sounds kinda like a big rock flying up and hitting the frame but it sorda has a snapping thud sound too. i checked out the front end tonight and the CV's, drive shaft, and diff. were all solid and my hubs are locked just fine.

whats the deal here???

thanks for the help you guys always know everything.:headbang:

[Wicked_Sludge]

sounds like the old auto hubs issue. anyone know if the PVHs are capable of slipping under high torque like the old ratcheting ones would?

[AllanD]

It actiually sounds like driveshaft windup to me.

It's normal when you turn on a surface where you have traction.

AD

[Wicked_Sludge]

ive never experienced a popping sound due to windup. scrubbings tires and a bouncing front end, yes.

[4x4RangerGuy]

hey guys! i have a 98 ranger 3.0 5 speed manual 4x4. for a while the front end has been poping when i use the 4 wheel drive. i haven't been worried about it but tonight it did it really loud when i was trying to drive my dual axle car trailer over a couple of trees. it seems to do it when i turn on a surface that has good traction like rocks or dry mud. I can also generate the pop when i drive forward and put in reverse and pull out sorda fast, like half throttle. As far as i can tell the front tires are pulling just fine. i can fill the noise in my seat when it happens too. It sounds kinda like a big rock flying up and hitting the frame but it sorda has a snapping thud sound too. i checked out the front end tonight and the CV's, drive shaft, and diff. were all solid and my hubs are locked just fine.

whats the deal here???

thanks for the help you guys always know everything.:headbang:

That's a classic sign that your hub disconnects are failing to engage the axelshafts on the first try when you switch into 4WD. Often, you may have to slow down completely and move forward slowly to fully engage them.

Causes vary; most commonly its either a vacuum leak prevent the hub from fully engaging or the hub is contaminated and rusted out, making it difficult to engage the axleshaft.

Check your vacuum lines for leaks. If they are ok, take a look at the hub disconnects. They are probably rusted up on the inside from lack of use. These systems need to be engaged at least once a month to lube everything.

[michowski]

I actually have this same problem with my 93 3.0 4x4. When im going in a straight line the 4x4 is silent. Its when I go to make a turn were it just goes like POP and then goes. Also when its going straight it rolls fine but in a turn it seems to just want to stop or move slow. When its in 2wd everything is fine, silent. Ive had both outer peices of the front axle out when I did my brakes and everything was moving just fine and didnt seem to bind at all. Only thing it can be is the auto hubs im guessing.

[Wicked_Sludge]

in a turn it seems to just want to stop or move slow.

this is driveline binding. dont drive on high traction surfaces in 4wd...you risk damaging front axle or t-case parts.

[dougs3.0L98]

my hubs are LOCKED and the sound is not normal.

yeah hopping and binding is fine and normal, this is more like hop, POW, me cussing, then bind.

[dougs3.0L98]

this is driveline binding. dont drive on high traction surfaces in 4wd...you risk damaging front axle or t-case parts.

hey man got any other ideas? thanks for the help.

[michowski]

I never engage my 4wd unless im in dirt, mud, couple inches of snow. Never on dry pavement or anything.

[michowski]

doug I just payed for some manual hubs, il have those installed by the end of next week. Il give them a try and see if theres any difference.

[Wicked_Sludge]

doug I just payed for some manual hubs, il have those installed by the end of next week. Il give them a try and see if theres any difference.

this isnt going to fix your "problem". you dont have a "problem". your trying to turn too sharply on a surface with too much traction.

you also have an entirely different front drive system than the original poster.

doug, it really sounds like your hubs are slipping (letting go, then grabbing the next "tooth"). this was a problem with the old TTB auto hubs...but i dont know if the vacuum hubs used on your truck are susceptible to the same issue.

[4x4junkie]

I've seen a few reports in the past about t-case chain slippage in some '98-'00 or so T-cases. If a set of hubs doesn't fix the issue, then the t-case might be the next thing to look at.

[dougs3.0L98]

well last night i pulled a wrangeler out of a lake bank so i had a good chance to really pay attention to my 4x4 noise. it sounds like a tail gate slamming down!

i think there is a little slippage somewhere but the front end is pulling, i had the mud on my face to proove it cause i was staring at my front tires!!!

Wicked sludge: you're the man, your truck rocks, i hope i can get some pics of mine up one day if i ever get a camra, old one died.

[Wicked_Sludge]

i didnt do anything :dntknw: ....but thanks alot!:icon_cheers:

[4x4RangerGuy]

well last night i pulled a wrangeler out of a lake bank so i had a good chance to really pay attention to my 4x4 noise. it sounds like a tail gate slamming down!

i think there is a little slippage somewhere but the front end is pulling, i had the mud on my face to proove it cause i was staring at my front tires!!!

Wicked sludge: you're the man, your truck rocks, i hope i can get some pics of mine up one day if i ever get a camra, old one died.

As I stated before, your hubs are slipping and failing to firmly engage the axleshaft. This often happens because there is a vacuum leak, which does not allow the hubs to engage completely, or the hub itself is wasted. I have had this problem before, and I have fixed many of my friends 98-00 4x4s with this problem.

Check your vacuum lines, and check the black hub disconnect by taking it off.

[Bent Bolt]

I've seen a few reports in the past about t-case chain slippage in some '98-'00 or so T-cases. If a set of hubs doesn't fix the issue, then the t-case might be the next thing to look at.

Yes and I have personally seen it in a few Sportrac's as well. Guy bought it at an auction and brought it to us to diag the very violent and loud banging when in 4x4.

[dougs3.0L98]

hey thanks 4x4rangerguy. sorry i forgot to mention that my hubs have been locked for about 2 years now, i did the mod to perm. lock them b/c of course the pulse vacum system failed. i'll check out the hubs when i get time. however i must confess i'm thinking about just trading this truck in on something with a little more power and a little less miles.

[77'cj7]

Doug, my 98 used to do the same thing. I believe it was probably a hub issue, as the hubs were quite rusty. However, I replaced the hubs with manuals at the same time i put in a 1354M t-case so possibility of a t-case issue. T-case is unlikely culprit in my situation though, as the case had been recently rebuilt, due to a stretched chain (damn electric shift would finally decide to engage when i had given up getting it into 4x4, and was trying to throttle it out in 2wd)

[dougs3.0L98]

solved!

it was just the ball joint deal in the front drive shaft, guess i'm looking for a new shaft now.

[soylent_green]

Someone mentioned t-case chain slippage. Is this a common failure?

'00 4.0 5-speed

[b_aldredeg]

Someone mentioned t-case chain slippage. Is this a common failure?

'00 4.0 5-speed

it was on mine 4x4 high was fine when i went to low it made all kinds of noise went to the juck yard and got one for 400.00 put it in and fixed the prob. i know what tour my old one up my buddies would get stuck and i would have to pull them out thats what got it.

[soylent_green]

when at an idle in 1st gear low range, mine starts out smooth, but sometimes starts bucking like theres slack in the driveline. I also sometimes hear a loud PING sound when going from foreward to reverse or vice versa. Does it sound to you like we have the same problem?