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2006 F350 6.0 / auto hubs no workey !

TNTCOPP

TNTCOPP

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Discovered (the hard way) going up the Matterhorn at Greenwater that my 4-wheel drive (auto locking hubs) never engaged.

Where do I start to troubleshoot this? Trace the vacuum lines from the hubs?
Where is the vacuum pump? Is the pump dedicated to the hubs only? Could it be computer related? Of course it is out of warranty - that's when sheet starts going wrong! Thanks in advance !!

P.S. Thanks to the hunters for winching me out - and the jeepers for educating me on the hubs !
 
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First make sure your front diveline is turning in 4wd, sounds dumb but just do it. Second go get a set of warn manual locking hubs installed. It's a little bit of a pain to get out in the mud or snow sometimes to lock your hubs, but hopefully you realize the situation your driving in and lock them before its too late!

I have an '01 F350 and put the manual warn hubs on the first time the stock automatic ones failed, one of the best mods I did. On a snowy day or when mudding you can leave the hubs locked in and take it in and out of 4wd from in the cab. Just unlock them when your done.

By installing the manual hubs you bypass the whole electronic/vacuume system, plus the manual hubs are much stronger. The auto hubs are nice and convienent, but unreliable, and after all what's the point of buying a 4wd truck if they're not going to work?

Good luck and remember always try to help a fellow outdoorsman cause it's not a matter of "if" but "when" you'll need help, especially the more you go.
 
These are auto / manual - just did not realize it hidden behind the center caps. Once I put them in manually it was fine. Who can help me trace the problem?
 
If they work fine when you manually lock them 99% of the time it is the hubs themselves. They just start hanging up when they get older and the auto feature doesn't work as well. You can remove them (easy just pull the snap ring and they slide off) clean them up, soak them in oil for a while, and reinstall them and they may work, but they may not. The other common place to look for a problem is where the vac hose hooks up to the hub. Pull off the hose and make sure the nipple on the hub hasn't rusted so bad the hose is leaking and not able to seal up. If it is rusty, clean it up and you may have to cut the end of the hose off and reinstall.

The manual hub conversion is another option, but unless you are doing some serious mudding, it really isn't necessary since your stock hubs can be manually locked too.
 
You can also hook a hand vacuum pump like what you would bleed brakes with and pump it up see if it holds, could be the inboard seal or the seal on the lockout hub. easy way to verify if you have a leak, like the other guy said the fittings rust and hoses get hard and crack as well. Hope it helps PS If you have to put the inboard seal in they make a special driver, if you install it with a punch or similar they will probably leak.. Terry @ Stewartville Truck Service 507-533-6674
 
Check the back of the hubs. If the seals are blown out like 80% of the F series trucks, you need to leave the hubs locked. Common problem :)
 
Had the same problem a while back. Went with a new set of Warn hubs, there manual every time. I know what I have to do and it takes the guess work out of it. Well worth the cash.

E
 
richyrich said:
Had the same problem a while back. Went with a new set of Warn hubs, there manual every time. I know what I have to do and it takes the guess work out of it. Well worth the cash.

E
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x3 on the Warn hubs. No issues and I know they are locked when they need to be. Go to www.guzzle7pt3.com this has all kinds of stuff for the powerstrokes even though the its 7.3 stuff still has lots of good write ups and info.

Hope it helps

Lance
 
What is the difference between the Warn manual hubs and the stock manual hubs?

If I put it into 4wd and the vaccum system fails, can't I get out and engage the stock manual hubs? Isn't that why Ford left the manual locking system even after they went with the automatic vacuum system...as a back up?

thanks
 
Not sure on the first question. But yes , I was able to manually put them in. I had a brainfart at the time as the hubs were covered by the center cap. My thinking was they must have went fully auto - why else would Les Schwab cover the hubs. Wish I would have put two-and-two together while I was in the ditch - would have crawled right out ! As it turns out I had about 6 feet of vacuum line hose replaced that was cracked and leaking.


modsledr said:
What is the difference between the Warn manual hubs and the stock manual hubs?

If I put it into 4wd and the vaccum system fails, can't I get out and engage the stock manual hubs? Isn't that why Ford left the manual locking system even after they went with the automatic vacuum system...as a back up?

thanks
Click to expand...
 
I had my hubs replaced under warrenty by Bickford's and they still are not reliable so I just turn them in manuel. I think it is just a cheap design but it could also be that Bickford's service team suck's azz. Which they do.:D
 
augerin said:
I had my hubs replaced under warrenty by Bickford's and they still are not reliable so I just turn them in manuel. I think it is just a cheap design but it could also be that Bickford's service team suck's azz. Which they do.:D
Click to expand...

Did you go to the regular consumer Bickford, or the Fleet Service Bickford (different location)?

I've had good luck with the fleet service shop.
 
The vacuum system runs your hubs and the air flow in the cab. If the hubs still don't work after checking all the lines, it could be in the front axle itself. Found this out myself on my '99. The vacuum system was all gummed up and the seals were leaking so I had to have the front axle serviced and cleaned.
 
I wondered about that as I had a helluva time getting the windows to de-fog after that.


pwrdbyspuds said:
The vacuum system runs your hubs and the air flow in the cab. If the hubs still don't work after checking all the lines, it could be in the front axle itself. Found this out myself on my '99. The vacuum system was all gummed up and the seals were leaking so I had to have the front axle serviced and cleaned.
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yes since the 4x4 is enguaged with vacumn lines it sucks in to much free air because the seals are incorrectly fitted or they are ripped. same rul applies for most auto 4x4 systems. its usually just your front axle seals
 
Mine quit on the weekend, drivers side hose had pulled off a barbed connector there is no clamps or anything on the hoses so I think in really cold temps the rubber gets hard and they pop off on washboard or whatever.
 
the ford hubs are junk....I have a 05 with the same deal.
No need to buy new locking hubs if yours work when they are locked.
Just lock them in when u need them.
Mine stay locked all winter....
 
TNTCOPP said:
Not sure on the first question. But yes , I was able to manually put them in. I had a brainfart at the time as the hubs were covered by the center cap. My thinking was they must have went fully auto - why else would Les Schwab cover the hubs. Wish I would have put two-and-two together while I was in the ditch - would have crawled right out ! As it turns out I had about 6 feet of vacuum line hose replaced that was cracked and leaking.
Click to expand...

before you replaced the hose did you still have full control of your heater airflow ie: defrost, vent, floor or was it stuck on defrost(if you dont have enough vacuum inside of cab the default setting is defrost)? my brother has a 99 powerstroke and has burned up 2 vacuum pumps(located on right inner fender) in one month $150 ea. they run constantly because of a vacuum leak. before the pump burns up he has full control of heater airflow and the auto hubs work.:confused: im just trying to narrow down where the leak might be. did you have to replace your vacuum pump?
 
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Ya - I still had full control of the heater control functions. Vacuum pump is fine.


summitrmk said:
before you replaced the hose did you still have full control of your heater airflow ie: defrost, vent, floor or was it stuck on defrost(if you dont have enough vacuum inside of cab the default setting is defrost)? my brother has a 99 powerstroke and has burned up 2 vacuum pumps(located on right inner fender) in one month $150 ea. they run constantly because of a vacuum leak. before the pump burns up he has full control of heater airflow and the auto hubs work.:confused: im just trying to narrow down where the leak might be. did you have to replace your vacuum pump?
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