I have an '02 F150 4X4. I recently rotated the tires and now have lotsa road noise. I believe it is because the tires are cupped. Anyway, while investigating the source of the noise, I noticed that when in 2WD the outer axle shafts on the front end turn. Is this normal? The inner shafts are not turning, and the front drive shaft back to the transfer case is not turning.

I'm not sure whether the '02 F150 has "free wheeling" front hubs or whether the front shafts always turn.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

Yes, they do. Instead of locking at the wheel like they used to, the locking occurs in the front diff so the axles do turn all the time but they are not connected to the tcase via driveshaft until in 4wd.

 

your truck probably has automatic hubs so yes they will move unlike manual hubs like in the older trucks where u have to get out and lock them in

 

As WVtrucker stated, ther is no hub on the 97-03 F150. They have a CV joint at the wheel. The front end locks up at the differential thru a vacuum motor.