Chevrolet Repair: 89 Chevy Silverado, internal friction, output shaft

Question
My inigintion no longer locks when the truck is put in park and key is removed (key can be removed with the truck in gear). The key does not have to be in the ignition to start it. My question is why will my truck not roll forward in neutral but it will only roll backwards? Is the ignition the problem and or is my transmission linkage also causing the problem? What do I need to do to fix the problem(s).

Answer
Hello Tony,

The rolling part of it...if the engine is off, and the trans shifter is in any gear except park, the truck should roll in either direction, although internal friction could cause a little more resistance to rolling in one direction than the other. Brake adjustment could also contribute to that resistance.

If the transmission is in park, it should mechanically lock the output shaft in the transmission, and not roll in either direction.

As for the ignition switch and steering wheel/shifter not locking up, that is probably all in the key tumbler being worn out. Not the ignition switch, which is down on top of the steering column, but just the key cylinder.

Van