Silverado 4WD Front Differential Not Working

Hey guys, I am a little new to using forums and threads, but I do have a question about my 2001 5.3L Silverado LS Z71. My 4WD doesn't work. It has 4HI, 4Lo, and Auto 4WD. My transfer case is working fine. It will shift into 4Hi and 4Lo with ease and no problems there. My front drive shaft turns all the time, like it is supposed to and my front differential (Carrier) actuator moves in and out just as it is supposed, but 4WD still doesn't work. I have tried everything I know of, and still nothing. :swear: I haven't torn down one of these type diff. before and another question was, "Is there a shear pin of any sort in there?". Any and all help would be appreciated.

The first thought that comes to mind is do you have manual hubs? If they are not engaged you will not get any 4WD action. If you have automatic hubs then I'd check to make sure they are working. If you had differential issues I would expect nasty noises to be coming from your front.....

Welcome to the forum.

Question for you---What's happening that makes you sure that your truck is not in 4WD?????

The first thought that comes to mind is do you have manual hubs? If they are not engaged you will not get any 4WD action. If you have automatic hubs then I'd check to make sure they are working. If you had differential issues I would expect nasty noises to be coming from your front.....


Whats "idmetro" mean?

The first thought that comes to mind is do you have manual hubs? If they are not engaged you will not get any 4WD action. If you have automatic hubs then I'd check to make sure they are working. If you had differential issues I would expect nasty noises to be coming from your front.....


My entire system is automatic. The only thing I thought that could possibly be wrong in the differential, is maybe a Pin sheared of some sort. Not sure.
My wife always like to run it in Auto 4WD when it is raining bad and of course in snow. Maybe she wore it out.......:iceslolan

Welcome to the forum.

Question for you---What's happening that makes you sure that your truck is not in 4WD?????


Thanks for the welcome!!

When I put it in 4WD and try climbing it or just giving it a little extra fuel in the dirt or grass, the rear wheels are the only thing turning. The actuator for the transfer case is working fine too. It will still go into Lo 4WD. The first time I noticed it was when I was pulling the boat out of the lake in Sept. The front tires was not pulling at all, but luckily the limited slip kicked in for me. Thanks

I think you may be mystaken or atleast inexperienced in what these new body style trucks feel like when in for wheel drive. Dont compare it to a solid front axil 4 by like a old full size bronko or k-5 blazer. your front axil is an ifs =independent front axil. It does not feel or drive like the old trucks. Nor does it pull like an older 4 by either. It is a limited slip just like your rear axil and there for will likely only pull on one side when confronted with slippery roads. But if your wife has been running the four wheel drive on wet roads and likely in auto four whell then yes you may have burned the clutches up in your transfer case . It states in owners manuals for the automaticks that using the auto function excessivly will shorten the life of the tranfer case clutches. Tell your wife to stop using it unles your on ice or snow and put some decent tires on the truck so she wont feel the need to run it like that on wet roads...jj

I think you may be mystaken or atleast inexperienced in what these new body style trucks feel like when in for wheel drive. Dont compare it to a solid front axil 4 by like a old full size bronko or k-5 blazer. your front axil is an ifs =independent front axil. It does not feel or drive like the old trucks. Nor does it pull like an older 4 by either. It is a limited slip just like your rear axil and there for will likely only pull on one side when confronted with slippery roads. But if your wife has been running the four wheel drive on wet roads and likely in auto four whell then yes you may have burned the clutches up in your transfer case . It states in owners manuals for the automaticks that using the auto function excessivly will shorten the life of the tranfer case clutches. Tell your wife to stop using it unles your on ice or snow and put some decent tires on the truck so she wont feel the need to run it like that on wet roads...jj

I do completely understand how the new ones work, but then you put the truck in 4WD and there is no action in the front wheels at all, there is definitely something wrong. It has been tried in the mud, grass, gravel, etc. in 4 Hi, 4 Lo, and Auto. STILL NOTHING!!!! No action from the front wheels. I have actually had the truck on 4 jack stands, and the front tires will not turn. All the actuators are working properly. I have taken them out and confirmed their operation. I have also put in new front differential axle seals in the past. The front diff. still worked ok after that point. The prob. still leans to something wrong in the front diff. itself. Also to the other point, my wife travels short distances, but at the time of her running it in Auto, was directly after a bad accident we were in on wet roads, she was scared and the tires still had over 1/4 life left in them. I told here to do what made her feel safe. No need to change the at that point, but I DID put new Michelins on the truck directly. I still feel there is something wrong with the spring loaded pin that the front actuator on the diff. pushes in or there is a sheared pin inside on a shaft with one of the gears.

