4 wheel drive low range.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Cottage Grove, Minnesota
4 wheel drive low range.
I have been wondering is there a way I can safely stop the front axle from engaging when I select 4L? I am going to be pulling a trailer on Friday and would like to use the low gearing of low range to help with backing up an incline to an entrance. I looked under the hood and it looks like I can disconnect the electrical connectors from the vaccum solenoids. If it is possible to do it what one would I disconnect for temporary use?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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i would use the 4 x 4, but if you want to disconnect, how about looking at the axle vacuum cylinder and disconnect the hose at the bottom, or follow it up to the motor and pull and plug it up there. i dont know which hose it is right now.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,310
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From: E.Lincoln County, NC
I saw this on eBay and considered it to repair my broken shift diaphram mount but it is a little pricey for what you get IMO. It will do what you want though. Check it out.
4x4 Posi-Lok AXLE DISCONNECT System 97-03 Ford F150 4WD
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4x4-P...QQcmdZViewItem
4x4 Posi-Lok AXLE DISCONNECT System 97-03 Ford F150 4WD
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4x4-P...QQcmdZViewItem
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: SE Wyoming
The reason you want 4lo gearing but not 4 wheels turning is to make it easier to turn, when you are backing up with a trailer you will at times turn the wheels all the way and it is a PITA if they are engaged, as well as hard on the front end. That is the biggest benefit to manual hubs. The only way I can think of is finding the right fuse to pull for the vacuum pump or some other thing in the systems that you can kill.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Olathe, KS
I miss locking hubs just for that use.
Don't know how to do up top, but disconnecting the hoses on the axle will do what you wish. Easily done as well. Just plug to keep dirt out. I ran 2k miles without any issues of the front trying to engage. The transfer case will still engage to the drivers tire, but the spiders gears will turn freely since the pass tire is not connected.
Never thought of inserting an overide on the controller. a switch inside to disable the change and hold in 2wd setting would be slick.
Don't know how to do up top, but disconnecting the hoses on the axle will do what you wish. Easily done as well. Just plug to keep dirt out. I ran 2k miles without any issues of the front trying to engage. The transfer case will still engage to the drivers tire, but the spiders gears will turn freely since the pass tire is not connected.
Never thought of inserting an overide on the controller. a switch inside to disable the change and hold in 2wd setting would be slick.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,310
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From: E.Lincoln County, NC
Originally Posted by tim.moman
Never thought of inserting an overide on the controller. a switch inside to disable the change and hold in 2wd setting would be slick.
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Elder User
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From: Cottage Grove, Minnesota
I took a look under the hood and was thinking that maybe disconnecting the plugs from the solenoids to prevent the front from engaging.
I did decide to look in the owners manual and just pull the relay that controls that but it also controls other functions.
I did decide to look in the owners manual and just pull the relay that controls that but it also controls other functions.
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Postmaster
Joined: May 2003
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From: E.Lincoln County, NC
PM me your email address and I'll send you the schematic for the axle shift solenoids. The solenoid with the light blue plastic line is the one that engages the front axle. The pink line disengages it.
Last edited by ncranchero; Jun 7, 2007 at 04:44 PM.
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Elder User
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From: Cottage Grove, Minnesota
I would like to thank you all for the help. I was able to disconnect the front axle and it worked wonderfully. The low range gearing helped greatly in backing the trailer up the ramp. So again a big thanks to those who helped and ncranchero for the schematic of the front axle system.
Jason.
Jason.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: E.Lincoln County, NC
Originally Posted by skilife17
I would like to thank you all for the help. I was able to disconnect the front axle and it worked wonderfully.
Jason.
Jason.
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Elder User
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From: Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Originally Posted by ncranchero
So where did you end up disconnecting it? I haven't tried it yet, wondering what worked for you.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: E.Lincoln County, NC
Originally Posted by ncranchero
Since several have expressed interest in having the schematic I'll post it here.
Last edited by ncranchero; Jul 8, 2007 at 02:31 PM.
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