I came across a YouTube Short and Facebook post from the FordTechMakuloco pages. I understand there are mixed opinions about this guy—good, bad, or otherwise—but that's not why I'm here. My concern is more technical.

If your IWEs fail and you follow Ford's suggested "fix" (as I understand it) by disconnecting the IWE vacuum line, does that essentially mean you're always in 4A, regardless if the switch is in 2H or 4A?

From my understanding of the 4WD system on trucks with the 4A option, engaging 4A locks the IWEs, while a clutch in the transfer case then varies power to the front wheels as needed. AKA torque on demand as I have seen it explained from time to time.

I know when it's in 2H the truck isn't doing anything with the transfer case to change the torque applied, but nonetheless that whole setup is still spinning.

I have my IWEs disconnected due to a vacuum leak somewhere in that system I don't care to fix (maybe I will now), but I don't experience any hopping when sharp turning or anything now so I also wonder how I'm not experiencing if everything is still basically engaged up front.

In short, is switching between 2H and 4A really just a matter of engaging or disengaging the IWEs, and changing how the transfer case control module controls the clutch?

Here is the YouTube short I am talking about: Here is the Facebook post he made actually demonstrating the transfer case is always spinning Edit: I can't put the Facebook link here, but it is on his page if you look for it.

 

Locking the hubs via IWE simply means the CVs will spin with the wheels. Thats it. In 4A the transfer case will apply power to the front wheels via transfer case when needed.

To answer your question, no the hubs being engaged is not the same as being in 4A for those reasons.

 

Bingo. If it makes you feel any better, 2024+ trucks don't have IWEs at all, the CVs are spinning all the time.

Also, I wasn't aware of any widespread controversy of opinion around FTM's channel, you sure you're not thinking about that channel FordBoss?

 

Not so much bad mouthing here, but other platforms I see a lot of it. Wasn't sure how people stand here regarding his content.

 

Ford Boss Me has gone mostly politics. Changes the name of his channel accordingly;.