Should it be possible to turn the axle shafts with the engine off, the 4x4 on 2WD and the hubs on "Auto"?
I'd really like to check the U-Joints before I take the truck to the dealership.
I don't have a sufficient jack though and so I will have to leave the weels on the ground...

I'll give the OEM hubs another chance, allthough the Milemarker or Warn hubs undoubtedly would be much cheaper and most likely more reliable. Only I'd like to have the Autolock Option working.
I hate to have a button on the dash that doesn't do what it's supposed to do

 

To see if the hubs are locked/unlocked, just reach up and spin the u-joints at each wheel. If they are locked, they won't spin. If 'stuck' locked, try manually locking and unlocking them and even give the edge of the hub a few taps - this will often unlock them. If so do the 'maintenance' in the link below.

Check out this procedure - you can do this on the kitchen table (as long as the Mrs is gone anyway! ):
Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page

Personally, I LIKE the autohub feature. Mine worked without the above maintenance for over 300k miles. With regular use and occasional maintenance, these hubs are reliable - despite what some people say. If you are mud-bogging with huge tires or sled-pulling or something like that - they can be broken, but those guys break aftermarket hubs too...

Even if they don't auto-lock, they can be manually locked anytime ya need them. I typically use 4wd for 10ft at a time. I live in the mountains and we have plenty of slippery clay and slick grass - combine that with a grade and you'll need 4wd to get back on the pavement. Also, its very rural where I live and many people have steep, gravel driveways. I can either take a running charge at the hill and tear up the driveway - or simply put it in 4wd. Since I may drive 100's of miles before using it again, I don't wanna leave the hubs locked and its a PITA to lock/unlock for such short uses.

If someone has autohubs they aren't using or don't work - I'd love to have them.

 

And that's what I found out:

Both joints turn easily.

Actuall very easy...

Turning the shafts produces the "clunking" sound (either side does that)

Now the best part: Apparently there's no axle-shaft inside the housing on the right side!
Unfortunately I'm not joking...

The U-Joint on the right side moves in all directions (literally all directions: up, down, left, right, inward, outward...).
So I took a flashlight to take a closer look and to my surprise I found out that there's nothing behind the U-Joint - actually nothing but the empty space inside the housing where the shaft should be...

Since I "saw" the wheel on the left side getting some traction, I assume that I must have been hallucinating...

In order to make it all more interesting, the battery turned out to be dead. It's a brand new battery and the truck has been sitting for less than a week. But that's just the icing on the cake.

Well, I'm already looking forward to supporting Ford with a donation of several thousands for approx. 90+% of the entire front axle, maybe the differential, hubs and of course labor.

 

We'll need a picture of this...

Worst case scenario - around here, you can get an entire front axle, hub-to-hub for $400.

PARTING OUT F250 F350 EXCURSION TRUCKS

 

Didn't you just get that EX????????
I would visit the one sold it to me in the first place,before pulling out cash.

 

I know it's quite emberassing, but it used to be my job to test and evaluate cars and trucks...

Somehow I really suck at it when it comes to buy vehicles for myself.

If I like a car or truck, I appear to disregard everything I know and just reach for my wallet. I might know better, yet I don't care.
I just need to have it.

So I've expected the truck to have some issues anyway. It was the second-cheapest lifted Excursion I could find on CL. The cheapest was a total wreck (apparently a flood damage and with three different tires without any thread left on it)
The truck I bought has a clear Carfax report and lots of add-ons and new parts. I consider the deal to be ok, even though I'll have to pump in some extra money.

I'll have to work on my vehicle-shopping habits though...

 

The **** on the dash will still engage the xfer case, just not the hubs if u swap them out. My passenger side was frozen but still worked. I swapped mine out for some MM stainless hubs summit had on sale. I do have to get out and lock them, but the peace of mind that my hubs will function properly is worth it.

 

Apparently the hubs aren't the problem anyway. As mentioned earlier, the right axle shaft appeared missing. Turns out it's broken off behind the U-joint. Obviously there was no traction possible.

I'll have the shaft right replaced and both sides resealed. I hope that's going to be it for now and the 4x4 will work again.

 

Ouch hope all works out

 

Me too...

Currently the estimate is $1,200 including parts and labor.

I'm mentally prepared for up to 2 G including a complete 120,000mls tune-up and straightening out some minor issues.

If it becomes more expensive, the Holiday budget will suffer...

 

I hear you but a good running x is worth the peace of mind...once it's fixed shouldn't be a worried for a long time

 

That's what I'm hoping for. The truck is otherwise in real good condition and some previous owner has put a lot of effort and money into it.
I searched for months before I found this omne and loved it immediately. So I'm planning on keeping it for many years and don't mind some investments into the reliability.

 

We looked long and hard and found ours..was an 05 limited with 90k miles from Carlsbad can...got the lift and no dirt was found inside the spring perches....lol soccer mom rig all highway miles...woot hehe and 've "used" he 4x4 and was very impressed....we live in north Idaho were you have to be able to trust your vehicle's

 

Great catch! Congratulations!

Mine has definitely seen some offroad action before, hence the broken axle shaft...

But the body is flawless, the interior almost too and like I said, a previous owner really put a lot of money into it. This truck was somebodys pride and joy and it deserves a good home for the years to come.

My wife and I need it only for road-trips and some offroading (which actually means dirtroads, maybe some washaouts here and there, but nothing severe - no rock crawling or so).

We have two other cars and work from home. So no commuting, just grocery shopping or going out every now and then. For those things we use the other cars. The Ex will be used just for faun.
That's why the gas mileage doesn't bother me.
When we go on our road trips, we need space, all the gadgets (and the 4x4). Also my wife wanted the biggest truck we could get.
The Excursion provides all that.

 

Does anyone have a ESOF hub they would sell? I need one, my left one has a ruptured diaphram, otherwise all other parts are good. Anyone?