Hi Guys,
I just bought a 85 chevy shortbed 4x4 I think I have a NP 208 , and I have a 700 r tranny and 3:42 gear ratio. the prob is when I lock in the 4x4, the rear axle bindes or so I think, if I just lock in the transfer case , and not the hubs the transfercase I have 4 h and 4L GEARS and it works fine no noise in the transfer case, but when I lock in the hubs the tires all act like when you make a turn in 4wd on dry pavement except I am going straight ,almost like I am pushing a heavy object...I checked my axles they are both 3:42 ratio, so I am at a loss... if I run the truck in 2wd with the front hubs locked in it works fine and I dont see it binding at all , so I dont think its the front axle haveing a prob, and in 4wd with the hubs unlocked it works fine it only happens in 4wd with the hubs locked in. I have replaced the hubs and checked all my fluids. anybody have any advice ? I could sure use it...Thanks CCBUSSGO

pull off the front diff cover and make sure everything is ok. or you could jack up the front end and try rotating evrything, sounds like something in the frontend is screwed up.

yeah, if possible jack the entire truck up off the ground and see if the tires spin freely when hubs and transfer case are locked in. I'm thinkin it's a differential problem in the front axle. Make sure that you have the right gear ratio in both axles, meaning take the covers off and count teeth. at the same time, inspect the gears for damage. it's possible some idiot regeared one axle and not the other and didn't tell you about it when you bought it.

sounds like you got one of the fawked up trucks with different gears in the axels

almost sounds like a spool is in the front lol, that is a strange strange problem. How long have you had the truck for? Possible to contact the previous owner and ask a couple Q's? How could you not notice this before you test drove the truck before you bought it?

lots of good suggestions allready have been made I will only add to also make sure all your tires are the same size all around something as small of a differnece as I.E. 33 in the rear and 32 up front will create this problem also. good luck and post up when you find out