Hi all!

My right hub is shot...stays locked in with good vacuum to the hub.

How hard is it to change the hub? It looks like five bolts once the brake hardware is removed? Is the hub pressed in or should it come out easily once unbolted?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Regards!

 

Sounds more like an IWE stuck......LOTS of info in the "How to do" section.

 

Yeah...that is what I meant!

 

You should take off the IWE and inspect the gear teeth to see if they are wore down. This will tell you if it is the actuator (IWE) or if you have a vacuum problem somewhere amongst the system. It could be as simple as a plugged line or a bad solenoid. It could also be a check valve but I dont think that is the problem or a plugged line.

To get a look at the IWE teeth, I would take the whole spindle off...you could also leave it just on the lower ball joint. Then the actuator is held on by 3 bolts (I forget the size-smaller than 10mm).

Like stated above, there is a really good thread in the How-To section on how to diagnose your IWE system. Take a look and see if it helps you out. I just replaced my entire front end (ball joints, control arms, sway bar bushings, hub assemblies, and unfortunately 2 new cam bolts) 2 weekends ago and I installed my lift myself so I have been in there several times messing around. Got to love the 100,000 mile mark.....

 

I'm 99.9% sure its the IWE that is messed up...

Had new Rancho Quick Lift Loaded's installed back in July, along with a rt. axle due to torn boot...it has been making noise ever since...tested the vacuum at the actuator. It has about 23" of vacuum at the actuator, and used a vacuum ppump to see if it would release...it didn't...also mpg's went down by about 2 mpg...

I just need to fix this...

I tried to install the struts myself...couldn't get the upper ball joint apart to get the strut in, so I had a local shop do it..hence the torn boot (my bad)...but they won't cop to the locked up IWE...they looked at it and said that it's my center cap making noise, even though I have described the problem in great detail (thank you F150 online)and the fix...

So, I'm trying to decide if I want to tear into it myself...the upper joint I am hoping will come apart easier this time?

Regards!

 

So I bought a new IWE P/N 3C247 $ 127.47 at the local dealer, and I wanted to get the replacement nuts (Axle, Tie Rod End, and Upper Ball Joint)...nuts not in stock. I ordered the axle nut $ 4.00, but didn't get the others because they aparently come in a pack of 4, and the dealer wont sell just one...I guess I am off to the parts stores...

I have also downloaded the instructions for changing...the instructions indicate that the IWE must be installed on the axle, then inserted into the spindle...I guess that is where everything probably went wrong when the axle was changed back in July...they probably should have pulled the IWE off, and put it on the new axle, then installed into the spindle...

Hopefully everything works out when I install it...was hoping to do it tomorrow...I may take it back to the people that installed the axle and see if they will install it...like at no charge...

 

So I purchased the IWE, and had it installed on Wednesday. Wow, what a difference!

The right IWE in my truck was destroyed...it was in multiple pieces.

The truck is now much more quiet inside, and doesn't feel like it has an anchor dragging behind it!