Hi everyone. I found these forums a last month or so and have gathered so much great info from you guys, but I have a couple of questions I searched for but couldn't find the answer too.

My Dad has a 99 F-350 Super Duty with the 7.3 Powerstroke. Last year the auto hubs and motor went out on the 4wd system and he had them replaced with some manual Warn hubs. Unfortunately he was thinking about the money he was saving and didn't think about his health. He's not really able to get in and out of the truck anymore to lock/unlock the hubs. It's no big deal if I'm with him or one of his friends is with him, but he likes to roam around in areas where he will need the 4x4, especially when hunting season rolls around, and I want to get this fixed for him before he gets stuck and no ones around to help him out.

So I've seen several topics on here about going from auto hubs to manual, but is it just as easy to go back? I mean I glanced over a couple of those threads and I would be comfortable reversing the instructions if that's all there is to it. Would I need any additional parts other than the motor and possibly the hoses (I'd imagine if they're rubber they're probably pretty close to dry rotted)?

My other question has to do with his power mirrors mainly the drivers side. They "skip" when he hits the switch. Like you can hear it trying to turn the mirror but something is slipping inside and it just stutters after a certain point. They move in all directions a little bit, but up and down are limited. Does anyone have any ideas?

Again thanks for all of the help you've given me in the past. This truck is rocking around now with 292,xxx miles. Unfortunately it's starting to show it's age a little and that's why I'm here. So far this site has helped me fix his door locks and overhead console and answered many other little nagging questions I've had. It even set me on the right path toward fixing a vibration that was coming from the front. I was checking some of the suspension pieces when I noticed that one of the braces on the bumper had rusted and was rattling against the bumper when he went over a bump. Guess that's my next quick fix.

 

Only thought I have is with the mirror.

If it starts skipping when you are moving it outward manually push the mirror inward a little bit and try again. Sometimes they get bumped and are limited in travel. Chances are at this point it will move considerably further in the opposite direction.

 

That's a good idea, I'll have to try that the next time I get a chance.

 

What made the auto-hubs go out in the first place? That will tell you how hard it will be to switch back.

 

Switching back to auto hubs will require two things. One, getting a set of auto hubs. Unless you still have the originals. And two, figuring out what was wrong with them to begin with.

Before going to all that, though, I would make one suggestion. It doesn't hurt anything to drive with the hubs locked. Have your Dad lock the hubs before he gets in to go roaming around, and leave them there until he gets back. It won't hurt a thing. My hubs have been locked since September.

 

I'm not sure, I wasn't with him at the time. All I know is he said the truck wouldn't go into 4wd and he took it to the mechanic and he told dad the hub's needed replacing and there was something wrong with the motor connected to the switch as well and he just told the mechanic not to worry with replacing the motor that he could switch them if he needed too. I think it was the seals in the hubs though, but again I'm not sure. I do know he told Dad that it would be a quick change if he did want to add the auto back, so I'm thinking it was just the motor that needs to be added but I have no experience with this system to know for sure.

 

That may be a better idea yet.