4X4 mechanics

[zabbo]

Just wondering... had an alignment done on my 2010 F150 Lariat. Well, of course they had to replace upper ball joint on drivers side and lower ball joints on both sides. Not cheap. Now the question. Snowed here in Calgary, turn on the 4X4 and I'm hearing some strange sounds. A klunk or two. Get on some clear pavement and try some tight turns. No flop flop of U joints. Pretty sure one or maybe both hubs not locking up. Can this be a result of replacing ball joints?? The shop says no, but it seems very coincidental. Not sure if they have to work around the hubs or not. Definitely very close together. Any thoughts???

Thx in advance.

[sjr]

Those Ford F150 have real bad plastic vacuum lines that used to lock -unlock in the hubs . First thing I would have checked .

[sweld]

They had to take the hubs apart to change the ball joints. Didn’t put some back together properly.


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[zabbo]

Originally Posted by sweld

They had to take the hubs apart to change the ball joints. Didn’t put some back together properly.


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You are the second person to tell me that. I'm just trying to be sure I have this correct. The shop that did the work is denying doing anything with the hubs. Thanks for the input!

[Stinky Buffalo]

Double check to ensure the vacuum lines are still attached to the actuators. It could be that they were removed and not reconnected.

You'll see them connected in this part of this video: https://youtu.be/iMnNMvzOrKA?t=411

[urban rednek]

Originally Posted by zabbo

You are the second person to tell me that. I'm just trying to be sure I have this correct. The shop that did the work is denying doing anything with the hubs. Thanks for the input!

They changed the lower ball joints without touching the IWE?
Check out this video, it will give you a much better idea what they had to do. To save you ome time, 13:50 to 15:50 shows the removal of the CV shaft and IWE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa_OsfQHFcg

To be fair, your truck is 10 years old and this doesn't prove they damaged it while installing new lower ball joints, but it does show they are not honest about the work they do.
Which shop?

[zabbo]

Just an update on the current situation. Took the truck back to the shop, had them check out the alignment, had some doubts it was totally right. Cross member on steering wheel was cocked off to the drivers side a little bit. They made a couple "minor adjustments" and that seems to be ok now. Said they checked out the 4X4 and there was ice in one of the vacuum lines. Long story short, the 4X4 is definitely engaging now. I'm kind of thinking one of the lines was left disconnected?? Never had any kind of issues with the system before. Kal Tire, Calgary. They seem to have fixed the issues, but I'll have to see how I feel by the time I need new tires. Not sure I will go back.

Anyway, thanks for the replies.

[Savage Bacon]

Ice in the vacuum line sounds like shop lingo for "we forgot about the vacuum line". Glad you got it fixed!

It's hard to discredit a shop because of a mistake. Every shop makes them. Being in a rush or under pressure makes a person forget silly things.

But... forgetting small things.. no big deal. Forgetting big things.. can kill you. A friend had his tires rotated at the dealership on his newish 1ton truck. Noticed the alignment felt off. When he got home he noticed all of the drivers side front lug nuts finger tight. I would have been mad. He laughed it off.

[zabbo]

Well, with the new snow on the roads I engage the 4X4 and it seems to be working, but sometimes when I step on the gas there is clunk from the front end. I think from the drives side hub. Now I'm not sure what to think. Something is definitely not right. Watched the video you sent Urban Redneck. Thanks. Seems very obvious to me they had to pull the hub apart to change the lower ball joints. I can understand a mistake or forgot to connect a vac line, admit the mistake fix it and move on, but it really burns me when I get the feeling somebody is blowing smoke where the sun don't shine!

I'll keep you updated.

[urban rednek]

I posted these videos in another thread about a humming noise coming from the front end while in 2WD. They explain both the firewall mounted solenoid and the IWE. Don't think there was much discussion of clunking in 4WD.

These videos from FordTechMakuloco are worth watching. Couple of easy things to check.
Vacuum solenoid test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6b7FQOsbvI
Clicking and humming IWE diagnosis and replacement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqihvBDPEZc

If nothing is obvious on your truck, and you would like a recommendation other than a dealership, E-Mortal Customs on the corner of Ogden Road and Blackfoot Trail will get it sorted out for you. Besides being a Guru of custom fabrication, Rick is a stand up guy who does more than just work on Jeeps.

[zabbo]

Originally Posted by urban rednek

I posted these videos in another thread about a humming noise coming from the front end while in 2WD. They explain both the firewall mounted solenoid and the IWE. Don't think there was much discussion of clunking in 4WD.

These videos from FordTechMakuloco are worth watching. Couple of easy things to check.
Vacuum solenoid test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6b7FQOsbvI
Clicking and humming IWE diagnosis and replacement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqihvBDPEZc

If nothing is obvious on your truck, and you would like a recommendation other than a dealership, E-Mortal Customs on the corner of Ogden Road and Blackfoot Trail will get it sorted out for you. Besides being a Guru of custom fabrication, Rick is a stand up guy who does more than just work on Jeeps.

Thx Urban. Put it back in 4X4 later in the day and it seemed to be ok?? Just a bit concerned that I may do more damage by continuing to use the 4X4. In the immortal words of the DONALD.....we'll see what happens!

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by zabbo

Just an update on the current situation. Took the truck back to the shop, had them check out the alignment, had some doubts it was totally right. Cross member on steering wheel was cocked off to the drivers side a little bit. They made a couple "minor adjustments" and that seems to be ok now. Said they checked out the 4X4 and there was ice in one of the vacuum lines. Long story short, the 4X4 is definitely engaging now. I'm kind of thinking one of the lines was left disconnected?? Never had any kind of issues with the system before. Kal Tire, Calgary. They seem to have fixed the issues, but I'll have to see how I feel by the time I need new tires. Not sure I will go back.

Anyway, thanks for the replies.

Glad u got it working. Definitely find a new shop to deal with. Kal Tire is not known for great mechanical work, tire shop only and you have a better option for those since you are in Calgary. Go see Tire Bob.

Since you still have clunking in the front end I would not just assume that the 4x4 engaging solved the whole problem. Having a front hub blow or lock on slippery roads could be a big problem. Take it to someone who specialises in 4x4, there were a couple of recommendations in this thread, and get them to check it out.

If there were things Kal didn't do, take them the bill and make them pay it. I did that with the Kal in St Albert about 5 years ago. They changed the right front knuckle on my Dodge 2500 and you have to pull the axle to do that. They didn't bother putting in new seals, total cost 8 bucks. Drove to Phoenix and it was leaking like a sieve. Had it fixed at the Dodge dealer, Kal covered the roughly $300 in costs, including exchange. Never used Kal for anything but Nokian tires again.

[Ken07AOVette]

Originally Posted by Savage Bacon

Ice in the vacuum line sounds like shop lingo for "we forgot about the vacuum line".

Agree 100%

What a crock. Total BS.