hi all , got a 79 350 4wd... noticed the other day that when my hubs are locked and i would turn it would feel as if i was in four wheel drive on dry pavement...binding and hopping... whether or not i'm in 4wd, hubs unlocked and its fine... could my axle u-joints be bad?? or something else?? any ideas?thanks.

 

If your hubs are locked, then it sounds like everything is working as it should. The only thing the 4x4 shift lever does is engage the front drive shaft. On dry pavement, in or out of 4x4 you should have your hubs locked out.

 

Do you have limited slip or some other locking device up front?

On an open diff with the t-case in 2H the front tires shouldn't bind or hop, hubs locked or not.

 

not sure on the differential....its an f350 with dana 60 front and back .pretty sure it has 4.10's.thing is it never did it before...I don't have the full vin plate . any way i could tell by the numbers on the axle?

 

If the axle tag is still intact axle codes that begin with a letter are limited slip axles, those axle codes that start with a number are non limited slip axles.

Limited slip front axles are somewhat rare.

 

under lots of gunk!!!! here's what it says 4.10 D9TA ACD
610023-6
this is on the tag on the diff. cover .. but there are other numbers on there actual axle / not sure what they mean ...6200?3R. can't make the question mark one out ...looks like a 3 or an 8 can't really tell ..then also there is another small tag oval shaped with the numbers 261. any ideas what i'm looking at. thanks for your help.... if this is an open diff. would my u-joints be the possible prob.?

 

Look's like no limited slip. The ujoint bearing cap needle bearing's are seized up causing the binding. Sometimes you can see the rust coming out of the seal. It would be best to take both sides apart and replace them. If they seize up to bad it can broke the axle ears. Good luck.