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This looks to be like the next best thing beside some warn manual hubs. I always wondered why they could make vacuum and manual hubs for the Super Duty but not for the 150.
Cost and intended use of the truck.
Most F-150s I see anymore are shortbed crewcabs (hell, mine is). You don't see those with Union Pacific decals, or with Trailblazers and cranes on the bed for the utility companies. The Super Duty is now what the F-150 was - a work vehicle. F-150s are still used for work, yes, but they're light duty. F-150s won't last in taxing environments - they aren't built to. Similarly, the Super Duty isn't exactly a beast at maneuvering city streets or parking lots. The F-150 is the happy medium between a Ridgeline and a one-ton. The F-250/350 is the happy medium between a half ton and, say, an International WorkStar. There are always trade offs, especially when the vehicles are targeted toward different markets.
The F-150 is a separate from the Super Duty for a reason. The F-150 buyer is more into comfort and versatility. The Super Duty is built (for now) for work. Solid axles, thick frame, all heavy duty (vs half-tons). If manual hubs were so appealing to the half-ton market, they'd still exist. Ever notice that under-hood lighting is all but gone? Easy way for the mfrs to save money on an item that isn't cared about. No one complains about vehicles not having built in ash trays or cassette players either. Some will whine, but not enough to warrant a change.
To address OP, I've put 50k on my front leveling kit (Rancho Quicklift) with no issues other than some popping when articulating like a lower shock bolt is shifting due to not being fully tightened. Ride is fine otherwise. I don't know what to say about your front end having all those issues - definitely strange.
I've had 2 leveled F150's. My 2012 had a 2" AS and my current 2014 has a 1.5" AS. Zero problems with IWE's and ran 4wd in lots of snow between the 2. I'd say something else is going on.
Never heard of such a thing... This past Friday I drove to work in 4hi in 10+" of snow covered roads for 32 miles one way and back because they shut work place down 3 hours later. I have a autospring 2" level Never a problem. Had this same kit for almost 2 years now. Not the first IWE concern. I think the problem is somewhere else or whoever are putting them in are damaging them when replacing. And for the RCV kits, when installed the whole front diff axle and all turns whenever the wheels are rolling. Making more wear on everything, thus constant parts replacing on a diff thats not made to turn all the time. Also take a hit on MPG.
That's exactly what autospring claims. The dealer did botch the first repair, right out of their lot it started grinding. The fixed it and it lasted three months or so.
Anyone have any idea as to how my CV angle is too severe while half a million other leveled trucks aren't?
The Eliminator won't solve my problem, I bet it would actually make things much worse.
This looks to be like the next best thing beside some warn manual hubs. I always wondered why they could make vacuum and manual hubs for the Super Duty but not for the 150.
The Super Duty manual hubs are not problem free either. The hub problems on my F250 were a nightmare to track down and fix. One side would lock, one side wouldn't, then they would get stuck in the lock position all the time.
I finally ripped them out of my F250 and put in manual Warn hubs. Something I wish we could do with the F150...
The level kit is not your issues. Have you checked the IWE solenoids or the vacuum hoses for leaks. I ran 4x4 with a 2" kit for a long time and had zero issues. I've had my 4" for over a year with zero issues.
If a mechanic is pulling the cvs to install a level kit he's making it worse because 70% of them don't realize the hub has to be locked before you tighten the nut on the cv otherwise if it isn't locked it cracks the plastic IWE.
The 2" level is not your problem. And you have altered the suspension why do you think the dealer should be fixing your issues?
The level kit is not your issues. Have you checked the IWE solenoids or the vacuum hoses for leaks. I ran 4x4 with a 2" kit for a long time and had zero issues. I've had my 4" for over a year with zero issues.
If a mechanic is pulling the cvs to install a level kit he's making it worse because 70% of them don't realize the hub has to be locked before you tighten the nut on the cv otherwise if it isn't locked it cracks the plastic IWE.
The 2" level is not your problem. And you have altered the suspension why do you think the dealer should be fixing your issues?
