I have been looking at the F250 build site and I have not seen anything related to manual locking hubs on the 4X4s. I have been looking at the Lariats. I know I have seen them on the past SDs. Are they not available on the 2017 or just not on the F250?
Or is this related to the auto high 4X4?
What have I missed?

 

Electric Shift on the Fly is standard on the Lariat. I didn't look too close at the hubs, but in the past the auto hubs did have a manual override in case the auto lockers failed. They've greatly improved the auto hubs over the decades though, I wouldn't hesitate to get ESOF as an option even on a work truck, and I'm pretty cheap about things.

 

Thanks Frantz. I have a 09 F150 with ESOF now. Just trying to figure out the SD. I also had a 1980 Bronco and had the hubs freeze unlocked.

 

Manual hubs is still standard on the XL and XLT for 2017. While I do believe the modern ESOF is better than ever, I still went with the manual hubs because I got to order it that way.

 

Plus one on the manual hubs ! I ordered them also. it's the last truck on the market with them , kind of cool.

 

Tried and true.... Failsafe. Cheers!

 

I like the concept of the fail-proof manual 4x4 system, and its what I have currently on my XLT. However, I hate having to get out to engage hubs when I need 4x4, and it bothers me a little to have to run with the hubs engaged all the time during the winter so I can have 4x4 on demand. I tend to use 4x4 a lot. On the truck I ordered, I went with ESOF.

 

That makes sense for sure. It was something I went back and forth on when I ordered.

 

The images presented in the B&P seem to have the traditional Manual/Automatic hubs which have been used for years. They have been, in the past, vacuum operated which requires a seal at the end of the axle housing and in the wheel bearing capable of maintaining a vacuum as well as at the axle hub itself. If these seals wear at all the vacuum will start to decrease and the ability to engage the hub depreciated. The manual over-ride is to me, a necessary feature. This operation under vacuum also seems to contribute a downside after extensive mileage. The hubs, if not exercised regularly will accumulate dirt around the o ring which seals them and become difficult if not impossible to turn. I try to remember to turn them a couple of times a month, but the road is paved with good intentions. I have not found a suitable lubricant. The second weak points are the seals at the wheel bearings and axle housing. I strongly recommend replacing the axle housing seal whenever servicing the front end components. The wheel bearing seal and the vacuum against it I feel contribute to the failure of the front wheel bearings which are modular in design. As the seal wears the vacuum can pull dust and dirt into the bearing. But even after all this being said I believe the axle configuration in these trucks is stout, reliable and ready to work. Understanding the components and realizing a planned maintenance interval is necessary should give users excellent service. Axle and hub maintenance comes in around 100-120K miles (axle u-joints are usually ready for replacement at this time) and the wheel bearings on my truck needing replacing at 190K miles. I replaced one and within two months the other side went.

I highly recommend the ESOF system. For an individual it is a matter of choice. One of the "stars" of the built Ford tough videos is from my area and has hundreds of 4wd Fords for his land clearing and power/gas line maintenance crews plus construction groups and their trucks are all ESOF. Their overall experience is reduced maintenance and repair and in general, better usage by employees who would routinely operate the vehicles with the hubs turned in on the highway (increasing fuel usage) or wait until they were already stuck before getting out to turn in the hubs. For the end user it is a matter of choice and convenience. On again off again here in the northeast snowbelt make the drivers seat command center my choice.

 

If they still use the vacuum type. I sure hope they redesigned them by now. My 04 f150 hubs are the vacuum type and it left me stranded one day because of this. Pulling my boat out of the water, my back tires were in the mud but my fronts were on dry land. I put it in 4x4 like usual to pull up and nothing. I could hear the transefer case kicking in but my hubs werent locking in. I finally got a signal to call someone to pull me out.
I found out that this is a common problem with these vacuum hubs. Hopefully theyve fixed the problem by now, but i would still feel better knowing i had m a manual back up.

 

Are you sure they did not have a manual over ride? Cross bar in the middle of the hub can be turned to manual. Just asking, I am not familiar with the F150 system.

 

Not that i know of. To be honest, i hope that it didnt because it would make me feel stupid if it did, and i didnt even think to check.

 

It has taken a little research but it appears the F-150's did not have a manual over-ride. I don't understand why Ford did not make it part of the system.

 

I dont know why either. From what i understand, the reason they went with this system is for fuel milage. While the truck is in 2wd, the vacuum disconnects the half shaft from the hubs so its not free spinning like they are on most other systems. When you switch it to 4x4, it cuts off the vacuum and causes the hubs to engage. Even when the truck is parked and shut off , the hubs are locked because there is no vacuum, then when you crank it up, the vacuum unlocks the hubs. This happens everytime you shut down and start your truck. When mine went out, with the truck off, i could grab and spin one shaft ( the bad one ) and the other side was locked like it should be.
I dont know how much milage you gain by not having your shafts free spinning while driving, but i cant be much. I would rather pay for the extra gas and have the old simple reliable system.

 

There is more mass than just the shafts. The front differential also turns when the shafts are being driven which can amount to 1-2 MPG.