You want the IWE disengaged with vacuum...not engaged. Note that the instructions want NO CV joint rotation!!

Interesting how it looks like the instructions you have kinda use a Ford manual but leave out the important part about applying vacuum.

I wonder how many people don't use a torque wrench on this little nut!!

This is from the factory service manual

 

Yes, Ford does say to use vacuum to install. TBH, I never have, I just insure things are lined up. I'll stick the axle in as far it will go, then slowly turn the rotor until the teeth engage. You'll know right away when they do, the halfshaft will want to turn. Then I torque down the axle nut. It's done the same way as in that video I attached on replacing an IWE.

 

Your truck must have been built just before they came out with the Transfer Case Control Module programmed from the factory, to delay vacuum to the IWE's. Just curious, do you know when your truck was built?

 

Feb 2018

EDIT: looks like that TSB was done late in 2018. Of course easy to just bypass the control valve and apply vacuum that way or use a manual vacuum pump. Of course now they have a TSB which just keeps the IWEs engaged all the time which is just a stupid fix...or as I call it...throw your hands up in the air and give up.

 

Yep, yep, you could do that.
I should have attached that TSB, sorry, would have saved you the hunt.

 

Didn't take long.