About 6 weeks ago (just before my warranty ran out of course) my '04 FX4 developed a noise like I have never heard. I was going down the road about 30mph and heard a kind of "scraping sound". My first thought was something was stuck between the bottom of the truck and was being dragged against the pavement. I started to slow down and a little before I stopped I heard a slight "thud/pop" and the noise stopped. Thinking it was something being dragged, I didn't think to much of it and went home.

It happened again about 2 weeks after that, and then about a week later. I had just done a rear brake job so I pulled the rear brakes apart to see if I did anything wrong. Everything looked great. Then the noise happened again yesterday, again this morning, and again on my way home tonight. There is something definately not right.

The wacky part is each time I hear it only when I am moving. I try to listen and can not figure it out. I can't even tell if it is coming from the front or the back. Then I slow down and the noise goes away a little before coming to a stop.

If I had to take a guess, it almost sounds as if it might be gears meshing together very loudly,,, I'm stumped,, and I was a mechanic (many years ago, hate it now). Tranny? Differential?

I know if I take it in they will not be able to find anything, and then charge me anyway. But I almost have to take it in. This is driving me crazy.

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

Prolly your 4x4 solonoid need to be replaced. Your truck is locking in and out of 4x4 making the "scraping" noise your talkin about.

 

I heard a similar noise for about 3 months and couldnt figure out what it was and then all of a sudden it went away. lol

 

Thats what mine did then about 4-5 months later it came back and would do it almost everytime I drove the truck. Turned out condensation can get in the 4x4 solonoid and casue the truck to ingage/diengae and make the horriable noise.

 

Im not even gonna worry about that right now, im just worried about getting my frame straightened and then Im trading when the '08 PSD's come out.

 

Took it in last Friday and you were right, the dealer said it was the 4x4 solonoid. Couldn't get it fixed then so I took it back today. Being just a month out of the 3 year warranty, and it actually started a couple of weeks before the warranty ran out, I asked if they could cover it. I was quoted almost $200 dollars but they knocked it down to $50. No complaints here.

The only other concern I have is I noticed when I am in 4H and making a tight turn right or left there is a "binding" and "dragging" of the tires. It seems to be coming from both the front and back. I was hoping it would go away after they fixed it but it's still there. Is this something normal that I have never noticed? Is somthing still jazzed up?

Thanks.

Ron

 

there is nothing you can do about the binding. that is normall 4x4 operation and will happen with any 4x4 truck.

 

Ok,,, least that's one thing I don't have to worry about. My first 4x4. Had it 3 years now and never noticed,,, maybe since this is the first time turning it on without a lot of snow. Probably slips more with snow/ice.

I guess you really do learn something new every day,, thanks.