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Honestly, the grinding is the locking collar hitting the hub once in a while. You won’t do any major damage if corrected promptly. Mine have been grinding on and off for the past few months until I finally fixed it a few weeks ago. The hub was perfectly fine. Here’s what my hub actuators looked like.
I ended up replacing both hub actuators, check valve and solenoid. Thankfully it’s been fine since.
I honestly think nothing was wrong with any part of my truck expect the actuators. I ended up replacing the other stuff since it was cheap.
Thanks so much! Commonly failed part? I read alot about them on here.
I just got my 18 and left a Tacoma. Was amazed at how quick the 4wd engaged and how quiet the system is comparatively
Unfortunately, yes, a common failure. That's the first I've seen of Jhous failure like that though. In some cases, it can be as simple as $10 checkvalve. Takes a bit more looking and testing for vacuum leaks after that. No amount of poking around would have found Jhous's problem other than very close inspection, and knowing what you're looking at.
Trick to prevent more damage, is to get the system looked at ASAP, if you're not comfortable troubleshooting. It's a pretty simple system really. The grinding will eventually damage the IWE to the point of having to replace. The IWE isn't always the root cause.
I had two OEM actuators and a Dorman fail the same way. Most that have failed recently are under warranty and people don’t get to see the part. All we ever see is “Dealer replaced both wheel ends” but in reality they fail just like mine. It’s really the only way they fail. It’s rare the actual vacuum diaphragms fail.
Now both my OEM parts probably failed due to poor installing during a level kit install. The dorman however, that one started to fail just after a few hundred miles after a proper install.
My truck currently has 2 OEM ones with no issues so far. I know they will fail again so I have two spares. I also did dual check valves in case one fails.
I have had them fail that way,several Ford and Dorman. A no name china one lasted 3 months when the other Ford one started humming. That's when I took them out and put in the eliminator kit. They end up starting to separate then get water/moisture in them and rust and corrode.
What would be the consequence of not repairing a grinding front left IWE (or hub actuator) over a prolonged period- say a year?
I have already noticed:
a significant drop in mpg (18.7 city/hwy avg down to 13-14 mpg avg over the last several months).
The intermittent grinding noise that my front left wheel hub used to make seems to have been replaced by an ever-present "friction" noise (constant grinding or rubbing) that the dealer believes is tire noise, but this noise only comes from the front left wheel and sounds like 4-wheel drive is always engaged on that hub.
What's the benefit of the eliminators vs. unplugging the solenoid?
With just unplugging the solenoid your still relying on the spring pressure in the IWE to keep it locked in 4 wheel drive. Mine the spring pressure got weak and would pop and bang as it slipped out of 4 wheel. After replacing it for humming in 2 wheel it was good for awhile but then the other side went.Then from it being bad so long (cause the dealer couldn't hear it) it wore the edge of the gear on the cv so it wouldn't engage properly. The eliminator kit is made from stronger metal and is wider for more gear tooth contact. Eventually IWE leak get moisture and rust the spring. So this eliminates the iwe and the vacuum system.