On my 05 I ran a level kit and then Bilsteins for 7 yrs with zero issues. I did both installations. That plus all the other trucks out there with a 2" level that don't have issues leads me to think there is a problem with this particular truck not related to the level kit. Therefore, Ford should warrant it. As I stated earlier, they denied the last claim with a, in my opinion, very lame reasoning. Further pushing it up the ladder at the dealer gave me no better answer other than the kit causes the angle which leads to the failure.
Why does the kit cause the extreme angle on my truck??? That's the question I'd like an answer to. Denying a claim with the answer "because" isn't helpful. I installed it. I didn't slap it together. I did not pull the CVs during install. I have installed others without issue.
I do blame myself for one thing, not trying 4wd before installing the kit. That data point is missing. I don't know if the truck was boogered before I put the kit on. As I stated before, if I return it to stock and it fails a service advisor (from a different dealer than the IWE issues) who fought for me to have a new long block said I may not be able to claim it. I get it why and I'm not crying over it. However if it fails at stock height and the warranty does not cover it, I'm out. I've already lost the truck for six weeks while the dealer and Ford bickered over the engine. In the three yrs I've owned this truck I've had dozens more issues than my 05. I completely regret getting rid of that one.
On my 05 I ran a level kit and then Bilsteins for 7 yrs with zero issues. I did both installations. That plus all the other trucks out there with a 2" level that don't have issues leads me to think there is a problem with this particular truck not related to the level kit. Therefore, Ford should warrant it. As I stated earlier, they denied the last claim with a, in my opinion, very lame reasoning. Further pushing it up the ladder at the dealer gave me no better answer other than the kit causes the angle which leads to the failure.
Why does the kit cause the extreme angle on my truck??? That's the question I'd like an answer to. Denying a claim with the answer "because" isn't helpful. I installed it. I didn't slap it together. I did not pull the CVs during install. I have installed others without issue.
I do blame myself for one thing, not trying 4wd before installing the kit. That data point is missing. I don't know if the truck was boogered before I put the kit on. As I stated before, if I return it to stock and it fails a service advisor (from a different dealer than the IWE issues) who fought for me to have a new long block said I may not be able to claim it. I get it why and I'm not crying over it. However if it fails at stock height and the warranty does not cover it, I'm out. I've already lost the truck for six weeks while the dealer and Ford bickered over the engine. In the three yrs I've owned this truck I've had dozens more issues than my 05. I completely regret getting rid of that one.
It's a $100 part. Find your issues change the solenoid and do a vacuum test on the lines to make sure they are holding vacuum. The cv angles have zero to do with it. That is ford's out. They have fixed it twice.
Last edited by winchested; 01-27-2016 at 02:51 PM.
Update. Solenoid and vacuum had no issues. I removed the spacers up front and the blocks, everything back to stock. It took an insane amount of time getting the assembly off. I recall having a rough time getting them in, but getting them out was much more difficult. I had to sit on a 4' 2x6 to pry the passenger side LCA down far enough to get the shock end out.
Now that it is stock height there are zero issues going into 4x4, driving in 4x4, shifting back to 4x2 and driving in 4x2. None. Multiple tries and not a single issue.
So CV angle isn't the culprit? If not, what was? I'll likely never know and it really doesn't matter much at this point.
I'm over it and moving on. I have Bilsteins on the way and will go with 1.5 and check the angles. The 2" AS made me nose high and I had to add the Raptor blocks to get a slight rake back. Here's pics of the angles with the 2" AS before I removed them. I googled images every which way of Sunday and didn't find much to compare.
I do think you lose 4wd auto with this though. I've never used the auto setting so I wouldn't care. But maybe someone does
For $200? I had an 89 ford ranger with the auto locking hubs that would not work when I needed them. I took the hub apart and removed the spring and welded that slide thing in place, making the hubs solid. Same thing they are doing and I am sure anyone could convert the iwe’s to do the same using the factory parts saving $198.
For $200? I had an 89 ford ranger with the auto locking hubs that would not work when I needed them. I took the hub apart and removed the spring and welded that slide thing in place, making the hubs solid. Same thing they are doing and I am sure anyone could convert the iwe’s to do the same using the factory parts saving $198.
Ya all you need to do is remove the vacuum source!
01-26-2016, 11:30 PM
