bad front axel tube seals and hub seal

[smithca20]

I have a 2003 250, both of my tube seals are dangling and so is the passanger side hub seal, I was having trouble with the on the fly 4x4 not engaging so i started looking to find the problem and stumble across alot of issues. I found the vacuum selenoid was cracked and not working also, I know if the selenoid was working properly I would still have issues because the hub seal is bad thus not allowing vacuum to engage the unit. My 1st question is can I reinstall the two axel tube seals, they dont appear to be worn and can I do this without removing the axel? My 2nd question is can I reinstall the hub seal, it appears to be in good shape, and can this be done without removing the hub?

[Young-SC-Owner]

The dust seals that go into the axle are a super common issue, and NOT worth putting any time into. The hubs on the other hand IS an issue, and I recommend ditching the Vac operated hubs, and slapping in a set of WARN manual lockers and never worry about it again!

So to answer your question, No you cant properly reinstall the axle dust seals without removing the tire, caliper, ball joints...etc....And IDK about the VAC hub seals, I ditched all that junk on mine

[PowerstrokeTech82787]

You dont have to remove the ball joints to remove the dust seals. Just pull the 4 nuts that hold the hub to the spindle... Swivel 21mm + 3/8ths impact and its done in 5 minutes. There are updated dust seals they are metal and have a rubber donut on the inside of the metal. Thats the way i do axle joints and dust seals.

[PowerstrokeTech82787]

This guy does them the same way i do.

Ford Super Duty 4wd - Revised Front Axle Dust Seal - YouTube

Ford Super Duty 4wd - Revised Front Axle Dust Seal - YouTube

[Young-SC-Owner]

I stand corrected

[HillbillyDeluxe39]

@PowerstrokeTech, are you saying that by installing manual hubs I dont have to buy two $50 vacuum hub seals, and every thing will be ok with out them, meaning no dirt will get into the unit bearing? This would save me $100 bucks, I always lock my hubs and never use the auto function anyway.

[PowerstrokeTech82787]

No not factory manual lockers anyways, they utilize the same big hub seal as the auto lockers.