I had a local mechanic replace the ball joints and one of the hubs on my 2001 Superduty and now I can't get the auto 4x4 hubs to engage. They are telling me that replacing the ball joints and hub have nothing to do with the issue which I know is absolutely crazy.

I know they caused it but need some advise on what may be the issue. After I tried to engage the hubs when I left the shop the A/C would only come out the defrost vent but when I checked under the hood I found that the vacuum connection into the reservoir was disconnected. After I put that back on the vents worked fine but when I go to engage the hubs again the A/C vents go back to the defrost. I assume that this is a vacuum leak somewhere from a bad seal in the hubs that they did not install properly? Any advise on what I need to tell them? or could it be that my pump is going bad but right now it still is working?

They told me they would diagnose the problem for me for free. What a nice guy.

 

there's a big yellow o-ring on the hub that seals it so it can hold vacuum. Your shop either tore it or ripped it when pulling the hub out, its a 5 dollar o-ring that THEY should have replaced regardless. Bring it back and tell them to put in a new oring for free.

 

Thanks for the help. Will be back there this afternoon.

 

heres a link to the step by step to install ball joints, click the blue words to see the pictures

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ll-joints.html

 

no problem, your situation is the reason i do ALL my own work now

 

Agreed. I usually find a way to do these things myself but didn't have time and they were getting pretty bad as my tires were starting to cup on the inside. He came recommended to me and end of story. Lesson learned. They wanted to keep my truck all day to diagnose the problem. It took me 20 min on the internet to figure out the vacuum issues and isolate the problem to a leak in the hubs which I appreciate you confirming. I now have this forum bookmarked.

Thanks again.

 

no problem, i wish i knew of this forum when i bought my truck in 04. It would have saved me tons of money in the beginning

 

100% of shops do this, if not they couldnt stay open. And besides 90% of them have kids under 20 working there. Not saying ever 20 year old cant fix a car but alot dont know more then how to plug a tire