I have a 1996 ford f-250 4x4 i have a shift in the floor but my wheels won't engage

SOURCE: how to replace front wheel bearing on a 1996 ford aerostar

You knock the seal and races out with a drift. You put the new races and seals in by using something round, like a socket, to drive them in. Of course, the experts will say you must have special seal drivers and bearing race drivers, but I've been fixing my Fords for 40 years and I have done several of these with what I had laying around.

SOURCE: 05 f150 4x4. 4 wheel drive lights come on but it is not engaged?

change actuator in front hub water gets in there freezez and ruber seal rips part only 120.00 bucks not hard to change beat upper ball joint take of spindle nut think it was 5/8 3 bolts in back should fall out

SOURCE: Ford F150 front tires won't engage in 4 wheel drive

look on fire wall pass. side you will see 2 parts with vacume lines attached 99 percent of the time that is what went i had the same problem

SOURCE: 2004 Ford F-150 extended cab FX4. 4WD problem

The malfunctioning part in my case is what ford calls the "integrated wheel end" which locs the weel hub on the four wheel drive in or out as need. Part is available from Ford and cost about $110.00. I will do this repair myself.

SOURCE: 2004 Ford F-150 extended cab FX4. 4WD problem

Your front hubs are automatic locking hubs, and the gears are hard nylon. These hubs break very easily, therefore causing you to lose your front wheel drive in 4 high, or 4 low. If you replace the hubs with "WARN (name brand) " manual locking hubs, you will never have the issue again. Of course, you will have to get out of the truck and manually lock the hubs, but they are metal gears, and much more durable. I've personally seen the issue several times, and changing the hubs has resolved the issue every time.