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03-10-2023, 10:13 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Anaheim CA
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Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
Could I get you all's opinion on how bad did I mess up and what parts should I look at as probably damaged? 1971 K20 with stock drive train except for a lunchbox locker installed in the Dana 44 front axle. When the dirt road met the paved road I got out and turned the hubs from locked to free. Got back in and somehow thought I had shifted the NP205 transfer case from 4H to 2H but in reality it ended up in 4H and I drove home not realizing my mistake.
I should have known something was wrong because for the last 30 miles of the drive the truck started to make squeeking noises when it was rolling which got progressively louder as I drove. I thought "well that's weird, never done that before, got to look into that when we get home." Not getting the clue the K20 was giving me, HEY IDIOT YOUR NOT IN 2H AND WE ARE ON THE FREEWAY DUMMY. So what parts do you guys think I should look at first because it only makes the squeeky noise when rolling and I prefer not to lay under the truck while it rolls by. I already feel dumb enough as it is......... |
03-10-2023, 10:39 AM | #2 |
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
It shouldn't hurt anything imo.
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76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10 |
03-10-2023, 11:40 AM | #3 |
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Location: Scottsdale, AZ
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
I agree. And will add, I often (on purpose) do the opposite and leave my front hubs locked so I can shift into 4wd without getting out. I do this during monsoon season.
j
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03-10-2023, 12:02 PM | #4 |
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
Well I am going to get some grease in to all the universal joints to start with and maybe some of the sq-eek will go away. Even with a needle tip I have trouble getting to both the ones in the Cardan Joint.
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03-10-2023, 12:57 PM | #5 |
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Location: Colfax-California
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
That's what I was going to say. May have overheated the CV joint with lack of grease. Doesn't hurt to spin the d-shaft for a mile or every now and then to move the grease around, but the grease has to be present
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03-10-2023, 09:17 PM | #6 |
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Location: Klein Texas
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
I've driven my 4x4 hundreds of freeway miles (bad weather) without giving it a second thought.
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My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe |
03-11-2023, 07:27 AM | #7 |
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
I usually remove the front driveshaft every couple years to give it a proper greasing. I can't get the double cardan while on the vehicle. They do squeak if they get dry.
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76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10 |
03-18-2023, 01:28 PM | #8 |
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
Not sure if your year was still closed knuckle, but if so you actually want to drive it regularly with either the hubs locked and shifted into 2wd or hubs unlocked and shifter in 4wd. That is the only way to keep the upper bearings in the knuckle lubed properly. Also as you found out u-joints that aren’t used (and lubed) regularly don’t age well.
Locking hubs were invented well after modern 4wd systems and for many years were an option, so trucks like mine, which didn’t come with them from the factory drove around all day every day with the hubs “locked”. The opposite of what you did, but with the same result of the front diff and driveshaft constantly spinning. Hope this all makes sense and helps Tom
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65 short stepside K10 292-SM420-T221 8 lug closed D44 front NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear |
04-02-2023, 02:34 PM | #9 |
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
The reason for the "Do not drive on pavement with 4 wheel engaged" is the front outer U-joints are not constant velocity joints. It puts a lot of strain on the system when turning. Especially tight corners. Even with the hubs engaged, on the highway, it would have made little difference. Full time 4 wheel drive wasn't common till the CV joints were perfected.
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04-02-2023, 03:06 PM | #10 | |
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
Quote:
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04-02-2023, 03:51 PM | #11 |
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
The only time I have noticed the dots on tires is on new OEM vehicles. However, I am sure their are others.
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04-02-2023, 09:49 PM | #12 |
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Location: Southern California
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Re: Truck was in 4H for 130 Hwy miles but hubs were un-locked
The same D44/corporate front axle with no CV joints was used in the full time NP203 4WD trucks. These full-time trucks had no hubs. Just a puck that attached the axle to the wheel. The reason for not engaging 4wd on dry pavement is that there is no differential/clutch in the t-case. That is the main difference between AWD and 4WD. Front to rear speed needs to change as well as side to side.
I was thinking a good comparison would be running a spool in the differential on the street.
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Richard 1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746 Last edited by Richard; 04-03-2023 at 01:56 AM. Reason: more information |
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