6.0L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 6.0L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 2003-Up Super Duties and Excursions. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 6.0L Power Stroke engine.
This past summer I rebuilt my front axle including the bearing hubs and hub locks (of course I replaced all seals and orings). At that time the ESOF in Auto worked great. Well we are getting ready to drive to Michigan for Xmas so yesterday I decided to test ESOF. It did not lock in, the Hubs are not holding a vacuum again, which I discovered with my vacuum gauge.
Now for the question...I don't have the time, or money to tear into it or replace parts. I remember reading of members replacing the Auto Hubs with Warn units and capping off the system. What is the difference between that an just locking in the factory hubs and capping the system off? And where should it be capped? Also, is it acceptable to just leave them locked all the time and what are the consequences?
Thanks in advance.
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Martin - Fort Worth, Texas
2003 F-250 FX-4 --Build Date February 23, 2003 - 180,000 Miles -- Rotella T6 5W40 Synthetic - the only oil with Hot Shots Secrets -- Diamond Mfg. Brushguard - Made In Texas -- 4" Banks Turbo Back Exhaust - strictly straight pipe -- EDGE CS with Attitude and Turbo Down Timer/Pyro (Set on Level 3) -- Upgraded Oil Cooler International 1171962R1 (Dec 2009) -- EGR Block-off Kit (Dec 2009) -- Upgraded HPOP International 2591022C91 (Jan 2011) -- Upgraded Oil Drain Tube Ford 6C3Z-9T515 (Jan 2011) -- New Steering Stablizer (May 2011) -- Upgraded Fuel Pressure Regulator (blue spring) Ford 3C3Z-9T517-AG (June 2011) -- Rousch/Autometer Electronic Fuel Pressure Gauge (July 2011) -- ProForm Fabrication Front Leveling Shackles (July 2011) -- Dfuser Coolant Filter (July 2011) -- New Vacuum Hub Solenoid 7C3Z 9H465A (October 2011) -- New Motorcraft Thermostat RT1169 (November 2011) -- Bilstein 5125 Shocks 33-185569 Front and 33-185552 Rear (December 2011) -- New Sway Bar Links and Bushings Front and Back (December 2011) -- ARP Studs with Ford Motorcraft Head Gasket (December 2011) -- Moog Ball Joints K860T and K80026 (December 2011) -- Rebuilt front axle, repack bearings - Needle bearing No.C6TZ-3123A -- Glow Plug Control Module (November 2012) -- LH Glow Plug Harness and #4 Glow Plug (December 2012) -- Warn Hubs 38826 (December 2012)
Although I haven't had any personal experience with the aftermarket units, in answer to your question regarding the idea of leaving the front hubs engaged all the time, your fuel economy will dip a little due to the drag of spinning the front axle with no power flow through it. Have you isolated which hub is not holding vacuum? Or is it your PVH solenoid that has failed?
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Ford Diesel/Senior/Master Tech
....who works at a dealership that now employs SOME half decent looking female employees since they overhauled most of the administrative staff
....and STILL hates working on E-Series with 6.0LFord Diesel/Senior/Master Tech
neither one of them is holding a vacuum. I took the entire front axle apart a few months ago and replaced all seals and the yellow orings on the inside. I also rebuilt the auto locking hubs as per guzzle's instructions and they worked great after that. Now, when I put a vacuum gauge to them, neither one of the is holding a vacuum, however, when I switched to 4wd yesterday to test the system did not go to the defrost default it stayed on vents.
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Martin - Fort Worth, Texas
2003 F-250 FX-4 --Build Date February 23, 2003 - 180,000 Miles -- Rotella T6 5W40 Synthetic - the only oil with Hot Shots Secrets -- Diamond Mfg. Brushguard - Made In Texas -- 4" Banks Turbo Back Exhaust - strictly straight pipe -- EDGE CS with Attitude and Turbo Down Timer/Pyro (Set on Level 3) -- Upgraded Oil Cooler International 1171962R1 (Dec 2009) -- EGR Block-off Kit (Dec 2009) -- Upgraded HPOP International 2591022C91 (Jan 2011) -- Upgraded Oil Drain Tube Ford 6C3Z-9T515 (Jan 2011) -- New Steering Stablizer (May 2011) -- Upgraded Fuel Pressure Regulator (blue spring) Ford 3C3Z-9T517-AG (June 2011) -- Rousch/Autometer Electronic Fuel Pressure Gauge (July 2011) -- ProForm Fabrication Front Leveling Shackles (July 2011) -- Dfuser Coolant Filter (July 2011) -- New Vacuum Hub Solenoid 7C3Z 9H465A (October 2011) -- New Motorcraft Thermostat RT1169 (November 2011) -- Bilstein 5125 Shocks 33-185569 Front and 33-185552 Rear (December 2011) -- New Sway Bar Links and Bushings Front and Back (December 2011) -- ARP Studs with Ford Motorcraft Head Gasket (December 2011) -- Moog Ball Joints K860T and K80026 (December 2011) -- Rebuilt front axle, repack bearings - Needle bearing No.C6TZ-3123A -- Glow Plug Control Module (November 2012) -- LH Glow Plug Harness and #4 Glow Plug (December 2012) -- Warn Hubs 38826 (December 2012)
So you hooked your vacuum gauge/pump directly to the axle/knuckle nipples to test for vacuum leaks?
