My hubs won't lock and I am guessing they are broken. I tried unhooking vacuum hoses manually to make them lock. I got stuck like chuck in the mud. My question is has anyone heard of any upgraded locking hubs for our trucks?

 

On the original question for the hubs, I haven't found anything personally. I tried looking for manual locking hubs but found nothing. Maybe someone else can chime in.

As for the hubs not locking:

Mine did the same and it ended up being the IWE solenoid (cuts vacuum to hubs for 4x4). With the truck off if you switch between 2WD and 4WD you should hear a click from the IWE solenoid (even from inside the cab). I tested mine by hooking up a hose to one of the ports and I could blow air through either way with it powered and unpowered. If it's working correctly vacuum should be cut when powered.

I have also heard of it being the vacuum reservoir but I'd check the solenoid first personally.

When the IWE solenoid goes it shouldn't light the 4x4 indicator. Mine was still providing proper resistance to actually make the 4x4 lights come on and off even though it wasn't doing anything. In many cases if the IWE is dead (shorted, whatever) it won't even light up. Since I was stuck, all I did was unplugged the vacuum line from the solenoid and my hubs locked (not at the actual hubs). After testing, I replaced it and it's been fine since.

 

If the solenoid isn't working the hubs usually engage all the time, the fact that yours are not engaging when you disconnect the lines suggests the IWE's could be siezed.

I bought a couple of new ones last week and found it was my solenoind and hoses, so I had a pair in Houston going cheap if you are interested or if you need them!

 

My 4wd lights were on and cv shafts spinning but tires wouldn't turn. I also unhooked vacuum hoses to try and manually lock hubs still just hear clicking when I give it gas.

 

Yeah that is your 4wd actuators...you need new ones. They are like 80 apiece on rock auto i believe. I need a new driver side one come spring. When you activate your 4x4, the teeth on your CV shaft will try to catch the teeth on your actuator but those teeth are worn down too much to catch. Hopefully, it is just the actuator that needs to be replaced. 9/10 times thats the case. The teeth on the actuator are a softer metal than the CV shaft teeth so thats why they wear first. If you let it grind too long, you may end up destroying the CV teeth and needing new half shafts.

There is a really good thread on F150online on this problem and how to replace them. If you put on your lift, you can easily replace these actuators. It requires taking the knuckles off of the truck and taking out the 3 bolts that hold the actuator to the knuckle. Then just grease the new one and bolt it on the knuckle.

 

Thanks do you have the thread page? I chaned my passenger side hub about 8k miles ago. I wonder since stacked my truck if that's why I breaking them so quick

 

Markdas, I agree that the IWE solenoid could keep the hubs engaged if it's plugged. On our trucks, the default position (unpowered) is to allow vacuum to flow. In my case, energizing it would not plug it (cutting vacuum to the hubs, allowing the springs in the IWE's to engage the hubs). Now, I don't have experience with the water issue (old part, not having the hood over the IWE solenoid) and I could see that plugged thus doing the reverse as you say. I actually experienced it though where the hubs would not lock myself. I was stuck for quite a while, once I pulled vacuum line from the solenoid the hubs locked and I drove off. I was able to control locking the hubs that way for the week while I waited for the new solenoid.

Regardless though, after seeing knezat225's response it does sound like now it's an issue with the IWE actuators themselves now. It almost sounds like they're not engaging all of the way and you're grinding out the splines?

 

http://m.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371599

http://m.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371618

The 2nd one is the better one with pictures on the install and such. If those links dont work, go to F150online and click on the How-To and Articles section and the links are in the first couple pages. I know these links were posted on this forum before in other threads that deal with the IWE system. I have posted them several times before in other similar threads. Search away!!

 

I think I'm having these problems because I stacked my lift and my cvs are in a bind so what I'm about to price out is getting a full length strut built that's 1" shorter and get a full lift leak pack for the rear then do a body lift!

 

That is definitely a possibility