4x4 And Front Hubs Not Locking In, And Rear Locking Diff

[mljenkins]

This morning I about messed up my truck when the front hubs did not lock in while I was trying to get up into our back pasture. I took it to the dealer who said it was fine when I got there. I have the shifter on the floor and it went in fine, and the light on the dash came on. The technican told me the light on the dash is tied to whatever locks the hubs, and it only comes on when those go out. But he said maybe the gears did not line up. Now I am paranoid because we have a bad storm coming Sunday and I have to have 4x4 to get home and around my property. When I put it in 4x4 I was making a turn so I am not sure if that caused it or what. What would have caused it not to lock in, and what could I have done to get it to lock in once I couldn't move the truck but a few inches backwards?

 

When I got stuck this morning I had no room to backup because the rear end walked sideways to a point where my rear end was facing a small ravine. The drivers door went up against a tree (thankfully it stopped sliding before it hit the tree, but I had to climb out the passenger side to get out). I obviously could not go forward without 4x4. I go over this road all the time with 4x4 with no issues. I ended up having to use a come along to pull the truck to the side so I could get the rear end facing the road again so I could backup without going into the ravine. I had my wife watch the wheels and she said only the back driver's side was spinning.

 

Also I thought my rear diff lock would have locked the back wheels but only one was spinning when I was stuck. The tecnican showed me with the truck off the ground in neutral that the wheel has to spin almost an entire revolution before it locks. He said there was a spring that winds up inside the diff. I noticed the diff lock working a lot when I got the truck as I could feel it when it kicked in. For the past few months I have not felt that on the slick roads. The technican told me that I should have the rear diff fluid changed, which they want $99 to do. I am wondering if this is worth having them do?

 

I asked the tech if there was any way to make darn sure I was locked in other than the light, and he basically said no. So I guess other than the feel, that's it. I thought something was wrong this morning but attributed it to the soft wet ground since we just had a lot of rain here yesterday.

 

Any thoughts?

 

ps: Truck is an '06 WT ext cab 4x4 5.3 w/ 4.10 long bed.

[RCman]

Welcome to technology...

 

I'd kill for the days with true full "get out an lock" hubs. Granted you can still get them, just not in 1/2 tons. Yet another reason my next truck will be a 2500/3500...

 

As for the locker... yet another great piece of technology. The the piece-o-junk G80. Mine behaves the same way. Its not much of a locker, more of a pathetic attempt at a limited slip. As for $99 to change the fluid.... that better be full synthetic and a full interior detailing for that cost. Head over to your local auto parts store and pick up a few quarts of gear oil, brake cleaner, and gasket of choice and do it yourself. Won't take much more than an hour and it'll be cheaper.

 

Overall I love my truck and I wouldn't trade it for anything else (maybe that 2500/3500), and the above two are the ONLY things (besides forced On-Star) that I don't like with the newer rides from Chevy/GMC.

[99silverado1500]

My G80 works 5 percent of the time, so synthetic oil, and a cleaning should make it work a little more? Just wondering what I need to do to it to get it to work, as I hate wasting fuel by driving in 4wd around the farm, if it would spin both the wheels at the same time I wouldnt really need my 4x4 until it started snowing.

[svensk]

That's why you spend the extra money and get this beautiful invention called the push button auto-wd. Instead of having to drive around in 4-hi you can just hit that and drive around and it will only use the front wheels if it needs to.

[99silverado1500]

I do have auto 4wd, but dont like using it as slamming into 4wd many times cant be very good for it, so i refrain from using it at all. If my G80 would work 50 percent of the time, it would be great.

[tigerbait]

i cannot speak for the hubs not operating properly, but the torsion spring broke in my G80 a few months back. It the mechanical device that tells it to lock up. That was quite the shocker when i got stuck because only one wheel was turning, took it to the dealer they broke it down and figured out the problem...replaced it under warranty....needless to say when this one goes the truck's gettin a detroit tru-trac, sry about the hubs and all, good luck w/ everything

[slimjim2525]

Now that's a great story of somebody who uses thier truck like a truck. I don't know the answer to your problem, but an 06 should be under warranty unless you drive a lot of miles.

[mljenkins]

So you guys think changing the diff fluid isn't going to help at all? When should it be changed as part of routine maintainance?

 

I had heard a lot of bad things about Chevy's locking diff. I guess they must be true. When I first got the truck like I said it seemed to kick in a lot. The first winter I had it I could start a donut and the locker would kick in. Now it doesn't do that, of course I haven't tried any donuts lately.

 

As for the push button auto 4x4, a friend of mine swares by his. But I like the lever on the floor, as when I am driving in the dark on the slick roads I can quickly engage it if I need it. I guess it's just a matter of preference. My dad had a blazer that had the push button and I thought it was great. But like was mentioned on the auto locking hubs, just more stuff to break. I also like the auto locking hubs because there have been a couple times I have had the trailer attached and been in a tight spot not thinking I would need 4x4, started spinning, and engaged the 4x4.

 

What happens when you shift the transfer case into 4x4? I am guessing whatever locks the hubs is driven by an electric motor as I can hear the electrical interference on my CB when I shift the transfer case in and out of 4x4.

 

Truck is still under warranty, but they said nothing is wrong. If we don't get any bad weather overnight and I have a minute tomorrow, I am going to make sure the 4x4 engages by trying the hill again before we get this snow storm. Would like to get up there and check the back pasture anyway after this crazy weather, and I'm too darn lazy to walk up the hill :-)

 

Thanks all.

[svensk]

Honestly, 100 bucks to change the diff. fluid is kind of outrageous. It's incredibly easy to change yourself if your truck is like mine and has the plug you unscrew at the bottom.