Okay, I have an 04 F250 4x4 WITHOUT vacuum hubs (it has manual hubs and transfer case). My question is in regards to the seal installer tool (like the OTC 6695). OTC says the tool is for trucks with vacuum hubs. All the parts catalogs seem to list the same seals regardless of the hub type. So is the tool necessary for installation on all hubs or just the vacuum type?
I gotta do the ball joints soon and I want to be prepared when I take it apart. I don't mind buying/making the tool if I really need it, I just don't want to spend $60 on something that's gonna sit unused in my toolbox. On the other hand, I can't get one locally, so if I take it apart and find out I need it, I'm gonna have another day or two of downtime. Grrrrrrr..........

 

You can make a tool out of pipe that will work, that's what I did on my first one, I then bought the tool and it does work better as it sets the depth of the seal correctly, the home made one doesn't. The tool also does work on the NON ESOF hubs as well, there is no difference between the knuckle on either, they just plug the vacuum ports on the manual's. I bought mine on Amazon and had it in 2 days.