Solid Front Axle
 

What was the last year Chevrolet made their 4x4s with a solid front axle? Was it a different year for the 3/4 and 1 tons? When did auto locking hubs appear? How did the auto locking hubs work? An electrical signal to a solenoid? Thanks.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

The last year for a solid front axle in a pickup whether 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton was '87. The last year for Blazers, Suburbans and Crewcab 1 tons was '91. Sorry I don't know anything about the auto-locking hubs.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

the came about with the advent of the syncro 205 and 208, early 80's.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

GM still built V30 1 ton solid axle 2 dr regular cab pickups in the 1988 model year.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

The "automatic" hubs lock when the axle turns. Locking in the transfer case makes it all happen. By locking the transfer case, the driveshaft turns the internal parts of the differential, which lock the hubs. They un-lock the same way. When the axle load is removed, they are supposed to un-lock.
They are marginal at best. The concept is ok, but in real life, they don't work very well. Extreme cold makes them stick and they usually fail under heavier use. Bigger tires and/or engine mods are hard on them too.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

shinanagans, the only pickup to make it past 87 was crewcabs.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

They built square body 1 ton V30 2 dr regular cab pickups in 1988. This is fact.
It's a shame so much incorrect info is out there. A good example is the 73-87 C-K moniker. There were no C-K trucks built in 1987. They all were R-V models. Just another example of incorrect information.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

moniker and components are completely different levels of wrong.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

Posted below is the front cover of the 1988 Showroom brochure. It clearly mentions the V pickup separate from the Bonus/Crew Cabs. The second pic mentions the wide range of 4 wheel drives including the regular cab pickup, with a pic with a caption telling of the rear dual wheels as standard.
Anyone that says that a square body regular cab 2 dr pickup was not made in 1988 is just plain wrong. That is a fact. The 3rd pic is of a 1988 V30 2 dr regular cab pickup built in May 1988 at the Janesville Assembly plant.





Posting this info again for the back shooters.

Re: Solid Front Axle
 

doesn't matter, those are all post 87 blazer whatevers and 1 tons. all appear that way until 91, whatever the "name"; c, k, v, p,...