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OK, I have a basic knowledge of how the IWE works. I have mine apart now. My question is when it is in 4wd is the actuator half on the axle and half on the hub?
These are vacuum actuated. When the truck is running in 2WD, vacuum is applied through the little solenoid and the lockers are retracted fully. When you select 4x4 the vacuum is released and allows them to FULLY engage the locking ring on the axle shaft. If is is halfway engaging then the IWE is most likely bad and leaking vacuum allowing to partially engage the axle. 9/10 times the locker is bad, however we do see failures with the check valve and the solenoid. The reservoir tank can crack and leak as well but that is pretty rare. If it worked properly it is a decent design. It is designed to fail locked unlike the super duty so if there is vacuum loss or electrical failure you can still have 4 wheel drive.
I full understood how this worked when I first looked it up but not so much now. LOL. I understand the first part, actuator retracted is 2wd. When vacuum released actuator moves to hub, correct? If so how is the axel driving the hub? I know I must be missing something here.
When vacuum is released it moves to the hub yes, I had it backwards. So what you had originally said is partially true. It rides on the axle when in 2wd, once 4wd is selected it releases the vacuum and engages the ring gear on the hub. So essentially it meshes the 2 together. It does fully engage the gear on the hub it's just half the width of the gear on the actuator.
More problems. Put new actuators on today. Used my vacuum pump on them and they work as they are supposed to. Hook everything up, start it and there is no vacuum at the wheels. Pull vacuum hose of brake booster, 22lbs. Tried bypassing the solenoid so only thing is the lines running from source to the two wheels.Still nothing. I unhooked the line on one wheel and put my vacuum gauge on that line and it release the other side actuator. Any ideas? Thanks
Tapping in at the source off brake booster, nothing. I have also tried where it goes into the solenoid, nothing. When I pull the line off at wheel and use that is when it release the opposite side.
If you tested your iwes individually and they hold vac, work your way up stream. Could be a cracked line, bad check valve or solenoid. Could also be a cracked vac reservoir. People forget the 09 is the odd duck out with the reservoir by the battery. Mine rubbed a nasty gash in the bottom, but I used a piece of rubber to prevent any more damage.
Silly question but your transfer case is in 2WD eh? If in 4x4 you won’t have vacuum, which you know
Yes, is in 2wd. My 09 has the reservoir on the fan shroud. Wondering if there is a valve in those hard plastic lines that I can't see. But even then they work when hooking into them at the wheel.
There should only be one check valve somewhere by the solenoid if memory serves correct. It’s been probly a decade since I did that work on my truck lol
I don’t think there should be anything restricting in the lines. With the lines connected to the iwes you should be able to hold a vacuum on them. If you can’t there must be a crack in the line.
When I did my iwes I changed the vac lines too. Did that and the solenoid and check valve, I don’t remember there being anything else in the system beside the vac reservoir
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