f250HD hops hard turn

[poorpapa]

Can anybody let me know what would make my 97 f250hd 4x4
hop when I make a hard slow turn when in 4 wheel high I just got the truck about 6m ago I didnt notice it when I bought it
:headwall

[John DiMartino]

its normal,the front tires are turning in a larger circle than the rears,so the rear axle effectively trys to push the front faster than they are rolling,so you get the hop.

[WoofsPlow]

That answers a question I had, thanks John. I also find the power steering seems harder to work also.

[jakegypsum]

The axel binds when the ratio of the wheels are different.
To me it almost feels like the steering locks in the turned position when 4x4 is in use.

When I plow parking lots that involve a lot of narrow areas, I will kick my truck in 2 wheel drive just to keep from dealing with the fight between the rear and front axels. I always have some type of ballast in the bed so traction isn't that major when it comes to any slip on the rear wheels.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that the longer the 4x4 plow truck, the more the axels fight one another when turning. The ratio's increase with length.

My 02' F-250 Superduty Super cab/long box can throw a fit when turning to clear parking spots between parked cars.

Jake.

[Lawngodfather]

D-I-F-F

D-I-F-F

D-I-F-F

and D-I-F-F was his nameff.

Something is defective, not working right, or the turn is WAAAYYY to tight.

[EZSnow]

as John said, the front tires have more ground to cover, but are limited to rotating at the same rate as the rear tires while in 4x4. If you are in a low-traction situation, (as you should be if you are locked in) the wheels slip- a little here and a little there, and you don't feel it happening. If you are on wet, or even worse yet, dry:zoinks pavement, the tires have better traction and don't give as easily. They keep fighting each other for traction until one is so bound up that it overcomes its grip with the pavement and "hops" back into place. Usually the front tire on the outside of the turn lets go first. Before it actually hops, it binds everything in your driveline- t-case, u-joints, driveshafts, diffs, axleshafts and hubs against each other, not to mention it loads up all the suspension parts, front and rear. A diff can only differentiate from the left tire to the right tire of any given axle. It can't compensate for the eighteen foot difference in turning radius from the right front to the left rear tire.

If you are on wet or dry pavement, locked into 4x4 and your front end is hopping, nothing is broke- it's your truck beggin you to flip that switch or bump that lever so she can breathe a little while you turn!! If you don't, then you might know what broken feels like!!