I was told by the dealer today that my front hubs will not lock/unlock manually. They gave me a price of 630 bucks for new ones installed. I figured it can wait for now and I will investigate it first anyway. So i tested my auto 4 wheel ESOF and it works fine from within the cab. So just the manual lock/unloak seems to be stuck on both sides. If I read the post here right that means i DO NOT have a vaccuum leak right? So can the hubs just be removed and cleaned/lubed to work again? or do I need new ones.. Hate to waste money on it if I dont have to... Jeff

 

Try this http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/allube.html

If your ESOF works you don't have a vacuum leak but a good cleaning is probably in order.

 

See Guzzle's Maintenance Pages:

http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/allube.html

for a thorough wrote-up.

Pop

 

I had to replace one of my locking hubs because I bent the locking hub when it fell off the jack when chanaging the tire long story but the stealership charage me 297.95 without tax it took me two minutes to put the part on!

 

So does anyone have any idea on Which direction i should take here? Should I buy new hubs? or clean the ones i got and hopefully they will clean up nice and work fine. HAs anyone had this situation before? like I said the auto ESOF works fine its just the manual lock/unlock on the hub itself that does not turn. thanks Jeff

 

I assume that you tried to rotate your hubs from AUTO to LOCK and they do not move? Correct?

If so, it is a 60 second procedure to remove the hubs and check them out. The hub is the only device on the front assembly that will manually lock the hub into 4x4. Unless your dying to give the dealership $600, it sure would be worth it to me to try and get them turning free. Take them apart, soak the dial and housing and once free, turn from auto to lock once a month to keep them from seizing up again.

 

Thanks guzzle, So would you go witht he rebuild kit that you show on your web page? Also would you recommend to take them apart like you describe in you maint page and clen them that way, Or just soak the entire thing. Im just not sure about how involved it would become. Also if i had to buy new ones are there any better ones that work than ford brand? and do they come already pre assembled to just slip in. Thanks for the advice, Also I used your instructions on installing my vavle body and it went like clockwork.. thanks Jeff

 

One More question, I was just looking at the Warn hubs and will they replace the ford hubs? I thought i read someplace that the ESOF stops working after warn hubs are installed etc. Thanks jeff

 

Ok here is my last ? I have been reading here about replacing these with Warn hubs. I have no problem with getting out to engage theem or disengage them. I had it that way on all my other trucks anyway. I just dont really understand how it works.. If I put on the warns how does it engage after i turn them to lock. Do i still need to switch the ESOF to 4x4 high/low etc? and how do i disconnect the vaccuum line if needed. Im just not sure how the 4 wheel engages after the warns are installed if ESOF dosent work anymore. The switch, does that still control the engage part of the 4 wheel high/low etc. and how does it disengage again ... thanks Jeff (im still reading up on all this too)

 

I like the convenience of the ESOF and I don't do any real serious 4x4 with the PSD so I am keeping my stock hubs for now. I have noticed that when temps hit the sub-zero's, it seems as if the front hubs do not always engauge. Not sure as I have not investigated in those temps to say for sure.

If you are into serious 4 wheeling, then by all means go with the Warn (premium) hubs.

You will want to get some rubber vacuum caps to cap off the vacuum lines where the come through the frame. You can get 2 more caps or plugs to plug the vacuum lines at the wheels to keep contaminants from entering the hub and causing nasty things to happen to your hub bearings.

The Warn (or Ford) hubs only lock the axle to the wheel, that is the only purpose for the hubs. The ESOF switch on the dash engauges the transfer case in 4 hi or 4 lo.

To use the Warn hubs, you will have to get out, lock the hubs, get in and switch the ESOF to 4 hi or 4 lo.

If you want to service your Ford hubs, remove the hubs, take them apart and clean all parts. Soak the hub case with the auto-lock switch in tranny fluid for a few hours and try to get it to work free. Grease the parts and re-assemble. If your auto locks are working on vacuum, you probably wont need any parts, just time.