This is probably a stupid question but do you have to get outside and lock the hubs on the F250? I currently have a Chevy 2500HD 4x4 but I'm getting rid of it because I need more seating. The Chevy you just push a button and your in 4WD high/low. Why is Ford different...and what is the difference? Is it a pain to get in and out of the vehicle? What about aftermarket rims...does this limit you to a certain type etc?

 

You don't have to get out and lock the hubs. It is a "back up" to the vaccum actuated hubs. If you are going to be in a situation where you can't afford you vaccum system to fail, I would get out and manually lock the hubs.

 

So that I completely understand...on the PSD 4x4...you just push a button and you're in 4WD...is that correct? Normally you won't need to get out at all...correct? What about aftermarket rims? Do they need to have locking hubs/mechanism. Does the vacuum actually

 

JG, you do not have to get out of your truck to engage 4X4, just turn the dial and the system takes care of itself. The manual lockers are a backup should the auto feature fail. I knew a guy who had an older one maybe late 90's and he had the auto lockers and they failed him more than once. I believe ford came up with this to remedy that particular problem. Pretty cool feature if you ask me. So are you going to make the switch soon? Have had mine about three weeks and love it. Drove the same truck for fifteen years and still do as a commuter but I was way overdue for a new one and I think my 3yr old son loves it more than I do. Any should you switch you will not regret it.

 

On the SuperDuty trucks,,Ford actually has 2,, 4x4 systems,,,the one that it sounds like you may want is the ESOF system, (Electronic Shift On the Fly)has the vacum operated hubs and electric transfere case shift motor.

Other system is the more reliable Manual hubs and and manual shift transfer case,,Has the 4x4 shifter on the floor in the cab,,,this is the system I prefer,,,and have in my truck,,,No Vacum lines, or electric stuff to let you down,,when you need it the most,,,If you think you may need 4x4,,just lock the hubs,,and drive normally,,till u need 4x4,,,pull the shifter,,and go,,,with winter coming,,the first day I need to lock the hubs,,they stay locked almost all winter long,,no big deal !

 

The Electronic Shift on the Fly system also has manual locking hubs. I have never had my vaccum actuated hubs fail yet, and I have had 2 Super Dutys. As far as special rims, I would say no. It depends on the center cap you want. I have seen others with ESOF 4X4 with the hubs covered. When I lifted mine, they put a center cap in the rims that had a hole in the center to get to the hubs. As mentioned before, with the ESOF system you dont need to lock the hubs. In my opinion though, I wouldn't cover them just in case you do need to access them. Just my 2 cents.

 

Tater Mash

Previous to my 2008 6.4, I had a 99 F-350 since new. The Electronic Shift on the Fly(ESOF) failed me in the middle of a mud hole in 2006. I tried the manual hub selection but no success. I had another Ford Truck pull me out of the mud. The hubs needed servicing including lubrication of the hubs. The ESOF has worked fine since. I have ESOF in my 2008 PSD but will have the hubs serviced in the future. I wouldn't want to be pulled out next time with by a Chev or Dodge.

 

Ford's Special Service Message, SSM, regarding 4WD hubs.


