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You are correct about it being a little spendy, but he advantages far outweigh the cost.
I feel this is one of the best modifications we can perform to a Super Duty.
Had to call a tow truck once, when the first unit bearing failed on the 02. Too far from home for a cheap tow. Never again! Could not wait for Dynatrac to introduce the kit for the 07. Did not even wait for the stuff to wear out before I upgraded.
Not a cheap modification, but is money very well spent.
When we are out in the middle of nowhere, this is a small price to pay for reliability, and the confidence of knowing that you are coming home. Cant explain how much I dislike the front bearing, and ESOF system in these trucks.
Those are great points, I have been planning to to it since just after I bought my truck, I just keep putting it off because of the $$ but now I have 45k mi. on my truck so it is being moved to the top of my list!
Everyone should be thinking about the Dynatrac kit very seriously, It's a great kit !!!
This is a dumb question but are all the SD's ESOF? Can one still get a manual shift and manual hubs? I am thinking about a SD, currently a '150 owner but its getting tired. I like having full manual, my '99 is manual shift 5spd and manual xfer case but with auto hubs. I'd hate to give up either really. I'd like to get a 6spd 5.4 with manual 4x4 if that options still exists?
Depending on the trim level you desire, you may still get a manual transfer case, and manual hubs.
This still only addresses the locking hub / vacuum problem, but does nothing about the unit bearings. The Dynatrac kit is still a very wise investment, even for trucks not equiped with ESOF.
Believe it or not, the t-cases on ESOF systems seem to work alright. It is usually the locking hub that fails, and does not engage.
Usually it fails to engage on a small snow bank, or in a tiny mud hole leaving a very embarassed SD owner.
I have pulled out plenty of SD's that were stuck this way. SOme of this can be resolved by simply checking your equipment before you get out in the sticks, but with my manual hubs, I know without a doubt that when it says "free" it is free, and when it says "locked" it is going to work. No guessing here.
You can get them either way, ESOF or Manual. The ESOF is alot more common because the salesmen can use that as a selling point when talking people into buying.
Are the manual transfer cases in the SD's, band driven? Or are they gear drive?
"Band driven" ????? The BW transfer cases used for the SD's are chain driven.
The last transfer case to be all gear driven, was the NP205. Quite a few years ago.
"Band driven" ????? The BW transfer cases used for the SD's are chain driven.
The last transfer case to be all gear driven, was the NP205. Quite a few years ago.
Band drive, chain drive, you know what the hell im talking about! Thanks for the history lesson on the New Process transfer cases.
Yeah, they dont make em like that anymore, my bronco sports a full gear driven '205. Though I havent personally heard any major complaints from the chain drive xfer case, I assume like 75F350 said, the issues with 4wd problems are mostly hub related.
All this complaining about the vacuum hubs being crap. While I certainly admit the vacuum hubs can be troublesome, they are much better on the 05 up trucks. Fortunately since they don't have any aftermarket replacements.
Does anyone have a better idea for how to engage the axles automatically? They all seem to have drawbacks. Ford seems to have the best compromise between auto convienence, and when it fails a backup plan.