Integrated front wheel hub 4wd grinding $20 upgrade. “Save your front wheel hubs easily”

Many posts are here and out there about intermittent grinding noises from 4wd Expeditions and F150’s. Source is usually only partial vacuum getting to the vacuum operated front wheel hubs if you have 4wd.

Ford released a $20 vacuum hose for the front wheel hub (IWE) supply which has an updated blue one way check valve so vacuum stays in the box it attaches to which is a vacuum reservoir. This ensures strong vacuum to the front wheel hubs at all times to keep them disengaged in 2wd.

Poor vacuum results in them finding a partial position and grinding / damage can occur. The white valves were known to leak and not allow the vacuum to stay present at the tank.

For $20 and no tools, the updated vacuum hose can be installed in 5 minutes. Part number is FL3Z-3A788-b

Check under your hood on the drivers side firewall and see if you have the blue valve. Old style is the white valve in some of the photos. It’s a real easy install and worth it!

My 2017 has a blue one-way check valve from the factory. Did something change after 2018?

Mine has the white one...

Thanks for heads up.

I bought a new 2015 Expedition Limited 4x4.

While under the new-car warranty, the front hubs would chatter in 2WD when I would drive up a hill, just before the transmission would downshift (low engine vacuum as the vehicle was slowing uphill - almost as if the vehicle was lugging).

I took it to the dealer and they took one week to tell me there was nothing wrong and they could not duplicate the issue. On the way home, the issue recurred (I live in a hilly river valley).

I did an Internet search and quickly found a new Ford TSB that described the problem and instructed the dealer to replace the inline check valve (and not to test it). I bought the check valve at a different dealer and replaced it myself.

The original valve was white, and the new valve was blue. The TSB said nothing about a revised part, but did say to consider the suspect valve defective.

I do not have a copy or link to the original TSB. I do know that Ford has REPEATEDLY revised their TSB’s regarding the 4WD hub chatter.

I had just gotten back from a road trip when I saw this post. My car had been noisier than usual. Up to the present, I had two dealers who were unwilling or unable to eliminate the noise. I thought for the price, I would give it a try. Two tanks of gas (around 800 miles) and no noise. Many thanks to the author!

My 2019 Navigator has the blue one.

I wonder if this might be the source of my issue…

My 2022 Expedition Max Platinum started having this "grinding" noise on the front left about 6-8 months into ownership. It was sporadic but extremely noticeable and sounds terrible. It has been to two separate dealerships about four times. The technicians are unaware of the issue and cannot hear it on a test drive, but when I get it back, I can hear it.

I never drive in 4A, but the sound was 10X more noticeable. Unsure if these issues are related, but I was instructed never to use 4A on the truck unless I'm in a situation where traction control might be an issue.

I've had this truck for 13 months, and it has been a headache since day one.

BostonAutomations said:

My 2022 Expedition Max Platinum started having this "grinding" noise on the front left about 6-8 months into ownership. It was sporadic but extremely noticeable and sounds terrible. It has been to two separate dealerships about four times. The technicians are unaware of the issue and cannot hear it on a test drive, but when I get it back, I can hear it.

I never drive in 4A, but the sound was 10X more noticeable. Unsure if these issues are related, but I was instructed never to use 4A on the truck unless I'm in a situation where traction control might be an issue.

I've had this truck for 13 months, and it has been a headache since day one.

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You can leave it in 4a permanently, whoever told you this is jerking you around.
Get a second opinion