2006 Lariat - I hear a squeak coming from the front wheel area, sounds like the drivers side, but it will go away if I put it into 4x4. When I move it back to 2x4 the squeak starts again. Not sure if it eventually goes away after I drive awhile, but I know for sure it's there every time I start. Any idea what that could be?

 

I read on another site that this could be a solenoid that needs to be replaced. Does that sound right?

 

It could be the solenoid. If you dont have the one with the cover up top then it wouldnt hurt to swap it out. Get you a vacuum guage, rentable at auto zone, and check the actuator for leaks. Pump it up to 15 to 20 ( cover the other vacuum nipple ) and if it loses vacuum quick then the actuator is bad. If both actuators check out, then follow the vacuum lines from the solenoids and you will find your check valves. Disconnect them one at a time and blow through them. You should be able to blow through one side and not the other. If both of those check out then check the vacuum box behind tbe battery for cracks.

 

First off thanks a ton for your response, you've given me a great starting point. I checked the the actuator on the firewall and it has a top cover. I will test both nipples on that and see how it checks out.

Are the solenoids on the front wheels, or where can I find those? Also is the vacuum box close to the actuator? On my truck the actuator is mounted directly behind the battery on the firewall.

 

Wait, is the solenoid and the actuator actually the same part? I'm so confused!

 

No. The actuator is behind the rotor on both sides. You wi ll see two vacuum hoses plgged into it. Unplug them. Cover one if the nipples with your finger and attach the line to the other fitting. Vacuum it to 15 to 20. If you lose vaccum at a steady rate then the actuator is bad. If it holds over a min time then its good. The vaccum reservoir is behind your battery. The solenoid it the little back thing on the firewall. You have to remove your battery to check the reservoir box. Do that last though if you dont find your issue by then.

 

Awesome, I will get the tester, check everything out and, it may take a couple days, but I will post what I find. Thanks again for the help, it's much appreciated it.

 

i had the exact problem a couple weeks ago, had to replace the vaccum actuator. apparently F150s are famous for that problem because we have a vacuum actuated 4WD

 

Are the actuator and the IWE the same thing? From what I've found online it looks like people use those two terms to describe the same part. Or is the actuator part of the IWE?

I have a vacuum tester coming in today, so hopefully I will know what the issue is soon.

 

Got the tester and checked the actuators. Passenger side was slow to leak down, which could be an issue with the crappy tester I have. On the drivers side I couldn't even get pressure in it, just kept pumping and pumping and nothing would stay.