Quote:
Originally Posted by winnievan
It's a lot better than having your stepper motor go bad and getting stuck in 4LO... probably less of an issue with a new R&R NP273 -- but it's happened to me on other vehicles and removing the stepper motor so you can manually shift out of 4LO with a wrench is not fun nor easy -- especially when you're likely on some pretty gnar terrain if you're in 4LO anyways.
I'll take a manual shift over ESOF anyday -- even if I have to lock the hubs manually!
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I've seen this debated several times, and didn't really appreciate it until I rebuilt my Dana 60 front hubs, and later my BW1356 t-case. Youtube is full of videos with guys replacing the seals in their vacuum operated locking front hubs, and t-case motors at what I would call 'alarmingly high frequency'. They never fail you in your driveway a mall parking lot on June 1st. When you shop for replacements, there's all kinds of options at very competitive prices, which is very telling.
Ford sells trucks that other people have to maintain. Pushbutton 4x4 is very attractive, until it craps out at the worst possible time.
You haven't received the entire 'got the tee shirt and hat' experience until you've had your van stuck in a dry lakebed w/12" of fine silt, and had to dirt-dive while figuring out how to manually shift the f&%king t-case into 4x4. I know a guy who's had to do that...