Hey everyone, I'm usually a lurker as I really don't know too much about these trucks and tend to search the forum to find all the answers that I need, but I just can't seem to find any info on my problem this time.
I've got an '01 F250 4X4 diesel with 230k miles on it. I noticed when I was at the beach a couple weeks ago that my auto locking hubs weren't working. I looked at the rubber lines coming into the hubs and decided they could probably use replacing as they had been kinda stretched to fit when the lift went on. Anyway, replaced them and still no worky. I had a buddy turn the 4 wheel knob on the dash and pulled each line to check for vacuum, what I found was that the passenger side had vacuum and the driver's side did not. I then traced the lines back to the vacuum source on the passenger fender and pulled the lines off it. Still, vacuum to passenger side nipple, none to driver's side. Seems like both would either work or not work.
My question is, does this mean this vacuum source is bad? My a/c still works, and one hub is getting vacuum. What is this thing called? Where can I get one cheap? I'm headed back down to the coast this weekend and would like to have it working, if not I'll just have to do it manually i guess.
Sorry this was so long, and thanks in advance for any information!
I just had a problem with both of my hubs independlety going out. I know this may not be what you are talking about, but it is a quick check and I have found out this happens on a lot of older trucks. Mine is a 2000 f250. I will post Triskits video when I find it, but simply crawl under the truck adn make sure your nuckles that attatch to the hubs are not loose. It happened to mine 2 out of three times when I went to the beach over this last month. I couldn't enagege the 4x4 and I just bought the truck.
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Most of man's problems come from the inability to remain still.
I have a video somewhere that shows me moving my u joints up and down almost freely. I will try to post a link to that when I find it. My problem was my knuckle seal. It was totally destroyed and wouldnt allow the ESOF to work but it would still work when I turned the dial to manually lock the hub. I would just let the shop look it over an pay them for the diagnostic work. Anything on those hubs, even replacing the knuckle seal can be done in about 3 hours or less and a little bit of research and a few parts. Hopefully its something "simple" like just a hub problem and not the differential or axles themselves.
Edit:
In the video notice the axleshaft moving in the center of the hub. Im by no means a mechanic but I did this job with the help of one other person in practically no time. I replaced all the ESOF seals on that hub.
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Most of man's problems come from the inability to remain still.
Sounds like you have a plugged vacuum hose to the left hub.
You should have vacuum to both (as you checked).
The part you were looking at on the fender is the pvh solenoid
(pulse vacuum hub).
It has two lines as you saw,one is vacuum supply to the pvh and the other goes to the hubs.When you select 4wd,the solenoid opens and allows vacuum through to engage the hubs.
Therefore,you verified vacuum at the source,and at 1 hub,so check the line from the left hub to the "t" in the vacuum line.(bet it is plugged/pinched..etc.)
Sounds like you have a plugged vacuum hose to the left hub.
Definitely. There is only one line coming of the solenoid, it goes into a "T", and then goes down to each hub. One is either plugged or kinked.
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- art k. - Moderator for the Superduty, V10, and FE forums
'01 F250SD SC SB XLT V10 4x4 auto 3.73 Warn hubs Volant CAI, eBay headers and y-pipe - 5-star custom tunes on SCT X3
'97 Cougar XR7 30th Anniv Edition 4.6L
'74 F250 Highboy FE390 deceased! I've been wrong before, I'll be wrong again. Just wait and see.
I am wondering if I could just run rubber vacuum line over from the driver's side hub to the T? I don't really see any downside to doing this, just need to get time to do it. Should be a 5 minute fix
__________________
- art k. - Moderator for the Superduty, V10, and FE forums
'01 F250SD SC SB XLT V10 4x4 auto 3.73 Warn hubs Volant CAI, eBay headers and y-pipe - 5-star custom tunes on SCT X3
'97 Cougar XR7 30th Anniv Edition 4.6L
'74 F250 Highboy FE390 deceased! I've been wrong before, I'll be wrong again. Just wait and see.
Looks like I'm just an idiot. Found that the problem was that when I was installing my lift, I let the vacuum line got behind the track bar bracket. STOOOOOPID!!! Anyway, glad that's all it is and thanks to everyone for their thoughts and advice on the matter.
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