Looking in my '98 C/K factory manual, there is an internal shifting fork!! Your '01 may be different?? Sounds like you're going to have to get inside it to find out.........Steve

I do completely understand how the new ones work, but then you put the truck in 4WD and there is no action in the front wheels at all, there is definitely something wrong. It has been tried in the mud, grass, gravel, etc. in 4 Hi, 4 Lo, and Auto. STILL NOTHING!!!! No action from the front wheels. I have actually had the truck on 4 jack stands, and the front tires will not turn. All the actuators are working properly. I have taken them out and confirmed their
operation. I have also put in new front differential axle seals in the past. The front diff. still worked ok after that point. The prob. still leans to something wrong in the front diff. itself. Also to the other point, my wife travels short distances, but at the time of her running it in Auto, was directly after a bad accident we were in on wet roads, she was scared and the tires still had over 1/4 life left in them. I told here to do what made her feel safe. No need to change the at that point, but I DID put new Michelins on the truck directly. I still feel there is something wrong with the spring loaded pin that the front actuator on the diff. pushes in or there is a sheared pin inside on a shaft with one of the gears.
Ok ,well good to here you were ok after the accident and i hope your wife feels better about driving soon. I might sudjest you check a hains manual or something to see if there is a way to check the clutches in your transfer case. I have one but not for your truck. have you dropped the oil out of your transfer case lately and smelled it? i assume its tranny fluid like mine is and if you smell rotten eggs or discoloration is noticed(Should be translucent red) then i would suspect burnt clutches. From what i have heard those clutches are fragile ware wise and take a redicoulesly short amount of time to render them useless and if i understand it correctly(somebody jump in here if i am wrong) if those clutches are gone then you will have no movement at all from the front axil...just my :2cents:. It sounds like you have checked most everything else short of complete disassembly.So it a small thing to check...JJ

Ok ,well good to here you were ok after the accident and i hope your wife feels better about driving soon. I might sudjest you check a hains manual or something to see if there is a way to check the clutches in your transfer case. I have one but not for your truck. have you dropped the oil out of your transfer case lately and smelled it? i assume its tranny fluid like mine is and if you smell rotten eggs or discoloration is noticed(Should be translucent red) then i would suspect burnt clutches. From what i have heard those clutches are fragile ware wise and take a redicoulesly short amount of time to render them useless and if i understand it correctly(somebody jump in here if i am wrong) if those clutches are gone then you will have no movement at all from the front axil...just my :2cents:. It sounds like you have checked most everything else short of complete disassembly.So it a small thing to check...JJ
actuaaly i just notice the year of your truck. so i do have a manual and will do some reserch tommorow to see if i can find any hints...jj:)

I have a full factory service manual for that year. I will check as well. Who said the front diff doesn't act like the old straight axles? When I engage 4WD on my 2005, it definatley locks. If I try to turn while on asphalt the front end with bind and hop because the outboard wheel will try to spin faster than the inboard. That is definatley a true locked axle.Not a limited slip.

YOu may have a problem with the automatic locking hubs.

I have a full factory service manual for that year. I will check as well. Who said the front diff doesn't act like the old straight axles? When I engage 4WD on my 2005, it definatley locks. If I try to turn while on asphalt the front end with bind and hop because the outboard wheel will try to spin faster than the inboard. That is definatley a true locked axle.Not a limited slip.
If your ifs frony axil was a locked axil it would break half shafts. NO such thing as a locking ifs axil until they start making stronger half shafts. dont believe me? ckeck Petersons four wheeling magazine over the last 5 months they have been writing a ongoing article about trying to attempt a true locker. Result it didnt work...jj

actuaaly i just notice the year of your truck. so i do have a manual and will do some reserch tommorow to see if i can find any hints...jj:)


Any and all help would be much appreciated!

Thanks a bunch

YOu may have a problem with the automatic locking hubs.


Nice truck, mine is identical to yours. Same paint scheme. BEAUTIFUL!!

Whats "idmetro" mean?
It's a reference to my living in Idaho's metropolitan area (tongue in cheek description of the Boise area).:grinyes:

It's a reference to my living in Idaho's metropolitan area (tongue in cheek description of the Boise area).:grinyes:
Oh ok, I thought maybe your last name is Metro. My is and I never found anyone else with that last name.

my goodness. Sorry to dredge up an old thread... I'm just here to rant. If you don't have knowledge in the subject then you should probably leave it alone.

Chevys haven't had hubs of any sort since 88, xcept 'burbs, k5's and 3500's until '91.
No front end I'm aware of ever had a posi or clutches of any sort.
Lockers don't break CV's, Aggresive tires and right feet break them.
The basics of power distribution are the same in a solid axle as it is in an IFS, at least on a fullsize. Theres probably some wussy escalade or something that has a fulltime t-case but the rest of the silverados (I believe, and could be wrong) have part time tcases without any clutches. Therefore you'll still notice a difference in 4x, unless your on one heck of a slippery spot.
Someone please corect me if these run a viscous coupling or some other torque sensitive tcase, I'm not up on the 99- trucks.

