Hello all, thank you ahead of time for taking the time. (hope I'm posting in the correct location)

98 Ranger XLT 4x4 Flareside - I was replacing the front right wheel bearing and noticed another tube (begins as metal then follows up as rubber tubing) next to the ABS sensor output. I've marked it in RED below. Anyone know what this is? I ask because the rubber portion of the hose has deteriorated and is no longer connected. I'd like to replace it but of course need to identify it first.

Any information about this will be greatly appreciated!!

KMA

 

Welcome to the forum

Vacuum hose for 1998 to 2000 Ranger's PVH locking hubs

Diagrams here: 1999-2000 Ford Ranger PVH Hub Operation & Troubleshooting : The Ranger Station

Pulse Vacuum Hubs(PVH) were a bad idea, so Ford start swapping to Live Axle(always locked) hubs as early as 1999 on 4.0l 4x4s, officially 2001 was first year all Ranger 4x4's had Live Axle
And `1998-2000 Ranger 4x4's all had PVH, although all of them didn't, lol, some got Live Axle

Many swapped in Manual locking hubs, Rugged Ridge/AVM to replace PVH, no need to remove vacuum hoses to do that

 

Thank you! I did some looking in-to after your reply and am convinced purchasing a pair of manual locking hubs is my next step.

Until then, in what position should the (white) spring-loaded mechanism of the PVH assembly be in to set them to 2WD... closed or open? At this point, will it cause damage if one is set to 4WD and the other set to 2WD? I believe I know the answer to this question and plan to set them to the same position on either side, but am still curious.

**Note (new problem)... I have a replaced the hub assembly with a new one but installed it with only the factory grease it came with. Not sure if it's related but upon a gentle back n' forth drive test of 10-15ft, I felt a strange intermitten resistance in the steering wheel as I attempted to turn (at full stop, as well as at 2-5mph). I have no clue what is causing it. Power Steering Fluid is at the same level it was before working on replacing wheel hub assembly.

Thoughts?

Thank you

 

Never had a PVH Ranger but see if this helps answer your question: Permanently Lock Your ?98-?00 PVH Hubs : The Ranger Station
There is no 2WD or 4WD setting for the hubs, just Locked or Unlocked

It would be better to run both hubs Locked or both Unlocked, short term it for sure wouldn't hurt anything, but yes it would tend to pull to the locked side when driving

2001 and up Rangers run Locked all the time, hubs can't be unlocked, Ford calls it Live Axles