I might sound stupid but i still dont understand. What is the difference between locking your hubs manually in 2wd and locking your hubs manually in 4wd(switching it on electronically from inside).?

 

No difference if everything works as it should

 

So If I switched to manual hubs only, I would never have to use the 4x4 switch inside?

 

Negative, you still need the switch to actuate the transfer case.

 

You would still have to turn switch to activate transfer case for 4wd.the only reason to manually lock your hubs is if you have a vacuum leak preventing them to lock automatically.

 

You will also have to plug the vac lines to the hubs. I personally would rather have the auto system. Once you understand how the auto hubs work, n what makes them switch, you might follow suit. There is no difference in the locking effect in manual or auto. But, if you have vacuum leaks, n don't find them, then the autos won't work. But neither will the hvac system. FYI

 

I do have a leak somewhere and cannot find it, I'm still looking going to buy a gauge today.

 

In normal operation the inside switch does two things - it uses an electric signal to a vacuum solenoid to tell the front hubs to lock, and it tells the transfer case to engine in either high range or low range. If you lock the hubs manually in two wheel drive, you have connected the wheels and tires to the front axles and you spin the front driveshaft, all of which take some energy. If you lock the front hubs in four wheel drive, all you have done is over-ridden the automatic command sent with the vacuum line, and forced the hubs into locked mode. This can be a very good thing if you are going into and out of 4WD often and don't want to possibly have a hub hang up and not engage.

Brian

 

Anyone know where I can buy oem hubs the cheapest. The ones I have now are 8 years old and really messed up

 

Excellent description.

 

It depends on the year of your truck. 03-04 can get aftermarket ones. 05-07 need oem only. Dunno what year you have, but your local dealer would be the quickest way. I think they're 130 each at Tousley ford. But you gotta pay to ship them also. I have a relationship at my local dealer and I got them for 150 each. When you go in the dealer and they tell you the price they want, here's a phrase to try n say to them "can you do any better on that price". Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

On that note, a long time ago I made a call to my local dealer. I told them that I normally have my parts shipped in. I asked them if they would be willing to give me pricing close to my other pricing. Every since then, I get fairly decent prices. But I spend a lot of money there. They all know me. I prob spend about $500-$700 a month in there.

 

One more thing, when i put the pressure gauge on the passenger side (not on the hub but going into the truck) all the reading come back good. It shows that it holds vacuum just fine, when i do the same thing on the drivers side it doesnt read the same thing. kinda weird. shouldnt it do the same thing.

 

Did you reconnect the pass side to the hub when you did the driver side. Btw, best to check vacuum at the black vacuum line that goes next to the engine on the pass side. N check the side going to the engine. It actually goes to the hubs. If it holds vacuum, then you're good. If not, then check each hub individually. I mean hook the vac guage directly to the hub. Not the line. If both hubs check out,, then replace the line.

 

I plugged it back in when i did the drivers side. Weird. If i hook up my guage directly to the hub how does that check anything if the pump isnt attached, dont i have to have some sort of pump with guage on it. sorry for the questions but im very close to figuring this out and i just need cliff notes because i get confused. just trying to basically justify buying new hubs.

 

Is it possible that my vaccume line on the drivers side is either kinked or clogged. So it would read good on one side and different on the other. both sides go to the same place, i dont understand. Going to put new hubs and hope that fixes the problem.