4wd problem. Please help!!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 31,751
Likes: 12,571
From: Nowhereville, Barton City Michigan
The description of Humm vs Marbles is importnat.
I suggest reconnecting the system as it is meant to be and at least check for freewheel. As well as listening to noises while you're at the wheel spinning it. It may be difficult to hear with the motor running but do your best.
If you are bored and want to disassemble everything you can but I would want to check what I can before taking it apart.
Consider this: The IWE and hub are actually fine, however you damage it during reinstallation once you've finished scratching your head in wonder after seeing the disassembled parts are not damaged.
Let us know what you find though -always good to have a follow up to IWE posts since they are so vast and somewhat random in what fixes the owners noises.
I suggest reconnecting the system as it is meant to be and at least check for freewheel. As well as listening to noises while you're at the wheel spinning it. It may be difficult to hear with the motor running but do your best.
If you are bored and want to disassemble everything you can but I would want to check what I can before taking it apart.
Consider this: The IWE and hub are actually fine, however you damage it during reinstallation once you've finished scratching your head in wonder after seeing the disassembled parts are not damaged.
Let us know what you find though -always good to have a follow up to IWE posts since they are so vast and somewhat random in what fixes the owners noises.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 4
From: Maine
Thank you F150 gods!!
Hi everyone. First I want to say thank you so so much for all the responses and advice! I knew if I spoke and listen to the F150 gods everything would work out! You all were right! Passenger side iwe was shot. The plastic piece holding the gear inside split right down the middle. Bladder was fine so when I put it 4wd it was pushing the gear into the hub fine. But when I put it 2wd it couldn’t pull the gear away from the hub making the awful humming sound.
I installed a new one and everything is great! I’m assuming my stupidity and those darn axle nuts were the issue. I was so upset with breaking the driver side cv axle that I never went back to the passenger side to loosen that nut. It was too tight and I think that caused the iwe to break. Live and learn. This time I went old school and used only hand tools. No impacts!
Again guys thank you for the help! I love my truck and now this forum! Please stay safe and keep on trucking!
I installed a new one and everything is great! I’m assuming my stupidity and those darn axle nuts were the issue. I was so upset with breaking the driver side cv axle that I never went back to the passenger side to loosen that nut. It was too tight and I think that caused the iwe to break. Live and learn. This time I went old school and used only hand tools. No impacts!
Again guys thank you for the help! I love my truck and now this forum! Please stay safe and keep on trucking!
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Yes, you can still shift to 4H on the fly, bypassing the solenoid only engages the IWEs, the TC will work as usual. When you replaced the halfshaft, did you make sure the teeth on the IWE were engaged before you torqued the spindle nut? 27-30ftlbs is required torque.
You will NOT have vacuum to the IWEs upon starting the engine. From 2017+, the IWEs stay engaged until the vehicle has been driven .5 mile. At that time, the solenoid is energized providing vacuum to the IWEs. This happens everytime you cycle the key.
Is this actually a hum, or sound like marbles being shaken in a can?
EDIT, my mistake, true, you won't have 4X4 with vacuum being fed to the IWEs continuously.
You will NOT have vacuum to the IWEs upon starting the engine. From 2017+, the IWEs stay engaged until the vehicle has been driven .5 mile. At that time, the solenoid is energized providing vacuum to the IWEs. This happens everytime you cycle the key.
Is this actually a hum, or sound like marbles being shaken in a can?
EDIT, my mistake, true, you won't have 4X4 with vacuum being fed to the IWEs continuously.
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 1,380
From: Damascus, MD
Hey Johnday, I wanted to see if i could pick your brain about this.. i have the same issue i think.. well its different the 4x4 is engaged until i drive .5 miles but the weird thing at least weird to me is that i start the truck via app or key fob from the house and wait about 10 or so minutes before getting in. shouldn't the vacuum happen prior while warming up? i use this truck as a service truck so i am starting and stopping all day several times a day.. im not sure where to start. im guessing changing out the solenoid perhaps? crazy thing is when i go looking for it at autozone or somewhere like that using my specific truck it says i dont have that part.. however i literally see it on the driver side firewall of my truck.. i dont know man its driving me crazy. pulling out of a parking stall in 4x4 on dry pavement isn't fun. it hurts to hear the axel bind up for a second.. any way to totally bypass this solenoid until i figure this out?