Working on a 2004 Ford F150 4.6L. No 4x4. Replaced both IWE front actuators. (Neither one would hold vacuum). Still no 4x4. I realize I have vacuum issues and may be accessive wear on gear teeth of the front wheel bearings. The issue that really bothers me is the front differential. Having placed the truck on jack stands and running in 4x4 should both front wheels be turning ? The right front wheel turns and the left front does not move.
Is this normal or should I pull the front differential cover off ?

Thanks

 

Only one wheel should turn, unless you installed a limited slip carrier or a locker in front.I doubt it came from the factory with either.

 

You problably have a bad 4x4 solenoid on the firewall behind the battery.

 

I would say that the Solenoid is bad too if still doesnt go in. Nothing wrong with the front diff unless you did some major 4x4'n.

 

Thanks everyone for the information. I took out the solenoid behind the battery prior to replacing the wheel actuators, applied 12 volts to coil winding and checked to see if the port opened. Appeared to be OK. (I'm going check the solenoid again) Blew out the lines from wheel actuators to the solenoid. No debris just air. I did find the check valves full of what appeared to be fine dirt. Cleaned them out with air and reinstalled. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
Still not enough vacuum at the wheel actuators to disengage the wheels. What I plan on doing next is checking all the lines, re-check the solenoid, and vacuum box. I think the best approach is to check vacuum before and after each element from the intake manifold to the wheel actuators. I'm wondering if the vacuum box has a leak.

 

All of these trucks had an open dif in the front, only one wheel should spin (at a time) when in 4wd. The only way to make both spin is to install a locker or a limited slip in the front.

 

So what you are saying is that in 2x4 mode the IWE's are still engaged? I dont see what the problem is that you are having.

In 2x4 the wheel should turn, and your front CV shaft should not. That is key on engine running.

If its in 2x4 and your axleshafts turn with the wheels, then your solenoid is probably shot. In 4x4, it would be considered normal for only 1 wheel to spin. If you can SAFELY find a way to hold the spinning wheel from turning, the other one should then start to spin. If not then you have problems.

 

Found problem on Saturday. Narrowed down to no vacuum after the solenoid. I Found vacuum to the output of the second check valve. The only components that could be defective were the solenoid or a rubber elbow. Even though I had checked the solenoid on an external power supply and it appeared to work I decided to replace the solenoid ($28 and a bad descision) Come to find out the elbow between the check valve and solenoid was completely blocked. First thing I would next time is check vacuum lines and check valves. There must have been debris coming from the defective actuators.