The 03 excursion I bought finally arrived on saturday. I have been going through it, doing the routine maintenance. Everything so far has checked out okay. THe 4x4 works, but the hubs will not turn manually. Do I need to disassemble the hubs and brease them? This is my first newer truck, are the hubs much different?

 

Yes, best bet it to plan on some hub maintenance. Rather than list the procedure here, here's a great "how-to".

Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page

 

Mine get difficult to turn from time to time (due to lack of use). I've found that if I spray some lithium greese around the **** (trying to get in the gap) - then I can turn them freely. I think it gets jambed up with road dirt. Try that first (it's worth a shot) - if they still don't turn, then take 'em apart.

 

Its a common problem with those hubs, they do go bad. I replaced mine with aftermarket ones. There are numerous earlier posts on the subject if you do a search for posts.

 

X10. The Ford ESOF hubs suck. I replaced mine with some Mile Marker units. I lost the auto feature, but now I don't have to worry about vacuum leaks or wonder if they are locked in or not. Here is a description of how to install them -> Mile Marker hubs

 

Rob, where did you buy the Mile Marker hub's and about what do they run $$ ?

Thanks!

 

eBay. The part number is 449SS and they run about $150 for the set. Takes about 20 min to install.

 

OK, thanks a bunch!

 

I went with the Mile Marker Premiums about $100 from summitt racing. 20 minute install.

 

They are $153.95 at Summitt for the MM 449SS hubs.....

 

Summit part # MMK-449SS

 

Do they make an aftermarket hub that will work with the auto like the OEM'S?

 

No they do not. It really isn't that big of a deal. Come winter time when I think I'm going to be wanting 4x4 often, I just leave the hubs locked in. All this does is spin the front axle shafts and the front drive shaft. The t-case is still in 4x2 mode so there is no issue. When you want 4x4, just turn the dial on the dash to engage the t-case.

 

Ok thanks.

 

The other day I drove the EX in a parking lot and had to turn it hard and felt like it was jumping in both left and right lock to lock. I knew that the hubs had to be engaged. After spraying Lithium grease on the hubs in the cracks the passenger side moved. Then I came back on line to check the position. After I did free the passenger side one it now has a small hole in the center of the tab to turn the hubs due to trying to free it up. You can see the dot at the 9:00 position according to the previous posts it should be in the Unlocked Position (Auto Lock).

All the white is Lithium Grease, which I sprayed into the holes and around the crack. It took quite a bit of tapping and wiggling to get them both free.

Passenger Side



The driver side hub is really messed up, it even has a hole on the side where the screw driver I used pushed through. Notice dot at the 3:00 position.

Driver Side



I drove to a parking lot up the street and did a hard left circle and a hard right circle, no more jumping.

Is there a replacement dial or I am screwed, and just order the Mile Markers. they seem to be working now, but who knows this winter. I don't drive far to work and they are dropping the lake so I won't be trailering anymore this season.

I really think the Auto feature is the best but I won't be using it alot. What do I have to disconnect if I remove the Auto vacuum system? Does anyone have pictures of the hoses that need to be capped?