Solid Front Axle

[hdck07]

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.

[Captainfab]

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.

[2tons of fun]

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

[Dooley]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

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.

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

[LONGHAIR]

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.

[2tons of fun]

Originally Posted by Dooley

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

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

[Dooley]

Originally Posted by 2tons of fun

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

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.

[2tons of fun]

moniker and components are completely different levels of wrong.

[Dooley]

Originally Posted by 2tons of fun

moniker and components are completely different levels of wrong.

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.

[72blue]

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,...