4WD not engaging
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 344
Likes: 8
From: Kennedy, NY 14747
So are you saying these hubs somehow stay locked after you manually unlock them?
Or is this when you turn off the 4x4 from the switch side, and leave the hubs locked?
I'm following along here and learning how this system works.
Good info.
Thanks,
Joe
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,304
Likes: 28
From: Salem, VA
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
The way the mechanism inside works, they can stay locked either way. The manual part of locking them just does what the vacuum normally does and pushes the parts together. They still rely on spring pressure to unlock.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
^^I'm with Jon.^^
I like my ESOF, so I take care of it and keep up with the hoses, vacuum connectors and parts. You have to test it monthly, or you may find yourself in a position some posters above have. I recently found the vacuum connector from the hard line under the engine to the driver's side hose had worn through. Replaced it for less than a $1 and back in business again. Take care of those auto hubs, and they won't freeze up on you, either. Mine haven't yet, and I rarely use my 4x4. I will be using it a lot in the future now that I bought my retirement place in the boonies.
I like my ESOF, so I take care of it and keep up with the hoses, vacuum connectors and parts. You have to test it monthly, or you may find yourself in a position some posters above have. I recently found the vacuum connector from the hard line under the engine to the driver's side hose had worn through. Replaced it for less than a $1 and back in business again. Take care of those auto hubs, and they won't freeze up on you, either. Mine haven't yet, and I rarely use my 4x4. I will be using it a lot in the future now that I bought my retirement place in the boonies.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Stewart
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8,304
Likes: 28
From: Salem, VA
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 344
Likes: 8
From: Kennedy, NY 14747
So it's possible a hub can remained locked even when you manually disconnect it?
I have been using manual hubs for decades and never saw that.
I think that's why I'm confused here.
Do the springs break or loose tension?
I have used my system manually the last 2 winters.the hubs were very hard to turn at first. But have loosened with use.
I never even tried the auto function.
Thanks,
Joe
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
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
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
ESOF was great right up until it wasnt. Regular Warn or mile marker manual hubs are a bit different internally, but are metal with large flat springs, but with the Ford ESOF hubs, it is plastic parts inside with a different weaker spring, and they can bind up. Be it dirt, bad hub seals letting stuff in, weak spring, hardened lube, wear or whatever causes it. There is a thread in the stickies about cleaning your hubs out which involves disassembling them. I did that several times and they still would not reliably unlock. Even using them manually. I exercise my 4wd monthly. Usually first work day of the month. (PM's are an unfortunate side effect of an aircraft maintenance career, lol) I would always get out and check after work and found them locked too many times. Was able to recreate it using them manually, which still applies the vacuum pulses when you use the dash switch, and gave up on them partly due to the cost of replacing them. The mile markers haven't failed yet and don't require vac lines or seals to work so I was able to eliminate the lines and cap off under the hood.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 344
Likes: 8
From: Kennedy, NY 14747
ESOF was great right up until it wasnt. Regular Warn or mile marker manual hubs are a bit different internally, but are metal with large flat springs, but with the Ford ESOF hubs, it is plastic parts inside with a different weaker spring, and they can bind up. Be it dirt, bad hub seals letting stuff in, weak spring, hardened lube, wear or whatever causes it. There is a thread in the stickies about cleaning your hubs out which involves disassembling them. I did that several times and they still would not reliably unlock. Even using them manually. I exercise my 4wd monthly. Usually first work day of the month. (PM's are an unfortunate side effect of an aircraft maintenance career, lol) I would always get out and check after work and found them locked too many times. Was able to recreate it using them manually, which still applies the vacuum pulses when you use the dash switch, and gave up on them partly due to the cost of replacing them. The mile markers haven't failed yet and don't require vac lines or seals to work so I was able to eliminate the lines and cap off under the hood.
Thanks, that's helping me understand.
I will look into that hub cleaning thread to better understand the differences between the normal manual hub and the type we have.
I figured a cleaning/servicing of the hubs was in the near future.
Now you have me wondering if I should just upgrade and be done with it.
I appreciate you taking the time to educate me.
Thanks,
joe
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
The convenience of ESOF is undeniable, that is for sure. I would clean them out per guzzles thread and maybe one of the YouTube videos that covers it. Then see how they work for you. It is an easy procedure and doesn't take long. If they work reliably, no reason to lose them. If you want an increase in reliability and your ESOF hubs don't work properly, then it makes sense to swap for manual hubs.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
The convenience of auto hubs is great when they work but even then they are a good bit more fragile then manual aftermarket hubs due to being made out of plastic and not metal.
A common way to break the stock hub is being stuck in snow or ice and spinning a tire. if the wheel grabs sudden traction the hub will explode.
A common way to break the stock hub is being stuck in snow or ice and spinning a tire. if the wheel grabs sudden traction the hub will explode.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 344
Likes: 8
From: Kennedy, NY 14747
05MilMachine
I'm not crazy about any of this auto-magic locking systems. I have seen to many problems and they always happen when you need 4wd.
Give me manual shift transfer-cases and good locking hubs. They work when you need them.
Pirates point about these hubs coming apart under load because of plastic parts is a good one. Especially on such a heavy truck with heavy tires and wheels.
I have seen good hubs break when off-roading.
Thanks for the info!
joe
I'm not crazy about any of this auto-magic locking systems. I have seen to many problems and they always happen when you need 4wd.
Give me manual shift transfer-cases and good locking hubs. They work when you need them.
Pirates point about these hubs coming apart under load because of plastic parts is a good one. Especially on such a heavy truck with heavy tires and wheels.
I have seen good hubs break when off-roading.
Thanks for the info!
joe
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 23
The convenience of auto hubs is great when they work but even then they are a good bit more fragile then manual aftermarket hubs due to being made out of plastic and not metal.
A common way to break the stock hub is being stuck in snow or ice and spinning a tire. if the wheel grabs sudden traction the hub will explode.
A common way to break the stock hub is being stuck in snow or ice and spinning a tire. if the wheel grabs sudden traction the hub will explode.
In the spirit of the discusion, I assume the aftermarket hubs will not stay locked once they are unlocked?? If so, is it the spring size or just crap versus quality?
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
I believe it to be the overall design. The automatic stuff in the ESOF hub is what I believe hung mine up. Obviously the aftermarket manual hubs have none of that in the mix. The plastic plate at the bottom next to the diaphragm if I had to guess what exactly was causing my issues.