86 S-15 4X4 normal rotors???

[sflichel]

Hi, I bought an 86 S-15 last week......just got around to popping the front wheel off today to check the brakes.....it is a 4X4.....to my surprise, they appear to be normal rotors......priced new rotors out and they are $28 canadian......my question is.....how does this truck go into 4X4??? Is the front diff permanently hooked to the front wheels and just engage when I engage the tranfer case??? This might be a dumb question but I just thought every 4X4 had either manual or automatic locking hubs.

 

Thank you

 

Shaun

[mmmikkke]

Sorry Shaun, I don't know. In '86, the fullsize trucks either had manual hubs or automatic locking hubs (identifiable with a 4x4 decal on the hub). But the S10/S15 was a different animal.

 

My '95 fullsize had a thermal-actuated locking front differential. The front axle shafts always turned, connected to each front wheel, but the front differential disconnected from the front drive shaft by way of the thermal actuator. That might be how your truck works too. Not sure, though.

 

Maybe somebody else can help with this question.

[sflichel]

Thanks Mike. It does have 4X4 labels on what I thought were the front hubs. The CV joints do turn with the wheel even in 2 Wheel drive. There is a big Skid Plate underneith engine so I cannot see whats up. But it does sound like it would operate the same or very simular to yours. I have 2 Bronco 2's (don't hurt me), the 85 has manual locking, the 87 has auto locking. Was just shocked that the 86 S-15 had normal rotors.

 

Shaun

[sflichel]

Figured it out Mike.....its vacuum operated, not sure where the vacuum terminates, but I have a vacuum modular that looks like a cruise control module....it operates when I put it into 4X.....thanks again......now I post another thread about another problem.

 

Shaun