20456 2006-2009 F-SUPER DUTY - 4WD HUB USEAGE - SERVICE TIP
THE OPTIMUM 4 WHEEL DRIVE FRONT HUB USEAGE FOR 2006-2009 F-SUPER DUTY VEHICLES, ADVISE CUSTOMERS OF THE FOLLOWING: 4WD USEAGE IS NOT RECOMMENDED ON DRY PAVEMENT. ON MANUAL SHIFT ON STOP (MSOS) 4X4 SYSTEMS IN 2WD MODE, ROTATE BOTH HUB LOCKS TO THE "FREE" POSITION. ON ELECTRONIC SHIFT ON THE FLY (ESOF) 4X4 SYSTEMS IN 2WD MODE, ROTATE BOTH HUB LOCKS TO THE "AUTO" POSITION. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO OPERATE MSOS AND ESOF 4X4 SYSTEMS WITH THE HUB LOCKS IN THE "LOCK" POSITION. FOLLOWING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL ENABLE PROPER DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE, DECREASE TIRE WEAR, IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY AND MAY ALSO IMPROVE THE VEHICLES NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH) CHARACTERISTICS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MOVING COMPONENTS WHEN OPERATING IN 2WD MODE. REFER TO THE VEHICLES OWNER GUIDE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/25/2008 <!--
--><!--THE OPTIMUM 4 WHEEL DRIVE FRONT HUB USEAGE FOR 2006-2009 F-SUPER DUTY VEHICLES,ADVISE CUSTOMERS OF THE FOLLOWING: 4WD USEAGE IS NOT RECOMMENDED ON DRYPAVEMENT. ON MANUAL SHIFT ON STOP (MSOS) 4X4 SYSTEMS IN 2WD MODE, ROTATE BOTHHUB LOCKS TO THE "FREE" POSITION. ON ELECTRONIC SHIFT ON THE FLY (ESOF) 4X4SYSTEMS IN 2WD MODE, ROTATE BOTH HUB LOCKS TO THE "AUTO" POSITION. IT IS NOTRECOMMENDED TO OPERATE MSOS AND ESOF 4X4 SYSTEMS WITH THE HUB LOCKS IN THE"LOCK" POSITION. FOLLOWING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL ENABLE PROPERDISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE, DECREASE TIRE WEAR, IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY ANDMAY ALSO IMPROVE THE VEHICLES NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH)CHARACTERISTICS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MOVING COMPONENTS WHEN OPERATING IN2WD MODE. REFER TO THE VEHICLES OWNER GUIDE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.--><!--</pre>--></P>

 

I'm glad this thread came up. I've been trying to read and understand, but still don't.

In my Dodge, I had a shifter on the floor to go between 2WD, 4HI and 4LO. No hubs to worry about.

Can someone please help me understand what the difference is between leaving the hubs in "Auto" as opposed to "Lock"? The manual recommends auto, so that's what I'm doing for now, but I'd like to understand why.

Thanks!

 

on my 99 F250 SD i had trouble with the 4x4 not disengaging automatically. I found that one of the vacuum hoses was deteriorated. Its easy to find in the front wheel well. Local auto parts store gave me a small piece of hose and the existing clamps were still good. 100% now - for free!!! I wonder what a dealer would have charged me to fix that up...

 

Bubbla,

The Transfer Case (TC) basically connects the transmision to the front drive shaft. The front hubs connects the front axle and wheels together.

For ESOF (Electronic Shift On the Fly) 4x4 systems:

When in AUTO, the hubs are basically doing what they are instructed to do by the dash board switch. If in 2WD the front hubs are FREE/UNLOCKED. If in 4x4 (LOW or HIGH) the front hubs are automatically LOCKED.

When you manually put hubs in LOCKED, the front hubs are just that - they are locked. But you only get 4x4 when the dash switch is on 4x4 (transfer case is only giving power to the front axle only if the dash switch is in any of the 2 4x4 modes).

On the Dodge, you probably had auto locking hubs covered on the front but with no manual way to over-ride them. Lots of tucks have this.

The ESOF AUTO/LOCKED hubs are just incase the automatic part of the hub feature fails. There is no back-up for if/when the TC motor fails.

The 4x4 dash light only has a sensor on the TC. So if you put the truck into 4x4 and the 4x4 dash light comes on but you come to the conclusion that you are really still in 2WD, the auto hubs have failed, u then get out and manually LOCK both hubs.

If the 4x4 dash light does not come on then you have a TC motor failure or a bad dash bulb.

 

The Dodge you had(have), most likely has a front axle disconnect,,which is operated by a vacum pull type diaphram, when 4x4 shifter is engaged,,,my sons 01' F-150 4x4 is also a vacum operated front axel,,,no hubs,,and his F-150 is a manual shift transfere case also,,,5-speed.

If you follow a Dodge 4x4, going down the road,,,look under the truck at the front wheels,,you will see the axel u-joints turning,,,No lockout Hubs!(Newer trucks),,not all.

 

Thanks Guys!