Ford 4 Wheel Drive Question

Grit dog wrote:

Ductape wrote:
There is more misinformation on this thread than you can know.

Fords with auto hubs use vacuum to unlock. A broken hose will lock the hubs.

Knob on the dash you have auto hubs vacuum operated for sure.

Lever on the floor may have manual hubs, may have auto vacuum hubs, depending on year and options installed.

^This.
And basically the "locking hubs" that are on every truck with auto locking hubs are for bling. Took a while to understand. I think Ford glommed onto the "built ford tough" look and has basically made an unnneded feature a selling point. Although when the auto locker c raps out which is known to happen (who uses vacuum operated anything anymore? Lol) the bling lockers will still work

Kind of like the ding dongs that are still installing locking hubs on the newer Rams with the center axle disconnect. A lot of $ to keep 2 u joints from turning!

Actually the locking hubs on my Super Duty have both auto mode (they engage via the switch on the dash) and manual mode (Used if the auto feature fails you have to get out of the truck and turn them to lock mode). This is the best and most robust setup of the three IMO. It's very rare that you see a Super Duty that's front axles are spinning during 2 wheel drive mode. I believe the GM trucks front axles are designed to turn during two wheel drive mode and I see a lot of rams front axles turning during two wheel drive mode as well.

Also if you would like the aftermarket makes some really good locking hubs for the Super Duty's as well and I for one am glad Ford didn't mess with a good thing with the '17 Super Duty's.

At 115k miles and almost 5 years I haven't had a glitch with the electric shifting system on my Super Duty. Actually had to use it last Saturday while pulling my boat out of a slippery boat ramp.