autohubs worthless unless moving
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 186
From: Frederick, CO
I *think* mine needs some motion. Not a couple of feet. More like a couple of inches. But, if I'm completely stopped and then go into 4H (the gear, not the farm animal club), I need to start before it fully clicks into place, but it's nearly instantaneous. I *think* the same is true of disengagement. However, I'm going from my oft-faulty memory.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 449
Likes: 40
Regularly exercising the 4wd system is a good way to keep it working and find problems when it's not going to be an issue. Hub seals failing and not being able to have enough vacuum to engage the hubs is not an new or or uncommon. For myself I test the 4wd before I need it to make sure it works and at times turn the hubs to lock just to make sure (extreme cold or off road driving that could snag a vacuum line). I have had vehicle s get stuck and it's no fun digging them out, even on the beach on a nice day.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 175
Likes: 6
From: Chicago Suburbs
Unless you know for sure that your auto-hubs are working in a less stressful situation, I would still look through your vacuum lines. My 2017 had this happen at the most inopportune time as well. Thankfully we have the manual option or I would have been stuck in the sand in the middle of nowhere Utah. Turned out that the vacuum line had just fallen off the nipple on the hub. Pushed it back on and never had another problem.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 142
Likes: 14
Vacuum hubs are a great thing when they work, and less of a great thing when they dont because you still can manually engage them just like most trucks before the 2000s. Me personally use my 4wd often so that keeps everything moving and hopefully would find out early enough if the vacuum wasnt working so then I could engage them manually. If I need 4wd for extended periods of time I will lock them in manually anyway so that there isn't a chance they can unlock at an inopportune time. I still would take this design over the Ram design because on a Ram there are no locking hubs, the axle is fixed to the hub and turns all of the time, which inevitably eats more fuel albeit not a huge difference, wears out front end parts, tires, and joints. Obviously its one less thing to fail though on a Ram so take that with a grain of salt. When in doubt, lock them out
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,823
From: Wyoming
The hubs on my 2017 are working well. They get exercised a few times a year. Whenever I hook up to my trailer in the storage lot, I switch to 4lo, just to give the system something to do. It's a dirt lot so there's minimal stress on the drivetrain.
To Don's point about locking the hubs ahead of time, I should start doing that during hunting season. Some years, it's not a matter of if I'll need 4x4, but how many times a day.
To Don's point about locking the hubs ahead of time, I should start doing that during hunting season. Some years, it's not a matter of if I'll need 4x4, but how many times a day.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 227
Likes: 95
From: Southcentral Alaska
2017 F350 - I had the vacuum system repaired under warranty at about 20,000 miles - the hoses were fine but a seal in the hub was leaking pressure. Discovered much as the OP did, but on relatively flat but soft ground while towing. Can happen. No problems so far on this F250.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 984
Likes: 8
I *think* mine needs some motion. Not a couple of feet. More like a couple of inches. But, if I'm completely stopped and then go into 4H (the gear, not the farm animal club), I need to start before it fully clicks into place, but it's nearly instantaneous. I *think* the same is true of disengagement. However, I'm going from my oft-faulty memory.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 370
Likes: 87
This true. Without the front wheels rolling the hubs may not engage in the splines, one would typically get a pull forward message on the dash. If you get stuck in 2wd, you're better off getting out and manually engaging the hubs or better yet have them locked ahead of time. The auto system works ok with some forethought of shifting into 4 wheel drive before you need the additional traction, if the system is functioning correctly of course.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,155
Likes: 7,989
From: Texas
This true. Without the front wheels rolling the hubs may not engage in the splines, one would typically get a pull forward message on the dash. If you get stuck in 2wd, you're better off getting out and manually engaging the hubs or better yet have them locked ahead of time. The auto system works ok with some forethought of shifting into 4 wheel drive before you need the additional traction, if the system is functioning correctly of course.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 309
[QUOTE=harmanrk;19834918]1, If we are going to nitpick your and you're, lets all point our that there has not been a Dodge truck made since 2009! It's RAM now, even says it in two foot letters on the tailgate.
@Harmanrk Did it ever, for a moment, dawn on you that the vehicle that pulled me out was pre RAM? As I sad, it was a Dodge, not a RAM. If we're nit picking and all.
@Harmanrk Did it ever, for a moment, dawn on you that the vehicle that pulled me out was pre RAM? As I sad, it was a Dodge, not a RAM. If we're nit picking and all.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 309
thanks everyone for the great insight. Sounds like others have had similar experience with their auto hubs. I'll take it into the dealership for a check up. Definitely going to lock the hubs next time I am out on the back roads where I know I'll need 4wd.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 475
Likes: 65
Don't forget to manually lock and unlock them from time to time. It's a PITA for me to do, because I have to pull off my center cap each time...but after seeing it happen to my buddies 2017, I didn't want to end up in a similar predicament.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 684
Likes: 84
From: Green Bay Wi
One of the downsides to Fords 4wd system is you need to be moving for it to engage. My 2020 seems to work way better than my 16 did. You die hard ford guys can say what you want. But the 4wd on the dodges that I had worked better than the Fords I have had.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,155
Likes: 7,989
From: Texas
Sorry, I have had both also; but haven’t had any trouble with either system. But, for the most part I could very easily get by with a 2WD also any more. If one actually READS all of the posts in this thread, one will see that the Ford does not need to be moving to engage.