Front drive shaft locked
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From: Big Sky Country Montana
Front drive shaft locked
Hi all, I have a question about the front drive shaft. I've got an '05 Screw 4x4 XLT w/5.4, 3.73 (LS). I was checking out the under side of the truck yesterday and noticed a little bit of oil on the right (passenger) side of the front axle, right where the axle emerges from the housing and bolts to what looks like a harmonic balance. Not much, just a bit of oil to coat the metal, no drips. But my main question here is: I grabbed hold of the front drive shaft and tried to spin it, and it was locked, turns about an inch or two back and forth. You can see the front axles turn on both sides by the tires. I thought that the front end only locked when placed in 4x4 status, locking in the transfer case and either the hubs or differential?. I'm assuming that I am turning everything as I go down the road. Truck was parked in a level garage, in park, and 4x4 hasn't been used since I engaged to test before purchasing a couple of months ago. Anybody know the real story?? I called my ford dealer and they were going to check into it and call me back- about 3 hrs. ago. Thanks for any info.
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Sorry about the leak, but the axle being locked is normal. If you would have had the front up on jack stands, the wheels would have turned. The default position for the front hubs with the engine off is locked. With the engine on, vacuum is sent to the hub (for lack of a better way of saying it) and the hubs are unlocked until you switch to 4x4. With engine off, no vacuum.
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From: Big Sky Country Montana
Thanks for the info Kingfish51. I'll have to try and spin the drive shaft while the truck is idling. I just didn't want everything spinning constantly causing undo wear and making gas any more expensive than it already is.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Murphysboro, IL
So it's vacuum tha causes the hubs to unlock?
The only reason I ask is because what happens if the hose to the hubs busts, does that mean the hubs are engaged and you can still have 4wd?
A buddy's wife's KIA Sportage had a busted vacuum line on the same day we had the worst snowstorm in years around here. They found out when the thign wouldn't go into four wheel drive, of course I had just got my 04 in July and this was in December so I just had to say "Shoudla bought a Ford!"
The only reason I ask is because what happens if the hose to the hubs busts, does that mean the hubs are engaged and you can still have 4wd?
A buddy's wife's KIA Sportage had a busted vacuum line on the same day we had the worst snowstorm in years around here. They found out when the thign wouldn't go into four wheel drive, of course I had just got my 04 in July and this was in December so I just had to say "Shoudla bought a Ford!"
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Murphysboro, IL
That makes sense to me, if the line breaks in the down and dirty at least you can still get out of the down and dirty.
My buddy was ticked when he foudn out his wife's KIA's vacuum line was broke and the 4wd woudln't work. It took about a week to get the new line in.
That thing was about worthless in 2wd on dry pavement anyway, it was even worse in 2wd in a foot of snow.
His Honda Civic wasn't much better either. But like a good freind and a best man I went to town with the tractor and cleared his driveway.
My buddy was ticked when he foudn out his wife's KIA's vacuum line was broke and the 4wd woudln't work. It took about a week to get the new line in.
That thing was about worthless in 2wd on dry pavement anyway, it was even worse in 2wd in a foot of snow.
His Honda Civic wasn't much better either. But like a good freind and a best man I went to town with the tractor and cleared his driveway.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: P.G. VA
hey guys there have been numerous posts on this topic and you are all basically correct. When you speak of hubs being locked or unlocked that does not apply to these trucks. There are no hubs! the front axles are attached to the wheels by a splined shaft just like a cv axle on a front wheel drive car. All the locking and unlocking takes place in the differential. If your front wheels are turing (on the road, on a lift, engine running or off) the front axle shafts are going to turn!
yes the engagement is done by vacuum. I myself had the "old school" hub idea in mind until I removed the wheel to add a leveling kit.
as far as the ? about a vacuum leak while driving I can't answer that but I would rather have 4wd when I didn't need it as opposed to not when I did need it.
Hope this helps a tiny bit
yes the engagement is done by vacuum. I myself had the "old school" hub idea in mind until I removed the wheel to add a leveling kit.
as far as the ? about a vacuum leak while driving I can't answer that but I would rather have 4wd when I didn't need it as opposed to not when I did need it.
