Front axle fluid change today...

Victory Red · July 2, 2002

Changed ALL my fluids today. Front and rear axles, transfer case, and engine oil. Everything was looking great until I got to the front axle change. When I pulled the drain plug, it was FULL of metal! I mean there was A LOT of metal on the magnet. It looked like an afro when I pulled the plug out. I only have 20K on the truck and hardly ever use the 4WD, except on occassion when it rains, I use the AutoTrac. This afternoon, I ran the truck about 10 miles and then switched to 4HI, instead of Auto. I was going about 45MPH when I made the switch. A mile later I pulled into a parking lot and the front end made some weird noises when I turned the wheels hard left. As I was coming to a stop (with the wheels still turned) the front end made some nasty growling noises and felt like it was slipping. I put the truck back into 2WD and drove home without a problem.

Now I'm worried something is going to blow in the front axle. All that metal is not a good sign, and the noises confirmed it. Anyone else changed their front axle fluid before the recommended time? All the factory manual says to do it check the fluid level and top it off if needed.

Guess I'll be making the dreaded trip to the dealer to get it looked at. I hate going to the dealer, and I haven't even had to do it yet. This will be my first warranty problem. I do all my own work on the truck and would sooner jump off a cliff than have anyone else touch it, but warranty is warranty. I'm sure not going to pay for this one.

nonstop · July 2, 2002

Victory Red,

The best thing do to is take it out to a dirt road, runn through all 4x4 functions, turning left and right slow speed and at a faster speeds.

4x4 trucks always bind on pavement, to much traction.

If you notice a clunk when selecting a 4hi, or 4lo, this is normal gear engagement notice. The best way to prevent this is come to a full stop. 4lo should only be engaged at a full stop, and the transmission in neutral.

Also fillings are normal, I've changed mine, and noticed this too, chalked it up to break-in. Better having all those fine metallic bits on the magnet, than in the bearings.

good luck.

Victory Red · July 2, 2002

nonstop, you may be right about the binding on the pavement thing. I'll give the dirt road a try, next time I find one. They are few and far between down here.

The metal on the magnet was excessive in my opinion. Too much for even break-in metal. I'm gonna run it a few more days and pull the plug to see how the magnet looks since I cleaned it. If there's more buildup, I'll know it's off the Dealerville. Thanks for the suggestions.

gnutruk · July 2, 2002

VictoryRed -

Bummer about all the metal shavings. I'm going to do my front soon; hope there isn't too much metal on the magnet :sideways:

What fluid did you use, and how many quarts did it take?

gnubie

Victory Red · July 2, 2002

I used GM #1052271 80W-90 Axle Lubricant. It took about two bottles (23oz. each). I got three just to be sure. You need three since it's hard to squeeze it all out of the bottle at that angle.

I just found this interesting article. I never knew about these sensors. I wonder if they make them to fit our trucks? They're made by Eaton Aerospace Corp. The same Eaton that makes the G80 locker in our trucks, it's just a different division of the company.

http://www.sensorsmag.com/articles/1201/bearing/main.shtml

MarkD · July 2, 2002

Sounds like a great idea. Probably very expensive right now though. It would be a great feature for GM to assign an idiot light for.

Sorry to hear about the shavings. I know this is a little late, but did you take a pic of the shavings on the magnet? It might help when explaining to the Service writer at the dealer.

racer0175 · July 6, 2002

if you check your manual it says not to engage 4x4 on dry pavement...i did when i was checking out my truck to buy it...

i was like "the 4 wheel drive doesen't seem to be working properly...its stiff" and he's says "the manual says not to do that (he looked worried too..lol) but he wasen't lying... :sideways:

SilveradoWV · July 8, 2002

if you check your manual it says not to engage 4x4 on dry pavement

What page??? I am not doubting anyone but you know how the manual is arranged kind of weird, I just cant find where it says it!

brax71 · July 8, 2002

i don't think that the manual says so, but i cannot believe that shifting into 4x4 at 45 mph could be good for it...

nonstop · July 8, 2002

I would agree, at that speed I'm suprised that the front end dosn't fly out from under the truck, and send you into the ditch in a flaming heep.

MountaineerTom · July 8, 2002

I changed my front fluid this weekend, and there was a good amount of "fuzz" on mine too. I flused some new fluid through it, then added Valvoline 80x-90. Victory Red, I took a pic of the plug before I cleaned it off, so I'll post a pic and we can see if they looked similar. Mine actually looked about like what I excpected.

Victory Red · July 8, 2002

Victory Red, I took a pic of the plug before I cleaned it off, so I'll post a pic and we can see if they looked similar. Mine actually looked about like what I excpected.

Thanks Tom. I had my camera 5 feet away inside the truck and never thought about taking a picture of my fuzzy plug. I checked it again this weekend and nothing on it at all. I guess it was all break-in fuzz that accumulated over 20K miles.

Victory Red · July 8, 2002

I would agree, at that speed I'm suprised that the front end dosn't fly out from under the truck, and send you into the ditch in a flaming heep.

Actually, the manual says you can switch to 4WD at ANY speed. 4HI that is. AutoTrac can also be switched on at any speed. 4LO is the only one you can't turn on at speed. And even if you did, it won't switch to 4LO unless you stop and put it in neutral first. If you want, I'll go get my manual and quote it for you.

racer0175 · July 8, 2002

my bad...it doesn't specifically say DO NOT engage 4hi on dry pavement but but on pgs 2-27 there is info in a NOTICE: box warning about driving in 4hi or 4lo positions for along time on dry or wet pavement could shorten the life of your vehicles drivetrain...translation to laymans terms..(at least according to me) its not good to drive in 4hi or low on pavement

i had my truck in 4wd on totally dry hot pavement and i thought something was seriously wrong with my truck it was really stiff and bound when i turned the wheels....bad!!!

it snowed a couple of days later and 4wd worked like i always thought it should...slight binding with the wheels cut almost all the way...its probably the same on dirt although i never mud...

also on pg. 2-29 bottom right last paragraph...it says...

Also, driving in 4wd on dry pavement could cause your tires to wear faster and make your transfer case harder to shift and run noisier....

dosen't sound like tlc for your truck