Well our 05 ftx roushcharged Screw 4x4 is acting up again.

For no particular reason it seems like the front right hub tries to engage. It makes this horrible loud grinding sound, when it tries to go in. When it either goes in or out it makes a large bang. We figured it was the hub because when it dose it (it used to be every once in a while now it dose it almost 24/7) we can put it into 4hi and it will stop.

Anyone ever heard of anything like this?

Any suggestions?

Can you ditch the auto hubs on these selectashift f150's?

Because in theory it would be easier to change out to some better manual hubs, It would rule out the fact that it is most likely a wiring issue and prevent it from happening again right?

Well thanks guys

 

I thought Ford did away with the hub when they went to the new body style in '97 on the 1/2 ton trucks.

 

How would the 4wd engage with out hubs? Just wondering you may very well be right

 

I just looked at the truck I use for work, and the axles are connected directly to the hub, and to the differential. I am thinking there is no disengagement when the truck is in 2wd other than at the transfer case

 

I have first hand experience with this issue and there are other posts out there. This is the problem. The IWE is bad and needs to be replaced. Its about $100 at ford might get it cheaper some where else not sure. I also changed out the Solenoid on the fire wall that controls the vacuum of the system. Mine started out with an occasional wine and I let it go until it got bad. That fixed the problem for a while but I think I let it go to long and it could have caused the IWE hub to go bad so I had to replace it. That fixed the whole problem. This is a commen issue with the system. I could have been done better but its not that bad. Easy to fix just take the wheel off, and take part of the suspension apart to get to the back part of the hub. The IWE is on the back of the knuckle. You have to take the axle out of the hub to put the new one on. Really not a hard job just get a book and it shows how to do it. There is no way of getting after market locking hubs because the axle goes through the hub and there isnt any way for locking hubs to work. Its very narrow at the end and nothing like the solid axles or TTB. Before you start replacing anything make sure to check for suction on the line to make sure your solenoid is working right and you dont have any leaking in the line. When in Two wheel it draws vacuum when in 4wheel it releases it and lets the system ingage in 4x4. This is done this way just to make sure if you do need 4x4 and loose vacuum that it will go into 4x4. Now if you dont it causes a problem on the street.

 

"For no particular reason it seems like the front right hub tries to engage. It makes this horrible loud grinding sound, when it tries to go in. When it either goes in or out it makes a large bang. We figured it was the hub because when it dose it (it used to be every once in a while now it dose it almost 24/7) we can put it into 4hi and it will stop."

This sounds like a vacuum leak on the right side to me. There is a lot if info on here about the IWE system. When you first start up the truck, the hub disenganges with full vacuum. But when you accelertate you get natural vacuum loss and there are check valves in the system to hold what vacuum was there, but if they are bad the hub looses that vacuum and tries to enguage making lots of bad noises. When you put your truck into 4WD the vacuum is cut off to the hubs and they fully enguage. That's why it stops making the horrible noise.

 

Wow thanks guys, that seems to be what it is. I will compile some more info and check it all out. What happened to the good old days with manual t-case with manual hubs?

 

Yeah the people that dont use the 4x4 and want the stance but want the ride caused most of the changes in the system plus fuel miles is another big one. In the old system there are moving parts that cause more energy to move and that = fuel and not to mention there is added weight. At least they keep the superduty trucks old school.

 

Read This, should help clear some stuff up and help some of you out:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...then-some.html

 

I learned something new here too, thanks

 

I had that happen to me last winter, when I heard the grinding noise I almost died. Took it to the dealership and they changed the solenoid and it was fixed.

 

The guy that write up on the IWE did a very good job explaining the whole system.