front axle locked in

[Turley]

04 3500 4x4 w/elec shift 4x4, the front axle hubs are engaged, the transfer case is shifting, but the front end wont unlock, not like my 98 front end. Where do I start? HELP!

 

[zstroken]

What do you mean unlock? Only way you will be able to turn the front driveshaft is to lift both front tires off of the ground and have the transfer case in 2HI

 

[Turley]

the front axle is engaged from side to side, but not the t-case

 

[Turley]

its like the hubs are locked in, ya know when you feel it on dry pavement, the front end bucks but Im in 2wd

 

[Turley]

my 98 has the vac oper slide in the axle housing, what does the 04 have, some elec switch, if so where?

 

[zstroken]

my 98 has the vac oper slide in the axle housing, what does the 04 have, some elec switch, if so where?

No cad on the 03+ Actually I thought about it again. YOu can lift one tire with the truck in 2hi and should be able to move that tire. Front drive shaft will spin also.

 

[Turley]

all tires on the ground driveshaft should spin in 2hi, right?

 

[zstroken]

NO it won't move

 

[Turley]

feels like 4wd wobble on dry pavement, never did before.

 

[Turley]

It's not in 4wd, I pulled out and spun the rears to make sure.

 

[Turley]

help me understand the 04 front axle. On the 98 the axle has an actuater on it that engages the two front axle shafts together as one(as oposed to lockout hubs), what serves this purpose on the 04? Surely theres not just the engagement of the t-case?

 

[steved]

feels like 4wd wobble on dry pavement, never did before.

The front axle universal joints are starting to seize.



steved

 

[steved]

help me understand the 04 front axle. On the 98 the axle has an actuater on it that engages the two front axle shafts together as one(as oposed to lockout hubs), what serves this purpose on the 04? Surely theres not just the engagement of the t-case?

The 03+ AAM axle have no other disconnect than what the transfercase provides... everything is spinning all the time.



steved

 

[Turley]

Thanks steved. I dont like it but I guess I'll have to live with it

 

[Turley]

On the same note, what are those two little wires in a single housing going out to the front hub , speed sensers?

 

[steved]

Thanks steved. I dont like it but I guess I'll have to live with it

EMS Offroad and Dynatrac both makes kits to add manual locking hubs.



steved

 

[steved]

On the same note, what are those two little wires in a single housing going out to the front hub , speed sensers?

Yes, for the ABS.



steved

 

[bighammer]

its like the hubs are locked in, ya know when you feel it on dry pavement, the front end bucks but Im in 2wd

I agree with above, if you're feeling something sort of bucking on turns, it's a bad axle joint.

 

[Cattletrkr]

I agree with above, if you're feeling something sort of bucking on turns, it's a bad axle joint.

Ditto. That's exactly what mine did when one of them went out. Felt just like it was in 4wd.



How many miles ya got on it? The axle joints are covered under the 7/70 warranty.

 

[WStephens]

The new AAM does not have a disconnect in the front axle so it is like driving the old style axles with the hubs locked all the time so that you have shift on the fly capiblity. I like it better than the old CAD because the 85 did not work very well and never trusted it. I had to come to a complete stop before I could go from 4H to 2H.