Over the weekend I decided to change the brake pads on my truck. The truck has 85K miles, and the routers had never been turned, so I decided that I should turn the routers. I removed the hubs and the spring clip that I thought was holding the routers on, but I never did get them off. Next time, I will just take it in and pay the money to have a professional do it.

Anyway, I finally gave up and decided to put everything back together. It didn't appear to me like the hubs went on in any special way. I popped them back on, put on the new pads and off I went.

As I was driving around, the 4HI and 4Low lights both started to flash on the dashboard. I got home, pulled off the drivers side wheel, and the hub fell off. I put it back on, and worked with it to make sure that it would stay on. I went for another drive. This time I decided to try to engage the 4WD. I engaged it, and disengaged it a couple of times. The second time it locked up my truck. I finally got it unlocked, and made it to the house.

Yesterday, I went to the dealer and bought a new hub. The dealer told me that he sells a lot of those, and that they go out all of the time. I replaced the driver’s side, the one that was causing the problems, and now everything is back to normal. The instructions say that if you remove the hub, you should always replace the O-ring to insure that the vacuum is sealed.

My question is: Should I replace the other hub or just the O-ring? I did remove it. It seems as if it’s on solid, but with 85K miles would it be best just to spend the money and buy another hub or just replace the O-ring? I'm nervous about pulling the hub back off just to replace the o-ring. I took it off once, and it seems to be doing okay, I'm afraid that if I pull it off again, then I'm just asking for problems.

BTW, my truck is a 1998 B4000.

What do the experts on this forum think?

Thanks.

Daryl Rose

 

i myself would replace the whole thing. i would not risk locking a tire. this is VERY dangerous, and can be hella inconveinent

Matt

 

If the PVH system is currently engaging and disengaging the front hubs properly, then IMO leave it alone. It means the vacuum seals and lines are all doing there job, as well as the rest of the 4x4 system (mechanical, electrical).

The front brake rotors just pull off, there is nothing holding them on, although it looks like they are attached to the hubs at first glance. A lot of people have had trouble with this and have unnecessarily tinkered with the hubs.

Next time you have an issue with the hubs, consider converting them to AVM manuals.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...94&postcount=3

The AVM manual hubs are a better alternative than buying expensive new PVH hubs from Ford (which are of the same original design and hence still prone to failure).

 

I have auto hubs ,how do you mount these hubs, Do you no longer have to switch them on,or do you just engauge the by just turning them by hand. sorry never had manual hubs before. By the way did not mean to hijack this forum spot.

 

Fordboy_52 and Rockledge,

I've been pondering both of your points. And as I've been thinking about this issue, I recall something from the hub installation sheet. In very big bold letters, there is a note that say's 'If you remove the hub, you must replace the O-ring with a new one to insure the vacuum is sealed'.

So my thoughts are; was the hub really okay, but just the o-ring was worn? Perhaps I didn't really need to spend the $150 on the hub, but just $.50 on a new o-ring? Perhaps I should buy a few of those o-rings and keep them on hand. I really don't see how the hub itself was bad, there isn't much to it.

Pinz,

Don't worry about hijacking this thread; I was wondering the same thing myself. If I was to replace the auto hubs with manual hubs, how does that work? I know some guys have told me with their trucks, they just lock in the hubs, keep them locked in until they need them. I sure like having 4Hi on the fly. Would I still be able to do that? Would I keep the same switch that I have on the dash board? What happens to the vacuum system? Does that get removed?

And finally, Fordboy_52, seeing how you're a K-State fan, I am looking forward to Oct. 14th myself. I bleed Husker Red.

Thanks all.

Daryl

 

sorry to hear that.....

 

Issues with O-rings and such are fairly common, actually, and precisely the type of problem that the AVM manual hubs were designed to eradicate. Leaky O-rings, leaks in the vaccum lines, leaks at the solenoid, etc. are all similar cuplrits. So I guess the answer to your question is "yes" it could be just the O-ring.

The AVM manual hubs are easy to install. You don't remove the entire PVH hub/bearing assembly, you more or less just pop open the "cover" and insert the AVM replacement units. I went ahead an scanned in the installation instructions, since it seems to be a common question (I have a set on my shelf ready to go in at the first sign of PVH trouble).

AVM 470 MANUAL HUB INTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

The manual hubs allow you to connect and disconnect the wheel ends to the rest of the front driveline. You do this by getting out of the truck and manually engaging/disengaging the front hubs with your hands. But you still need to use the switch on the dash because that's what tells the transfer case to engage the front driveshaft and differential in 4WD mode.

If you switch the transfer case but fail to manually engage the front hubs, then the front driveline will spin but you will not have 4WD.

See also: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...ork-great.html

You can and should plug the vacuum lines at the hubs after installing the AVM hubs.

 

Hey you guys are the best ,thanks for the info, i just did not want to appear totally stupid.