Can anyone tell me how exactly the actuator works, i know all about the vacuum when u turn the pickup on it disengages the hubs and when u turn the pickup off or in 4wd the vacuum releases and engages the hubs. But does the actuator have some kind of spring inside of it that when the vacuum is released that spring kicks it in to engage or what? Asked mechanic at the dealership and all he could say was "I dont have a clue." I have the passenger side taken apart and was messing with it and was just curious. I appreciate anything yall have to say

 

Yes there is a spring. The vacuum pressure retracts the spring/gear from the splines on the wheel hub when the engine is running and you're in 2WD. What a great mechanic you got to talk to!

Towards the end of this thread there is a good cut-away diagram of the IWE.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...replacing.html

 

Yeah ive read through that before, glad i did too the stearlership here wanted 140 for the actuator and seen where he bought his from tascaparts, so saved me money there. But i appreciate ur information, ive had it disassembled for a couple days waiting for my actuator and hub to get here, and been playing with it and knew there had to be something in there like a spring or something but wasnt sure.

 

if your mechanic told me he didnt have a clue how the IWE worked, i would get a new mechanic!!

they are very simple to understand, or replace. thats just not cool..... i bet he doesnt have a clue how tie rod works either!

 

He probably got tired of me asking him questions, I went in earlier in the week and was talking to the guy for the first time, so maybe he was just being a **** since he wasnt making any money off of me. Id much rather learn to do it myself anyways so if thats the case oh well, I cant imagine that him being a Ford mechanic he wouldnt know how the IWE worked

 

This guy does a good job explaining things, for the video inclined.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=148Eal6lBX8