2004 Ford F-350 Front axle hubs do not lock in automaticall

FRANK BILEK

MEMBER
2004 FORD F-350
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
11,800 MILES

Diesel-powered 4X4 F350 Crew Cab
Front axle hubs not locking automatically - can be locked manually
Transfer case does switch to 4x4 / 4x4 low (and indicator light appears on dash)
Replaced vacuum system valve controller (after tell-tale vacuum system smoke test)
Replaced dash-mounted switch (after determination by diagnostic data software)
Front axle hubs do not lock automatically for continuous service - front hubs can be locked-in manually for expected service
[Via phone call] Ford dealer indicates computer needs to be replaced.

My question: Are there front hub seals that could be negatively effecting the desired position of the hub collars?

1 Reply

TECH1FORD

MEMBER
102 POSTS

Yes the front hub seals will not hold vacume if they are damaged or old. They sit on the axle shafts and need a ford tool to installl them. There are some other things to check first, does your vacume pump operate normally, does it shut off. Does only the defrost setting on your heater work. The hubs on these trucks need 15 inces of vacume of engage so if you put a gauge on the one side while blocking off the other you can see it do that. Here is the most likely problem if you take off the retaining ring that holds the hub on and pop off the hub, look in the bottom of it can you see grease marks where the axle shaft has made contact with it. If it has the hub, seal and there is this grey plastic washer they all have to be replaced on the one side, then check the other side, if no contact with the hub has bee made replace the seals and the washers, make sure the vacume line that goes into the knuckle is clean and there is no stuff inside of it and you will be ready to go.