Clunking sound Ford F-250

[09 arctic cat m8]

Hey gang I get a wicked clunk noise when I click my 2011 Ford F-250 into 4/4, sounds like a metal clunk noise, undernieth I'm guess my front driveshaft or transfer case but it's when I've been driving for alittle and not fast either never when turn the knob and it engages, just when I'm driving, also when do fellas fiqure it's time to change the transfer case fluid, it's at 110,000 km and has never been done yet, and I'm rarely in 4/4 thanks

 

[Kyle89]

I bet front driveshaft as I just had the same symptom on my truck or the front axleshaft u joint.

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[pfi572]

Fluid in transfer case is 60000 according to owners manual.

 

[Lund]

It will most likely be an axle u-joint. I got one on passenger side that needs replacing, easy to change out and common on any open knuckle 4 wheel truck.

 

[imdoo'n]

first off change the oil!!! it needs it, check for metal particles, likely fine, but why take any more chances.

 

[RGM]

Check the double cadan joint on the driveshaft. Thats what mine sounded like.

 

[HotShotHarry]

You say you hear it a long time after turning the 4 wheel drive switch? Your hub seal may be leaking, causing the hub to take a long time to engage. It engages using vacuum pressure so if the hub seal is leaking , it will take time to engage and that could be the clunk you hear. If it is the axle u-joint as Lund suggested, you should feel the steering wheel occasionally stick as you turn in either direction. You can check this by jacking each wheel up one at a time, manually locking the hub and try turning the wheel by hand. If they turn smoothly, then the u-joint is good. - Right Lund?

 

[09 arctic cat m8]

yes i do hear this after a few minutes of driving, and theres a whistle squeal sound coming from my front drivers side while im in 4/4 could this be a leak? and if it is how much to get this fixed

 

[Mach1]

I wouldn't worry about it, that is normal. It's a Ford they all sound like that, lol
ask me how I know .......just kidding but mine in shop waiting for chit load of parts.....

 

[Lund]

If your noise is constant while having the 4wheel drive engage. Like a clunking constant rhythm. Then your issue is probably drive shaft related. Like a shaft u-joint or the cardan cross u-joint.
If the clunking is more pronounced on one side and not so much in a rhythm and seems to change while steering then its an axle u-joint.
Like i said, open knuckle joints are more vulnerable to seizing and then letting go (failing) then a drive shaft joint. Fords use an open knuckle joint on all solid and I-beam twin.
As for the whistle squeal, it's probably more of a squeal from the seized u-joint on the drivers side. If you look closely at the axle u-joint on that side and see a fine rusty dusting collecting around the u-joint. The u-joint is fubar....seized.
If the hubs were leaking vacuum, it will not engage. 4 wheel drive will not work.

BTW, vacuum assist locking hubs are prone to failure but generally 4 wheel drive will stop working. Will not engage and you will need to engage manually.