It’s amazing how many parts have to mesh perfectly for modern vehicles to function properly. YouTuber WatchJRGo recently had a 2017 Ford F-150 end up in his bay that was all but bricked thanks to a single faulty part: a wheel hub, of all things.
The pickup belongs to Zach of Stump Bros, a tree service company. The Ford F-150 has no power steering or electronics – and it “must be a failed wheel hub,” according to John Ross. The pickup threw a code for a faulty left front wheel speed sensor, pointing them toward the wheel hub up front, since said sensor is integrated into the assembly.
The job is a bit involved, and the brake rotor requires a bit of persuasion to remove. But once they coax it apart, it’s time to swap it out. They torque everything down properly and paint on some anti-seize lubricant to make it easy to take apart again, just in case. Ross laughs as they put it back together, saying, “I hope this wasn’t a waste!” as they fasten down the final caliper bolt. “Put your wheel back on. Let’s see if it’s magically fixed.”
They start the 2017 Ford F-150 and pray for the best. First thing they notice: no more Christmas tree on the dash. It also has backup sensor response (which apparently it didn’t before), and it does seem like replacing the hub fixed just about everything on the pickup. The vehicle feels nice – especially since the ABS and power steering are functional again – and the two celebrate a “fun, easy” fix, in Ross’s own words.
It really is amazing that one single part can basically park an entire vehicle. Ross is quite familiar with the concept, having saved a classic 1965 Ford F-100 by replacing a $5 part. Ross also dealt with some issues in his 2022 Ford Super Duty, chasing down a strange ticking noise that the dealer could not replicate.
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