Expert: Robert Summers - 6/13/2009

Question
I had to pull the engine on my 1984 Chevy S10 Pickup because of a bad freeze plug behind the fly wheel.  I have completed that repair but while the engine is out(and the cab is off) I am also checking the rest of the drive train.  It had a problem engaging the front drive axle when I was driving it.  When I manually pull the cable I can not get the drive axle to engage even when turning the drive line or the front wheels.  I checked the cable and it is pulling the fork ok but the axle is still not engaging.  Do the wheels or the drive line have to move a lot or should it just engage by pulling the cable.  I was wondering if the syncro's in the drive axle might effect the way this works.  I want to make sure the drive axle is bad before I pull it out. Pulling it seems to be a pretty big job if it is not needed.

Answer
Hi Rich...the front end should engage fairly easy and not require a lot of effort...you need to remember that when engaged it will only drive one axel...as it is limited slip...if not going into gear try rotating the driveshaft for the front axel and see if it drops in while turning. turning the axels will do nothing, it has to be front driveshaft...if still not going into gear you may need to look a bit deeper. pull on cable while turning front shaft...hope this helps