Hope this helps a tiny bit
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Originally Posted by gpeade
hey guys there have been numerous posts on this topic and you are all basically correct. When you speak of hubs being locked or unlocked that does not apply to these trucks. There are no hubs! the front axles are attached to the wheels by a splined shaft just like a cv axle on a front wheel drive car. All the locking and unlocking takes place in the differential. If your front wheels are turing (on the road, on a lift, engine running or off) the front axle shafts are going to turn!
yes the engagement is done by vacuum. I myself had the "old school" hub idea in mind until I removed the wheel to add a leveling kit.
as far as the ? about a vacuum leak while driving I can't answer that but I would rather have 4wd when I didn't need it as opposed to not when I did need it.
Hope this helps a tiny bit
yes the engagement is done by vacuum. I myself had the "old school" hub idea in mind until I removed the wheel to add a leveling kit.
as far as the ? about a vacuum leak while driving I can't answer that but I would rather have 4wd when I didn't need it as opposed to not when I did need it.
Hope this helps a tiny bit
See the posts by Racerguy in this message.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...&highlight=hub
Edit - Also here is the press release about the Warn IWE being used in the F150.
http://www.warn.com/corporate/press_...E_05F150.shtml
Last edited by kingfish51; Aug 9, 2005 at 08:14 AM.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: P.G. VA
kingfish, You are gonna have to educate me on this! there are no hubs on my truck. The axle shaft goes straight through with a nut on the outside, no locking mechanism at all, I looked for it when I installed the lift. Also there are no wires or vacuum lines there to activate a hub either. One of us is incorrect and if it's me than please explain this to me.I read racerguy's post and the warn article, but i am confused about the article, Is this manufactured on the truck or have they worked with ford to design this part for aftermarket application for poeple that want to save gas. That's kinda of how I read it. It didn't seem clear on that part to me.
Don't take this wrong I am not trying to correct you I just want to understand this completely for myself.
Don't take this wrong I am not trying to correct you I just want to understand this completely for myself.
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From: Big Sky Country Montana
Well, started the truck and crawled underneath while it was running and everything spins freely. Good to hear about when no vaccuum, you do have 4 wheel drive. Thanks for the info again.
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Originally Posted by gpeade
kingfish, You are gonna have to educate me on this! there are no hubs on my truck. The axle shaft goes straight through with a nut on the outside, no locking mechanism at all, I looked for it when I installed the lift. Also there are no wires or vacuum lines there to activate a hub either. One of us is incorrect and if it's me than please explain this to me.I read racerguy's post and the warn article, but i am confused about the article, Is this manufactured on the truck or have they worked with ford to design this part for aftermarket application for poeple that want to save gas. That's kinda of how I read it. It didn't seem clear on that part to me.
Don't take this wrong I am not trying to correct you I just want to understand this completely for myself.
Don't take this wrong I am not trying to correct you I just want to understand this completely for myself.
Last edited by kingfish51; Aug 9, 2005 at 09:27 AM.
Junior User
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From: Saxton, PA
Hmmm, if one axle was locked and not the other side could that hurt gas mileage? I'm still getting 12mpgcity 14mpg highway (no lead foot) and can't figure it out. I wonder how you would tell if just one was locked... it really wouldnt add traction because the characterisitics of the front differential would allow it to not spin being the other side isnt locked in... hmmmmm There is a TSB on this....
Last edited by jwyles; Aug 9, 2005 at 05:47 PM. Reason: update
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Originally Posted by jwyles
Hmmm, if one axle was locked and not the other side could that hurt gas mileage? I'm still getting 12mpgcity 14mpg highway (no lead foot) and can't figure it out. I wonder how you would tell if just one was locked... it really wouldnt add traction because the characterisitics of the front differential would allow it to not spin being the other side isnt locked in... hmmmmm There is a TSB on this....
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From: Saxton, PA
Originally Posted by kingfish51
Only thing I could suggest is put the front up on jack stands, start the engine, and see if the wheels turn freely.