Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
When I engage my 4 wheel drive, the truck pulls hard to the left. Can you help.
Answer -
Ouch, Tim...,
Only when accelerating?
I assume all four tires are roughly the same size and wear?
All tires are new, same make and size. It pulls left when I am at cruise speed or decellarting. When I accelerate, it works fine. As soon as I let off the gas or stabilize at cruising speed, it pulls hard left.
AnswerHi Timothy,
There is no logical reason why it should do that, as you are aware.
The front axle shafts turn all the time, unless you have some kind of locking hubs.
If you do have locking hubs, I would say the right side is not locking.
There is an actuator that directly connects the right axle shaft to the front differential when 4X4 is engaged, but if it isn't working, it usually doesn't cause the truck to pull to one side...it usually causes the front to not pull at all.
Even the left side, which splines directly into the side gear of the front differential shouldn't have any extra pull or drag, due to the differential action inside.
Now, if you have some kind of limitid slip, or locking differential on the front axle, which extreme rock climbers have, then I could see the actuator not working, and having the effect you describe.
You could leave 4X4 engaged, and jack up the front axle, and see if you can rotate the front tires. With a stock front differential, the wheels should rotate in opposite directions, and do it rather easily, and the front driveshaft should not turn.
With 4X4 shifted to two wheel drive, you should be able to rotate the front driveshaft, but neither wheel rotate.
The actuator is removable without loosing any oil, and you can test it outside the axle housing.
Van
