As you might know, I just bought my first Ford, an 08 Superduty. Well when I tried the 4x4 it wouldn't engage till I manually locked the hubs. I talked to my brother, who has had a Superduty for ages showed me the vacuum lines that run to the hubs, and one of them was broken. It broke right at the elbow, where it connects to the knuckle. So I cruised by the local autozone for a new piece, no luck, Ford only. So off I go to the local Ford dealer. The parts guy asks me what I want, so I explain it to him. He tells me that they don't sell those, and that the parts book just says to "Improvise". I thought he misunderstood, since their parts counter is in the shop, and is quite noisey. So I said "but it's an 08", he says, "I don't care if it's an 11, we don't have it". WTF? A fragile, vulnerable part, that according to my brother, breaks often, and I'm supposed to improvise? Definitly doesn't impress me much.

 

just buy some rubber tubing of the same ID at your local parts store. be a few bucks and then your done

 

I have no problem fixing it. Probably going to use stainless brake line to make a nice elbow that won't break. Still not impressed with common, easily broken parts not being available for a 3 y/o truck.

 

The rubber may be a little more forgiving and flexible. I know what you mean about having to "improvise" on a newer truck. Look at it like this, its your oportunity to improve on a crappy design and make it more reliable.

 

On mine the elbow has a tab that you use to attatch it to the knuckle with a small screw. I will probably just weld a little tab on some stainless brake line, so it won't be so fragile. Or just cut them off and plug them, just lock them in manually. Don't like the idea of a vacuum line hanging down in the mud and muck, sucking up crap.