Warn hubs
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville
Warn hubs
Hey guys. I jus trot done replacing my inner seals in the front differential and outer seals around the axles. I replace the OEM locking hubs with WARN hubs. I have read that vacuum hose going to the hubs needs to be blocked. My question is why? Is this the case for the EX? Everything seems to be working properly the way it is now which is the factory setup except for the new hubs. Can anybody elaborate on this for so I can understand it better.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Fraser Valley
I believe the reason is to stop the vacuum leak when you engage 4wd. Because other aspects of your truck use vacuum once the 4wd tries to engage it will have an open end and not be able to build any vacuum pressure thus rendering your heater controls useless. I'm not sure what else is run off of vacuum.
Plug them off. It's simple easy and saves a headache. I believe you can also remove the lines at/close to the vacuum pump to.eliminate the possibility of chafing or cuts causing a leak.
Plug them off. It's simple easy and saves a headache. I believe you can also remove the lines at/close to the vacuum pump to.eliminate the possibility of chafing or cuts causing a leak.
you can't fix stupid!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,906
Likes: 2
yes they change the operation as they do not work with vacuum.....they are manually turned.....so if you dont block off the vacuum line then you will only have defrost in 4wd.....the warns engage like the factory hubs on the spindle but the operation of them is different.....
you can't fix stupid!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,906
Likes: 2
stick a bolt in the back side of the knuckle to keep debris out....and buy some vacuum plugs and plug it at the joint where the 4x4 vacuum lines meet the main lines up near the top of the shock.....also it will help to un plug your vacuum solenoid valve by the vacuum pump up in the passenger side inner fender.....
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Olympia, WA
When I put Warns on mine I left the vacuum lines hooked up. If I remember right, I traced the lines back and unplugged the pump. No problems and that was about 5 years ago. I didn't notice any changes to the HVAC like some have said would happen. Anyone know for sure what runs off of manifold vacuum and what runs off the pump on the gas rigs?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
The stock hubs do the same thing as the Warns plus more which is why I don't see a need to go to Warn or Mile Marker hubs. You put all those nice new seals in there which affect the in-dash remote vacuum operation and then you eliminated it with aftermarket hubs. If your stock dial doesn't turn (too late now) that can be fixed also. I think a lot of people just like to spend money on the trucks in here.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville
Well my passenger hub was bad. The dial was the free mode but my axle was still turning. I pulled the hub off and spun the wheel and the axle was not turning. I put the hub back on and axle started turning again. I was told that the hubs could not be repaired and that I needed new ones. Can the OEM hubs be repaired? I still don't quite understand why the OEM hubs required vacuum lines and the new ones do not.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 509
Likes: 8
From: Tucson area
The orignal hubs worked when you enagaged 4wd for electronic shift on the fly operations, which when they work, does work well. However I tended to get out and lock them manaully during off road operations or in snowy conditions in case of vacum loss or hub vacum operation failure.
When I broke an OE hub I went with Warn hubs as well, no regrets. I put caps on the place where the line went into the hub and plugs in the lines and then zip tied the line out of the way. When you engage the 4wd, even with manual hubs now it still sends vacum to thru those hoses; better to plug em off and not get any debris in the vacum system or the port on the knuckle.
-Mark
When I broke an OE hub I went with Warn hubs as well, no regrets. I put caps on the place where the line went into the hub and plugs in the lines and then zip tied the line out of the way. When you engage the 4wd, even with manual hubs now it still sends vacum to thru those hoses; better to plug em off and not get any debris in the vacum system or the port on the knuckle.
-Mark
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville
Thank you for the clarification. I thought this is the way the OEM hubs worked but other people, including people that work in garages told me that was not the case. We have only owned almost two years now an last winter was mild so I never used it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
There are hundreds of used good hubs out there from being replaced with Warns.......too late now though. You say "we" so I assume you are married and women don't like getting out to turn hub dials. You can sell your Warn hubs pretty easily. Did I mention I don't like them? LOL
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post