swapping parts

[danbelt20]

looking to swap the hubs from a 99 explorer to a 99 ranger.im told my hubs wont hold vacuum long enough to engage.this is my first time in a forum so i hope im doing this the rite way.what do i do?will the hubs interchange and is there anything else that could be causing this issue?ive been working on cars for 20 years so im no novice yet this will be my first crack at 4x4 repair.i have 3 4x4 trucks and issues with 2 of them ive been a chevy guy for years but i just cant get over how much stronger the fords are.both trucks are push button 4x4 4.0 engines and matching drive train.can anyone help me?

 

[Doofy]

4x4 wasn't working on my '98 and it turned out to be a stupid fuse. Relays clicked and the 4x4 lights worked...just would not lock the hubs. I farted around for a couple of hours trying to pull some vacuum on the hubs with a vacuum tester but never got anywhere. I think the fuse was for the back-up lights too.

 

[Schrec050584]

manual locking hubs

i got a different set of hubs for my ranger and they wont fi because the axle is to big. Was wondering if it is possible to enterchange parts and take the part that slide onto the axle and swap it from the old hubs to the new hubs? both sets are manual locking hubs.

 

[bmerr98]

looking to swap the hubs from a 99 explorer to a 99 ranger.im told my hubs wont hold vacuum long enough to engage.

Not sure if Explorer and Ranger front axles are the same. I know the rear are different (Explorer 8.8 has 31 spline where Ranger 8.8 has 28 spline). The Tech section may be helpful for you regarding what will swap with what.

PVH not getting enough vacuum may be as simple as replacing the vacuum hoses. They're out there in the weather and everything, and they've been there since 1999...things get old and crack, etc. I went to manual hubs on my 1998 and love them. Sure I have to get out and lock them in, but I never have to wonder if they're engaged or not.

BTW, there is a 10-20 second delay when engaging the PVH to give time for vacuum to build. Might just need to be more patient. Probably leaky hoses though.

 

[enjr44]

I may be completely off target; but, if it were me, I think I would test them with a vacuum pump. Something like this http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...h_vacuum+tester_-1_3704&keyword=vacuum+tester

I think you can find them on ebay or Harbor Freight for a lot less. Anyway, hooked directly to the hubs, it would tell you if the hubs are leaking and how bad the leak is. If the hubs are ok it is the the lines. You can test the lines with the same tool. If you get no vacuum on the lines then it is probably electrical.

If it is the hubs, I would probably replace with manual locking hubs. The whole idea of vacuum hubs seems very dumb to me. And trying to find hubs from something else that would fit would take more time than it is worth.

Ed