Damaged 4WD

[Phil D]

During a particularly severe Cranial Rectosis episode I failed to disengage the four wheel drive in my '96 K1500 as I left my work site. The trip home did no apparent damage to the drivetrain, as I made no sharp turns during the trip, but it didn't survive the tight left turn pulling away from the gas pumps. Just as I noticed the front end binding up, and before I could reach down and push the lever from 4HI to 2WD, something in the front drivetrain broke, and four wheel drive will no longer engage. I have a mechanic that's willing to fix it for me if we're able to diagnose the problem, but as his (and my former) employer uses Brand F trucks exclusively, he's unfamiliar with idiosyncracies of the GM IFS front driving axle system. Could you give us some idea of what the most likely failure points are, and what to look for?

 

As has been alluded to in the first paragraph, the vehicle is a 1996 K1500 Pickup with the lever-actuated 4WD system.

 

Thanks in advance for whatever assistance you can offer.

 

Phil

[GM-Tech]

Are you saying it's definitely the front axle and not the transfer case?

[05Silverado81]

something similar happened to me, It was engaging though. Mine got in a bind in the grass and when I hit the throttle it popped, no more 4wd. Turned out it was the slip joint in those years, the teeth wear down especially if not greased regularly which the previous owner of mine did not. Check to see if the front shaft is even turning

[Phil D]

Are you saying it's definitely the front axle and not the transfer case?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I can't say for sure that it's the front axle, although at the time it both sounded and felt as if whatever broke was in the axle, and not the transfer case. In fact, when I attempted to engage it on the way home to test it, the indicator light came on as if it was functioning properly, but it would not engage the next day, and has not worked since. Also, I have since been able to drive it for several thousand miles in 2WD without incident, and I've assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that I would have had some kind of symptoms -- noise, at least, if not outright failure -- if there were broken parts in the transfer case.

 

Thanks again for your consideration.

 

Phil