vacum pulse hubs on 98 ranger

[fl wv zuker]

bought truck wrecked. the passenger side fender was hit and smashed the oval vacum cannister between the fender and inner fender. Couldnt find an oval one to match so i got a smaller ball shaped on off a newer explorer. Transfer case works fine in 4 hi and 4low but no front wheel pull. Does it matter which cannister is used? And if I switch the hubs to manual ones will the vacuum cannister matter any more.

Also the heater controls are not working... floor/defrost/vent etc. This is ran off the same cannister right?

Greatly appreciate any feed back.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Apr04/offroad.htm

Here's a tech article in our library showing you how to modify the hubs to stay locked all the time. The Ford Rangers with IFS D35 front axles from 2001 on (including my truck) are all live axles (in simpler terms "Ford dropped the vac hubs and allowed the front axle/cv joints/driveshaft to spin with road speed). There is hardly any drag and it is reliable as the only failing point of 4wd not engaging is at the transfer case. So, go ahead and lock them. Your 98 shares the same front drivetrain as the newer 4x4s except for the hubs.

 

[jayboy1015]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Apr04/offroad.htm

Here's a tech article in our library showing you how to modify the hubs to stay locked all the time. The Ford Rangers with IFS D35 front axles from 2001 on (including my truck) are all live axles (in simpler terms "Ford dropped the vac hubs and allowed the front axle/cv joints/driveshaft to spin with road speed). There is hardly any drag and it is reliable as the only failing point of 4wd not engaging is at the transfer case. So, go ahead and lock them. Your 98 shares the same front drivetrain as the newer 4x4s except for the hubs.

After a bit of research... maybe you can help confirm.

Up until 2001, the 4x4 was activated in 2 places. At the wheel and at the transfer case. In other words, the wheels freewheel on the axle and the axle freewheels at the transfer case.

After 2001, the 4x4 is only engaged at the transfer case. So the wheels and axles always spin at road speed (known as a live axle, right?), but the axle freewheels at the transfercase.

Reason being, is I have a 99 that intermittently works. Sometimes it engages, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it winds and clunks and sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately it has the PVH's and I've had the problem ever since I replaced the wheel bearing/hub assembly. I can't tell you how many times I've taken them back apart to check/replace o-rings/lube up and it still only works intermittently. What's worse, is I discovered last night that it pops out of 4x4 and I'm trying to get the cheapest fix.

Right now, I'm thinking I'll follow the article on permanently engaging the PVH, which will make it like the 2001+.
If that doesn't fix it, then replace the transfer case motor

What do you guys think...?

Thanks for all the help.

 

[fl wv zuker]

thank you

Thank you for the tech article. We will be doing this this weekend.