Front End Drag Feels Like I'm Pushing

On my F250 Crew, when the hubs were left locked you could feel it in the front end- heavy steering and a feeling of drag or pushing something, kind of like driving straight into the wind or towing, except in the front.

My 2010 TT Crew is doing the same thing. I can hear the 4x4 disengage, but it feels like the front end is locked up. It doesn't pull, it tracks, the vibrations are quashed to a minimum (for the time being) but it feels like I have to really work to get it to go, exactly like the heavy diesel above with the hubs locked.

Good AT tires, balanced, all maintenance done. It drags at any speed, there is no change when shifting into 4x4 (no more drag) or out. Again it doesn't pull, driving nor braking. Putting it in Neutral seems like it still drags as it coasts. It's not wind either, which is what I thought at first. The steering is super heavy, but there is nothing bad about it except it's difficult.

I took it to my mechanic and they took the front end apart and gave it back saying "there is a TSB, take it to the dealer, we think that's what it is". There is a vibration, addressed almost entirely by wheel balance and mud removal, but still a minor vibration in the steering wheel.

Does it sound like a TSB? I didn't see any that dealt with having to give it more gas just to drive normally. Any ideas before I talk to the dealer?

 

the front hubs dont unlock on our trucks. the front diff unlocks the passenger side cv so the front diff doesnt spin. You can confirm this by getting under the truck, with it in 2wd (truck can be off) you should be able to spin the front driveshaft by hand (the one that goes from the transfer case to the front diff.

If so, your 4x4 system is acting proper. Drag is from somewhere else.