I just replaced both my front esof hubs. One was so hard to turn the dial I had to use pliers. Used guzzle's instructions to clean/lube but issue was with dial. Can't take that apart so ordered new ones from Tasca parts on ebay. $389 delivered for a pair brand new. Ouch! $$$
Still isn't working. Tested in snow today. Manual locking works fine. No defrost issues. Rubber hoses in wheel wells going to axle either side almost come apart in my fingers so getting new vacuum hoses tomorrow.
I have an odd bearing type noise, originally throught it was front axle as one of my old esof hubs was locked up. New hub didn't solve that. So I'm chasing bearings now... ordered new wheel hub bearing units for the front end. Fixed ball joints passenger side now have to do driver's side so I'm gonna replace both front bearings units with brand new timken ones in the next couple of weeks. Next is gonna be rear axle bearing inspection. Goddamnit.
Maybe transmission is on the way out and it's a bearing in there... temps seem ok though. Next year I'm replacing it with a HD unit from Edmonton, Canada.
My fuel economy dropped from about 17-18mpg to 12-13mpg a few months ago so something's screwed up.
2009 VW Jetta 2.0TDI 6spd Highline full load except nav. 19" Audi RS6 rims. REVO tuned. AS7609 navi head unit 7" touch, Custom fiberglass box MD Sound 12" & Boss NXD5500 amp. Tint is next.
Last edited by westvandude; 12-09-2012 at 11:39 PM.
Always run the hubs in "FREE" since it will not engage the front axles and turn them while you drive. It could save some wear-and-tear and MPG. For your year the Warn hubs are a great upgrade and you plug both hub port where the vacuum line connects as well as the vacuum line.
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2006 F-350 CC PSD Lariat 4X4 LB 3.73 LS
Some stock stuff, some modded stuff, some deleted stuff.....
Good Morning everyone, Thanks for your answers, I might just have to bite the bullet and get the Warns.
In regard to your bearings, Ford tell us that the Bearings cannot be replaced or repacked, yet they sell the bearing without the hub. It is not that big a job, however you will want to have Axle/knuckle seals, orings and everything on hand. Also to replace the Axle seal you can make yourself a tool to drive it in, without buying it. I have all the info at home and will get it to you to rebuild your front axle.
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Martin - Fort Worth, Texas
2003 F-250 FX-4 --Build Date February 23, 2003 - 180,000 Miles -- Rotella T6 5W40 Synthetic - the only oil with Hot Shots Secrets -- Diamond Mfg. Brushguard - Made In Texas -- 4" Banks Turbo Back Exhaust - strictly straight pipe -- EDGE CS with Attitude and Turbo Down Timer/Pyro (Set on Level 3) -- Upgraded Oil Cooler International 1171962R1 (Dec 2009) -- EGR Block-off Kit (Dec 2009) -- Upgraded HPOP International 2591022C91 (Jan 2011) -- Upgraded Oil Drain Tube Ford 6C3Z-9T515 (Jan 2011) -- New Steering Stablizer (May 2011) -- Upgraded Fuel Pressure Regulator (blue spring) Ford 3C3Z-9T517-AG (June 2011) -- Rousch/Autometer Electronic Fuel Pressure Gauge (July 2011) -- ProForm Fabrication Front Leveling Shackles (July 2011) -- Dfuser Coolant Filter (July 2011) -- New Vacuum Hub Solenoid 7C3Z 9H465A (October 2011) -- New Motorcraft Thermostat RT1169 (November 2011) -- Bilstein 5125 Shocks 33-185569 Front and 33-185552 Rear (December 2011) -- New Sway Bar Links and Bushings Front and Back (December 2011) -- ARP Studs with Ford Motorcraft Head Gasket (December 2011) -- Moog Ball Joints K860T and K80026 (December 2011) -- Rebuilt front axle, repack bearings - Needle bearing No.C6TZ-3123A -- Glow Plug Control Module (November 2012) -- LH Glow Plug Harness and #4 Glow Plug (December 2012) -- Warn Hubs 38826 (December 2012)
A quick fix to get you through the upcoming trip is to unplug the electrical connector from the PVH Solenoid on the passenger side and use the OEM hubs just like you would a manual hub.
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2003 F250 XLT Sport Ext Cab ESOF FX4 6.0L TorqShift, Sonic Blue/Black Leather.
BrakeSmart Trailer Brake controller.
Leer Cab high Browning Edition Cap.
2004 SunnyBrook Solanta 28' TT small slide 7800#
35 Years in the trenches!
Retired Machinist & Manufacturing Engineer for fuel control systems for very large Diesel Engines. Locomotives to Super Tankers.
