Hubs - auto vs manual
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 850
Likes: 3
From: West Granby, CT.
Hubs - auto vs manual
This is my first truck with esof and the auto/manual hubs. Help me understand when do you use the "manual" hubs? The manual says it is recommended to leave it in auto. Thanks
Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
You turn the hub to lock if you have a problem with a vacuum line or something else that stops the solenoid from sending the hubs the pulse of vacuum it needs to lock. It is like a backup.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,552
Likes: 79
From: Manhattan, KS
I will probably jinx myself, but I have an '01 and the esof has always worked except when I did guzzles needle bearing R&R and assembled one hub wrong before putting it back in. The truck has 133K on it.
Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Remember trucks that inherently see worse weather or are not serviced or kept up on a regular basis are more likely to have problems with the ESOF as well as many other systems. The ESOF can be a reliable system if taken care of but any "auto" system has a higher probability of failing compared to a "manual" system.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,499
Likes: 10
From: Sterling Heights,Mi
I had my ESOF fail once. It was caused, I believe, by something I ran over, yanking hte hose right off of the hub connector.. I have since gone to Warns Manuals. I dont believe anyting is wrong with the ESOF if used in moderation, and maintained. I havent seen it posted here yet, but the the tell tale sign of the esof not working, when you got to 4x4 and your defroster starts workign instead of your floor vent..
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,391
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From: NorCal
When the ESOF system is working correctly it is great! But it has alot of parts to it and all it takes is one part to have a problem and you won't have 4wd. That is when you will have to use the "Manual" setting.
I had a bad hub seal when my truck was only a year old so I had it replaced under warranty but if it happens again now that I am out of warranty I will change over to manual hubs so I won't have to worry about it again!!!
I had a bad hub seal when my truck was only a year old so I had it replaced under warranty but if it happens again now that I am out of warranty I will change over to manual hubs so I won't have to worry about it again!!!
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Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
Thats what I did when my hose went bad, I opened the door, got out of my truck, then turned the hub to lock, just like the manual hubs. Once I changed the hose, I now sit in my truck and turn a switch to lock the hubs.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
I have never once encountered a ESOF issue. I just cleaned and re-greased for the first time at 150k on my '99 f350 just because I felt it needed to be done. I have manually locked and unlocked the hubs once a month since I purchased the truck new in '98 (I'm sure I skipped some months in there).
