Hello Ford People,

I have a 2000 Expy EB with the 5.4. Broke the axle tube coming out the passenger side and figured it was easier to just replace the entire diff. My rig has over 200K on it and the new junkyard diff has 70K from a wrecked '02 F150. Problem, looks like the new diff has a vacuum actuator on it and mine doesn't. Can I take the actuator off and pull the little arm all the way over to activate the front axle or am I screwed and have to find another one?

Thanks in advance for all the responses.

Wolf

 

That vacuum actuator is only on the front differential and you didn't specify front or rear, so I'll have to assume you're talking about the front. That actuator is to engage the front axle when switching from 2WD into 4WD and back again. So yes, just tie it over to keep the ring gear in the differential engaged so that you can use it in 4WD. You can also get creative by installing a switch and a vacuum solenoid to control vacuum to the actuator. As long as the switch is off the front differential and driveshaft won't turn. This might save you a bit on your gas mileage.