On my old 98 k2500, the diff would lock up when pulling out of my yard on wet grass, and stay locked sometimes around the first turn at the corner of my yard, .....but.... my 04 k1500 will kind of hit repeatedly, but not catch. Now I'm not smoking the tires, just a bit of slipage as I pull up a small hill on wet grass. Is ther something different about the newer axles. It seems like I need top be on it a bit a slipping for the locking to hit and catch. I kinda like the way my old truck locked up, but even with it I would worry it might hang up and stay locked. whats you thoughts..argon? anyone delt with this?

 

The limited slip will engage both rear wheels when one slips. If you stay on the throttle the continued force on the diff will hold the lock. I think the limited slip works with a type of clutch, the more miles on the truck the less functional it is - your '98. I've seen them so far gone that the right tire will spina nd catch, then the left, then the right, and will continue this way until the fuel is reduced or an adaquate speed has been reached.

 

okay, it's a locking diff, not a limited slip. They're different. Chevys trucksonly use locking. Limited is what's in a camaro or the older vettes. I'm just asking with of the two senarios is the properly working. My 04 works, it just seems to take more torque to keep it locked. I'm wondering if that's supposed to be that way. I'm wondering because in 98 I don't think GM makes the 1 ton axles.

 

OK, I looked it up and you are correct. Forgive my feeble mind.
For those that are reading this and wish to know the difference:
Limited slip - will alow one wheel to spin faster than the other, but, not more than a predetermined speed using a combination of gears and clutches or a pump and clutches.
Locking differential - will not allow either wheel to spin faster than the other. This system is always "locked", meaning the axles are never allowed to fall below the speed the driveshaft is transmitting, or "open", meaning the system is only engaged when sufficient torque is applied through the driveshaft. GM uses the latter of these two systems.

2tone - I do not know if this is "normal". My research has lead me to believe that GMmay have the ability to change the amount of torque necessary to engage their "Gov-lock" system from year to year. The differences you notice in your vehicles may be just that.

 

The older 2500's have the 14 bolt but it isnt the big one which has the axel shafts sticking out further like the 1 ton. My hd has the bigger 14 bolt and my cuz' has the 99 2500 with the other 14 bolt.You have two different axles on the 1500 and 2500. The diif is bigger on the 2500 making it stronger which allows you to burn rubber easier. I have a limited slip on mine and it works great. I also have one in the front. I just figured that out this summer pulling a trailer in the sand and all tires where throwing up sand.

 

WE all have feeble minds when it comes to figuring some of this **** out. Anyway, I figured it took some amount of touque to keep the bad boy locked, I was curious, even though I don't own the 2500 any more why it would stay locked for longer that needed. Especialy once I was on pavement and turning and that bad boy started to chirp. I wonder if the put a locking diff in the front or a limited slip, you know? did you come across that in your studies?

 

I didn't find any info specific for the fore or aft shafts. I'll see what I can find.

 

I searched multiple sites for 20 minutes and could not find anything specifying the front end as limited slip or locking.

 

The advantage of not using the locking in the front is so at least one wheel will "hold" if all the others are spinning. The best for the front would be a selectable, so that in snow or ice on a hill, one wheel could "hold" while the others got traction, then in mud you could lock it and get all 4 wheels spinning. I do not know what comes factory in the front though.

 

I didn't think chevy had any front or limited slips for the front diffs since they are independent. Until i saw a 04 chevy deisel in the mud with 38"s with all tires spinning. That thing looked like a monster and performed very good for a newer truck. I got to talked ti him and he siad that it all came from factory but he did the same thing I did. We both had to special order our trucks. Sucks waiting three months but it was all worth it. If you have a front locking diff in your turnin would be way harder cuz its always on. Thats why sum people go for the air lockers and only engage them when they are goin to use it.