JJ - your just an idiot. How Ironic that you accuse EKU of being mistaken or inexperienced. See above.
IFS doesn't mean: independent front axil, its Independent Front Suspension. Chevys don't have posi's in the front axle, and are actually different than the rear axle... but if they did it would behave opposite of what you suggest, posi's try to pull with both tires. Fortunatly for you, you actually described an open axle, which is what the truck has.


Eku... I'm sure you've allready fixed this but if not I'd check the wiring tothe front axle and the front axle disconnect.

Nice truck, mine is identical to yours. Same paint scheme. BEAUTIFUL!!
Thank you! :grinyes:

my goodness. Sorry to dredge up an old thread... I'm just here to rant. If you don't have knowledge in the subject then you should probably leave it alone.

Chevys haven't had hubs of any sort since 88, xcept 'burbs, k5's and 3500's until '91.
No front end I'm aware of ever had a posi or clutches of any sort.
Lockers don't break CV's, Aggresive tires and right feet break them.
The basics of power distribution are the same in a solid axle as it is in an IFS, at least on a fullsize. Theres probably some wussy escalade or something that has a fulltime t-case but the rest of the silverados (I believe, and could be wrong) have part time tcases without any clutches. Therefore you'll still notice a difference in 4x, unless your on one heck of a slippery spot.
Someone please corect me if these run a viscous coupling or some other torque sensitive tcase, I'm not up on the 99- trucks.

JJ - your just an idiot. How Ironic that you accuse EKU of being mistaken or inexperienced. See above.
IFS doesn't mean: independent front axil, its Independent Front Suspension. Chevys don't have posi's in the front axle, and are actually different than the rear axle... but if they did it would behave opposite of what you suggest, posi's try to pull with both tires. Fortunatly for you, you actually described an open axle, which is what the truck has.


Eku... I'm sure you've allready fixed this but if not I'd check the wiring tothe front axle and the front axle disconnect.
Beefy You say i am the ediot and you admit you don't know about 99 and up trucks while spouting as if you do?
Check yourself fool. yes these new trucks do have a viscous drive in the transfers with the auto lock featureno they are not locked like a posi they are open . I was pointing out that if you try to put a locking system in them they break half shafts. i have not tried this , one of the most well known four wheel drive magazines have, recently, maybe you should try to read and listen more then you talk, your not very good at it...jj

So did you ever figure this problem out. i have the same problem on my truck, and thought that it might come in handy to see what you did to finally fix yours.
Can the clutches in the Xfer case be bad and still have the truck work well in 4whl drive. My front does not pull at all. The front actuator works. I am not sure if my Xfer case is actually ingaging at this point. I need to pull the electric shift motor to see if it is working, I can hear it motoring but cannot be sure that it is actually moving the insides gears.
Thanks for any help you can provide.

I have the same exact problem when I bought the truck message service say ( 4x4 services ) I change the inside switch the message stop still nothing at the front will then I change the front diff actuator still nothing then I clean the ground for the transfer case 4 x 4 I can hear bolt actuators engaging but still noting in the front diff I wonder if the clutch in the transfer case is crap could everything worked fine but the traction in the front wheel , and even if the 4x4 low gear or working ( but still noting in the front diff ) ???? All light work in the 4 x 4 switch like it should ... when I press the 4x4 lights on then I here the transfer case actuator and then the light blink until I hear different diff actuator and then stay lit still nothing work in the front differential

I hate getting into old threads, but WTH??

So try this: Put it in 4HI or 4LO and then move back and forth 6-10 feet. Now shut it down and set the parking brake. Jack the front wheels off the ground and install jack stands. Now try to turn the drive shaft to the front axle from the T-Case. You should not be able to turn it no matter how much torque you put to it. Another way is to just have one front wheel (left front??) off the ground and try to turn it.

If your able to do any of the "should not be able to do" then most likely the T-Case clutches are "toast".

Good Luck to you.

this is an old posting of another member like 10 yrs old. being a new member this type of action most times is not good to help you or others with vehicle issues. causes confusion ..

so create a new posting with your problem and you also post what exact truck you are with issues, including the servicing/mileage/work done/ troubleshooting/fluid checking/drive train failure codes.

it appears you did not get those codes so you guessed on the issue you have ... I never have heard any member replace the dash push button switch to get the front wheels to engage to the rear wheels .. the switch normally when it goes bad/solder joint causes a service 4wd light to come on because the computer will sense a bad circuit connection . that circuit is 8 volts DC......