4X4 question
- Thread starter LAF250
- Start date
CPUNeck
Reclamation Specialist
LAF250 said:
Well with out a bio on your truck I'll assume when you say "switch" you have ESOF. This would mean your hubs actually state Auto and Locked. This is a redundant feature. The auto hubs are actuated by vacuum and have had reliability issues in the past so Ford decided to give us the option of manualy locking the hubs. The operation is the same one way will hopefully keep your feet clean,
the other.. well will probably wind you up with mud to your knees. 
sagebel
Stock? Pfft!
If you ever get hung up, just turning the switch will not give you 4x4. This is when you will need to get out and lock them. I recommend turning them every so often to make sure that they do not get bound up.
Scott
Scott
i have an 03 f250 7.3L and my hubs do state Auto and locked, when i switch the incab switch it sounds as if the hubs locks with a seleniod type sound, I was just wondering if there was a difference between the two engaging actions.
CPUNeck
Reclamation Specialist
LAF250 said:
When you switch from 2x to 4x I'm certain what you hear is the X-fer case engageing. I doubt you'd hear the hubs over the engine unless you where standing right by them while someone else engage the 4x4. I recommend running in 4x4 on a regular basis (couple times a month) on straight roads. Keeps everything nice and wet/lubed. Routinely my auto hubs don't disengage after switching back to 2x. Most of the time you won't know this but there are some symptoms. You notice when braking the truck seems to want to pull to one side of the other and hadn't done this before, or more noticable turning around in a culdesac you feel some slight jirations in the steering wheel or feel binding up front. This is another great feature of these hubs, you just get out, and cycle the hubs manualy (most times you can here the hub disengage then
) One more thing, if you know you'll be in mud and slippery stuff, I'd manualy place the hubs in locked so you'll know they are completely engaged. If you switch to 4x4 and one or both of your hubs are a bit SLOW in engaging, your 7.3 can literaly torpedo them hubs like riot control with no effort at all.
JimmyDee
God Bless America
I was told that the people that plow snow put pressure on Ford to have a lock feature because they were continually dropping out of 4x4 because of the auto only hubs. This was an appeasement to those guys and it helped them out. I for one have not had a problem in almost 5 years with mine. I do try to put them in and out for a block or 2 every week. I think this keeps everything working good.
Jim
Jim
MudHog
SDD Junior Member
The transfer case is full time 4wd. The front shaft spins even in 2wd. The switch activates a vaccum pump and pulls a vaccum on the lines going to the hubs. This vaccum pulls a pin which engages the hub to the axle shaft, this giving the truck front wheel assist. The only time the x-case is used is when you switch to 4L after stopping, putting truck in neutral and keeping foot on the brake pedal.
If people have problems with the auto hubs disengaging, then they have leaky lines or a bad vaccum pump. But yes. the "locked" part on the hubs is a manual way of locking in the hubs in case the the auto fails. Also the wheels have to be spinning for the auto to engage. So if your in 2wd and get stuck in a area, you can get out, lock hubs and then pull yourself out the spot.
If people have problems with the auto hubs disengaging, then they have leaky lines or a bad vaccum pump. But yes. the "locked" part on the hubs is a manual way of locking in the hubs in case the the auto fails. Also the wheels have to be spinning for the auto to engage. So if your in 2wd and get stuck in a area, you can get out, lock hubs and then pull yourself out the spot.
Ford_Forgotton
Full Access Member
uhhhhhhhh. I dont think the transfercase is "fulltime", as I can spin my front driveline by hand in 2wd mode, but NOT in 4wd mode.
If it were fulltime, I wouldnt be able to spin it even in 2wd mode, as the REAR driveline would prevent that.
There is either a vacuum, or a electric motor that engages the transfercase, and then the hubs are vacuum actuated.
If it were fulltime, I wouldnt be able to spin it even in 2wd mode, as the REAR driveline would prevent that.
There is either a vacuum, or a electric motor that engages the transfercase, and then the hubs are vacuum actuated.
jlayne
Paint Sniffer
Ford_Forgotton said:
mind isn't "fulltime" either and i have the ESOF.... the transfercase is electric and the hubs are vacuum
mudhog, if your front shaft is spinning (under engine power) or not spinning while parked (by hand) while the switch or lever is in 2WD something isn't working properly... might get that checked, it could give you a little better fuel economy
now ford did offer a true fulltime setup on the expedition (not sure about the excursion) my fathers expedition has A4WD (auto 4WD), 4WD lock, and 4LO on the switch... the only way you can get it to spin a tire is get on a gravel road and give it heck (spins all four)... its a pretty neat setup, especially in wet or icy conditions, unless you want to boil the tires.. then you will have to remove the front driveshaft
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95_stroker
Jefe
jlayne said:now ford did offer a true fulltime setup on the expedition (not sure abou the excursion) my fathers expedition has A4WD (auto 4WD), 4WD lock, and 4LO on the switch... the only way you can get it to spin a tire is get on a gravel road and give it heck (spins all four)... its a pretty neat setup, especially in wet or icy conditions, unless you won't to boil the tires.. then you will have to remove the front driveshaft
Our 03 Expedition has this feature, it is sweet
especially in town in the snow. But ours also has a 2wd spot on the selector to lock it in 2wd.