Designed and trouble shot manufacturing processes for stuff from Design Engineers. Sometimes had to wrestle for design changes.
Designed and built tools and equipment to machine, assemble, disassemble, repair and test.
Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
"Nothing is FOOLPROOF because fools are too ingenious"-Mark Twain
Well, came home after work and my wife had picked up a set of Warn Hubs. WOW...........
Installed them (took about 15 minutes), disconnected the black line from the solenoid and capped both end. Took it for a test drive in the neighborhood, all works great, as expected.
Probably good, since yesterday they closed 35 north due to snow and we are still a week and a half out. There will be more.
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Martin - Fort Worth, Texas
2003 F-250 FX-4 --Build Date February 23, 2003 - 180,000 Miles -- Rotella T6 5W40 Synthetic - the only oil with Hot Shots Secrets -- Diamond Mfg. Brushguard - Made In Texas -- 4" Banks Turbo Back Exhaust - strictly straight pipe -- EDGE CS with Attitude and Turbo Down Timer/Pyro (Set on Level 3) -- Upgraded Oil Cooler International 1171962R1 (Dec 2009) -- EGR Block-off Kit (Dec 2009) -- Upgraded HPOP International 2591022C91 (Jan 2011) -- Upgraded Oil Drain Tube Ford 6C3Z-9T515 (Jan 2011) -- New Steering Stablizer (May 2011) -- Upgraded Fuel Pressure Regulator (blue spring) Ford 3C3Z-9T517-AG (June 2011) -- Rousch/Autometer Electronic Fuel Pressure Gauge (July 2011) -- ProForm Fabrication Front Leveling Shackles (July 2011) -- Dfuser Coolant Filter (July 2011) -- New Vacuum Hub Solenoid 7C3Z 9H465A (October 2011) -- New Motorcraft Thermostat RT1169 (November 2011) -- Bilstein 5125 Shocks 33-185569 Front and 33-185552 Rear (December 2011) -- New Sway Bar Links and Bushings Front and Back (December 2011) -- ARP Studs with Ford Motorcraft Head Gasket (December 2011) -- Moog Ball Joints K860T and K80026 (December 2011) -- Rebuilt front axle, repack bearings - Needle bearing No.C6TZ-3123A -- Glow Plug Control Module (November 2012) -- LH Glow Plug Harness and #4 Glow Plug (December 2012) -- Warn Hubs 38826 (December 2012)
So.... $2.78 for 6' of vacuum hose and now my brand new replacement esof hubs work like new. :-)
If you don't have binding auto hubs (dial really hard to turn) chances are first culprit is the vacuum lines in the wheel well running from the upper fender liner down to the axle spigots. Less than 2' of hose either side takes 5mins or less to replace both sides. Just turn the wheel full left then right to do each side easy as pie.
2009 VW Jetta 2.0TDI 6spd Highline full load except nav. 19" Audi RS6 rims. REVO tuned. AS7609 navi head unit 7" touch, Custom fiberglass box MD Sound 12" & Boss NXD5500 amp. Tint is next.
I already replaced the hoses, no luck. I had replaced the solenoid when I rebuilt the axle back in August. Just tired of messing with it. The hubs turned easy and have been rebuilt every year as per guzzle instructions.
__________________
Martin - Fort Worth, Texas
2003 F-250 FX-4 --Build Date February 23, 2003 - 180,000 Miles -- Rotella T6 5W40 Synthetic - the only oil with Hot Shots Secrets -- Diamond Mfg. Brushguard - Made In Texas -- 4" Banks Turbo Back Exhaust - strictly straight pipe -- EDGE CS with Attitude and Turbo Down Timer/Pyro (Set on Level 3) -- Upgraded Oil Cooler International 1171962R1 (Dec 2009) -- EGR Block-off Kit (Dec 2009) -- Upgraded HPOP International 2591022C91 (Jan 2011) -- Upgraded Oil Drain Tube Ford 6C3Z-9T515 (Jan 2011) -- New Steering Stablizer (May 2011) -- Upgraded Fuel Pressure Regulator (blue spring) Ford 3C3Z-9T517-AG (June 2011) -- Rousch/Autometer Electronic Fuel Pressure Gauge (July 2011) -- ProForm Fabrication Front Leveling Shackles (July 2011) -- Dfuser Coolant Filter (July 2011) -- New Vacuum Hub Solenoid 7C3Z 9H465A (October 2011) -- New Motorcraft Thermostat RT1169 (November 2011) -- Bilstein 5125 Shocks 33-185569 Front and 33-185552 Rear (December 2011) -- New Sway Bar Links and Bushings Front and Back (December 2011) -- ARP Studs with Ford Motorcraft Head Gasket (December 2011) -- Moog Ball Joints K860T and K80026 (December 2011) -- Rebuilt front axle, repack bearings - Needle bearing No.C6TZ-3123A -- Glow Plug Control Module (November 2012) -- LH Glow Plug Harness and #4 Glow Plug (December 2012) -- Warn Hubs 38826 (December 2012)
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2003 F-250 FX-4
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