Has anyone had to replace the front vacuum lines that disengage the front U-joints when the motor is running? Mine are not looking healthy, and I wanted to know if anybody else has replaced them with upgraded silicone lines. I have upgraded all my vacuum lines on my performance cars with the silicone kits, but wanted to know if anyone has done the same on the truck or just replaced those lines with stock rubber ones.

 

I haven't replaced the ones on my '05 yet, but I'm kinda thinking it might be good PM to do it. I only got 36k on mine now so I'm going to make it to around 50k, then do them.

 

I know some of the guys on here have had to replace them do to failure of the lines. But I think most of the time it's been done as a warranty issue so I'm sure they were replace with stock rubber.

 

I had the right side replaced under warranty. It was never put in the clips or someone took it back out of the clips, and the tire rubbed a hole in it in at about ~200 miles.

They only sell the stuff as a whole kit for the truck from the solenoid down to the IWE's, but I think you can only use the pieces you need.

I asked the service writer whether they would replace the whole thing or just the one piece, and he said they would replace the whole thing. Guess what really happened... Just the one section got replaced.

I would be surprised if anyone makes a siamesed silicone line that would match the OE sizes. Running two lines would be a ton of fun.

 

I just did this project on my 04 last week, actaully im still in the process of dealing with vacuum issues but i had other problems with the vacuum system, (check valves, vacuum box)

Look into some of my latest posts with problems pulling to the right and IWEs and brake dragging.

I just replaced all the lines from the soleniod down to the wheels, i practically cut out all the old stuff where i could see it. and used bulk vacuum hose from the local NAPA store and some "T" and butt connectors. I routed the hoses where i wanted them and secured them with some of the original clips . What i did was i took the double hose down at the wheel and used a razorblade to split the big side from the small side. I reused the small side for the breather hose that goes up into the engine bay and curls upside down and it left open for a breather hose for the hub. I didnt run the vacuum line under the engine alot the crossmember to go from the passenger side to the driver side. i ran the line up along the under side of the cowl and down by the brake booster. Its cheaper for the bulk line and connectors than for the stock lines, but thats your choice and i think it would be harder to reinstall the stock lines anyway. I got all i needed to run new lines for less than $30 (My father in law owns the NAPA) and the stock ones for the dealership are about $60-70 or close to it. I bought about 20 ft of line just to make sure i had enough and i did have some extra.

 

Can going through deep water mess up these lines and this IWE?

 

Yes, from what ive read, and someone else can chime in also, if there is a leak somewhere down by the wheels, either in the hoses or the IWE itself, if your in 2WD there is vacuum on those lines and the IWE, if you get into some deep water its possible that the vacuum can suck that water into the vacuum system.

 

Is the swapping or extension of these lines a routine thing or would the dealer or shop look at me like I had two heads if I asked them about it?

 

You might want to ask them to check your IWE vacuum system if your having problems and your concerned that you got water in them. If you ingested water in the system it could cause damage to the solenoid or actuators i think, because if you just tell them to change the vacuum lines, they might just do that and not check anything else and you might just end up with another problem because of water lost somewhere else in the line. Ive done something like that before. You think you have self diagnosed the problem and take it somewhere and tell them i need new "whatever you told them to change" and they do it and it doesnt solve the problem. If your mechanically inclined you could make new lines yourself, and if you run into a problem while doing it yourself and need to take it to the dealer you can plug the vacuum line coming off the intake and the hubs will lock (you will not be in 4WD but the hubs will lock) not causeing any damage and you can drive it to the dealership. Check out this thread ive been working on.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...the-right.html

 

You're exactly right, but I don't have a problem just yet. I want to try to take some preventative measures to ensure I don't encounter an issue like that. Thanks though.

 

Well if your not exeperiencing any problems yet and you dont notice anything out of the ordinary than you dont have a problem, you would know if something wasnt right with a vacuum line, your truck would let you know!