Dumb Question??
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Hat Creek Ca
Dumb Question??
I just discovered that one of my ESOF hubs was in the locked position. I personally have never used them in manual so I don't know how long it has been that way. I don't drive it that much so I don't know if some kid messed with it in a parking lot or what.
Questions,
1. Will this harm anything other than un-necessary wear?
2. Could this be the / a cause for the truck to wander down the road? Won't have a chance to drive it 'till tomorrow.
Thanks,
Mike
Questions,
1. Will this harm anything other than un-necessary wear?
2. Could this be the / a cause for the truck to wander down the road? Won't have a chance to drive it 'till tomorrow.
Thanks,
Mike
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,405
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From: Reed Point, MT
If it were to cause issues, GM and Dodge would have been doing billions of dollars worth of warranty repairs due to one side being driven all the time (by the freely-rotating wheel) and the other one doing nothing but rotating backwards with no load on it.
Comparing "3/4 Ton" and "1 Ton" trucks here, GM still disconnects the right front axle shaft leaving the left front to drive the side and spider gears all the time. They have done this since 1987 starting with the half tons (the S10/15 trucks have had it since 1983). Dodge, up until 2002 did essentially the same thing (albeit with a superior solid-axle monobeam design) and now just leaves it all connected all the time for some reason.
Comparing "3/4 Ton" and "1 Ton" trucks here, GM still disconnects the right front axle shaft leaving the left front to drive the side and spider gears all the time. They have done this since 1987 starting with the half tons (the S10/15 trucks have had it since 1983). Dodge, up until 2002 did essentially the same thing (albeit with a superior solid-axle monobeam design) and now just leaves it all connected all the time for some reason.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 269
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From: Huntington WV
Your needle bearing inside the hub would be used because of the shaft turning, but should not have caused any damage. When is the last time your needle bearings were lubed? I run my 4X4 every so often to keep everything used and lubed.
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Posting Guru
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From: Hat Creek Ca
I had a lot of recent (mileage wise) work on the front end. Virtually everything was redone when all was said and done. I was thinking last night that a slight vibration that I have felt recently (via the drivers side floor board) would probably be the front drive shaft spinning and driving the the internals of the transfer case. I intend to do a shot drive today to confirm one way or the other now that BOTH hubs are unlocked!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Asheville-where weird is
Hi, I had the same issue with my ESOF due to a vacuum leak. The right side would disengage and the drivers side would not. It did cause a slight vibration/roar that was just noticeable enough to make you wonder if it was the beginning of a bearing going bad. The auto lockers are easy to pull with only needle nose pliers. Then you can clean the inside of them to see if that helps. Mine had a very fine dust in them that would cause them to not unlock.
Edit: and yes, when one side is not unlocking it creates a bit of resistance on that side and you can feel it in the steering wheel and notice it favors one direction a little more than the other...
Edit: and yes, when one side is not unlocking it creates a bit of resistance on that side and you can feel it in the steering wheel and notice it favors one direction a little more than the other...
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Posting Guru
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From: Hat Creek Ca
jhl3
My issue was not that the ESOF did not disengage, it was that one side was locked in manual and the other was in auto. Anyway took it for a run yesterday and and there is some slight improvement in the feel on the road but still have a slight vibration that I think is exhaust related, like maybe the rubber is missing from a hanger or something.
My issue was not that the ESOF did not disengage, it was that one side was locked in manual and the other was in auto. Anyway took it for a run yesterday and and there is some slight improvement in the feel on the road but still have a slight vibration that I think is exhaust related, like maybe the rubber is missing from a hanger or something.
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