front differential ALMOST no power
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front differential ALMOST no power
Weird right? So after getting stuck on wet grass.... embarrassing for sure, I learned that my four wheel drive wasnt working. I can hear everything engaging, and lucky for me since the truck was SO stuck I left it in 4 low and hopped out to take a look. I removed the lockers to shed some light on the end of the axle. Well it was turning too. At the same speed as the rear wheels. However, I grabbed the end of the front axle with my hand (not smart I know) and just the resistance my hand could give I was able to make it stop, and that was left handed! 
. The drive shaft continued to turn no noise no poping, nothing. I release the end of the axle and it turns again. Both passenger and driver side are effected equally in this reguard. I havnt had time to pull the cover which will be my next check but my time is so freaking limited with work right now any heads up you guys can give me would save a bunch of time. Any thoughts?? thanks in advance
. The drive shaft continued to turn no noise no poping, nothing. I release the end of the axle and it turns again. Both passenger and driver side are effected equally in this reguard. I havnt had time to pull the cover which will be my next check but my time is so freaking limited with work right now any heads up you guys can give me would save a bunch of time. Any thoughts?? thanks in advance
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,549
Likes: 14
From: Payson, AZ
I am assuming you have ESOF and there is a vacuum leak and the hubs won't engage. The Auto Hubs are locked with vacuum. The front differential is an open diff, not limited slip, so grapping the hub didn't stop the diff from turning. The other axle is turning. You can manully lock the Auto Hubs. Turn them from Auto to Lock. Clock wise to lock. Just remember CLOCK-LOCK.
Here is a LINK for more info.
Here is a LINK for more info.
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Ok, so another test.... i lay under the truck and spin the front drive shaft with my hand, I can watch both universals , passenger and driver side spinning. I can grab one driver side universal and spin the drive shaft and the U joint at the wheel wont spin, other side is still spinning.
so I wedge a standard screwdriver to jam the passenger side u joint at the knuckle ( so it wont spin) , grab the driver side u joint at the knuckle and spin the drive shaft and both slip,( drive shaft spins without resitance and u joints dont move) that should have nothing to do with the lockers or hubs correct?
Somehow there is enough friction in the diff/axle to make the unloaded axle ends to turn, however when you put ANY load on them, even just the resistance my hand can produce over comes the friction and somehow the power is not being transfered, which I would understand more if I could feel sheared splines slipping past eachother, but the slipping is smooth and silent....
so I wedge a standard screwdriver to jam the passenger side u joint at the knuckle ( so it wont spin) , grab the driver side u joint at the knuckle and spin the drive shaft and both slip,( drive shaft spins without resitance and u joints dont move) that should have nothing to do with the lockers or hubs correct?
Somehow there is enough friction in the diff/axle to make the unloaded axle ends to turn, however when you put ANY load on them, even just the resistance my hand can produce over comes the friction and somehow the power is not being transfered, which I would understand more if I could feel sheared splines slipping past eachother, but the slipping is smooth and silent....
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 320
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From: Salem, OR
if both universal turn at the wheels the hubs are not engaging. check your hubs lock them in manualy. Also to check to see if there is a vacuum leak at your hubs, turn your ac to max and see if you hvac blows on defros thats default with no vacuum to the blend doors
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