Front end makes a horrendous snapping/cracking sound when flooring it in mud/sand

Tiny
5.OHHH
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 FORD F-150
  • 5.0L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 44,000 MILES
I have a Supercrew with a two inch level kit. When flooring it in mud without a trailer or pulling a trailer under medium throttle through sand or mud the front end makes a horrendous snapping/cracking sound (not on asphalt only in 4x4 in mud and sand). The shop messed up my IWE when installing leveling kit they said they could not fix it, So I took it to the dealer they replaced both IWE. It does it in both 4Hi and 4Low sometimes under light throttle mostly medium or heavy throttle. It does it going straight, turning it does not matter. I always reverse ten to twenty feet then drive forward for maybe fifty yards or so before I really romp on it. Sometimes it will make a bad grinding noise and the whole truck will stop and will not catch again until the rpm's/speed drops back down then it will catch again and start popping and banging again. Jacked it up both hubs are unlocked from the axle in two wheel drive, they are locked in four wheel drive. I have no grinding while driving in two wheel drive, I drive it one hundred miles a day no grinding like when the IWE were bad. I have replaced the IWE solenoid with the updated one, no change, both actuators hold vacuum, the lines have no rips or tears. I am lost on what it could be sounds almost like something is binding up. Any help would be appreciated.
Tuesday, September 4th, 2018 AT 7:56 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
5.OHHH
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Here is the sound:
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Tuesday, September 4th, 2018 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
5.OHHH
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
If you have headphones or good speakers you can hear the 4x4 snap very loud and the truck revs up but does nothing. Once I let off it catches again and all four tires will spin again. No issues in two wheel drive though.
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Tuesday, September 4th, 2018 AT 7:59 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I am Danny.

I have attached a little information you already know about but it still seems like an IWE sound. Kind of odd for being such a low mileage truck. Did the suspension shop give any warranty? I will some research and get back to you. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Wednesday, September 5th, 2018 AT 4:19 AM
Tiny
5.OHHH
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Shop that installed level kit said everything was fine that they could not figure it out. I took it to the dealer and they replaced both IWE because they were bad. They still lock and unlock as should but the truck will pull all four wheels good for a little bit, then the snapping sound then the loud bang and the truck just revs as it is in neutral. It is a very loud bang. Let off it reengages them it will pull fine for a little bit again. Did you listen to the videos?
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Wednesday, September 5th, 2018 AT 8:35 AM

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