Chevy Truck Locking Rear Differential

While servicing the differential on a 2004 silverado pickup truck i thought i d take the opportunity to explain how a locking differential works.

Chevy truck locking rear differential. While a differential usually allows each rear wheel to rotate at different rates automatic locking rear differentials lock the rear wheels forcing both to rotate at the same speed. You can check that by opening your glove box and you ll see a silver sticker full of 3 digit codes. Although these are adequate for typical street driving they are not suitable for high performance or extreme use such as hard four wheeling or straight line. General motors has been offering an automatic locking rear differential in its chevy and gmc trucks for more than 40 years.

In general motors case the eaton g80 automatic locking. Randys carries gm differentials from the small 6 5 as found in the chevy vega up to the larger gm 11 5 common under 3 4 and 1 ton trucks from chevrolet and gmc. Today its prevalence has grown to include every body on frame rear. The truck has a locking rear differential and different drive modes along with features typical of gmc trucks such as the brand s unique lift gate and a carbon fiber bed.

However you could have a locking rear differential. The differential is a drivetrain component that is used to transfer power from the engine to the wheels. Look for the ones that start with a g g80 locking diff gu4 3 08 gu5 3 23 gu6 3 42 gt4 3 73 gt5 4 10 but if you have an open diff or locker it still takes regular gear oil. Gov lock differentials were installed in many late model gm trucks.