if i buy an 08, or 09 colorado, are there any aftermarket lock-out hub kits available? from what i gather from the Gm website, the colorados dont have lock-out hubs, i want to be able to disengage the hubs, during regular street driving, is this possible?

this should be posted in the newbe forum not here, its ifs it disengages at the diff and at the hub when power isn't applied to it, though electricity to a solinoid

Unit bearing designs have made the adaptation of manual hubs to newer vehicles very difficult. Chevy vehicles are impossible to the best of my knowledge. The axleshaft splines directly to the hub assembly so there really is no way to disengage it in that method. Your shafts are always going to spin, but the driveshaft will not, nor will the pinion and carrier in the diff. If you're looking for more reliable engagement I'm sure you could adapt one of the posi-lock cables to it, but the modern actuators are fairly reliable and far faster than the old wax pellet thermal ones.

if the shafts wont spin, then where is the point of disengagement?
are the inner shafts 2 piece like on some of the jeep dana 30's, or does the disengagement happen in the diff?

it happens inside the differental, and also at the transfer case.

You have side gears and the pinions within the differential spinning somewhere near the speed of light in 2wd on the highway. The system was problematic 20 years ago, but it's come a long ways and works just fine for pavement queens. It does reduce drag somewhat (though not to the same degree as locking hubs) while still allowing shift-on-the-fly capability at any time.

*edit* The shifting happens on the long-side tube. That CV shaft is 1 piece, but there is an intermediate shaft with a collar similar to what Jeep used. The t-case also obviously serves as a disconnect. In 2wd you can spin the front driveshaft freely without regard for if the truck is in park, neutral, or in gear.

ok, i understand that in 2wd, the transfercase is not gonna send power to the front diff, but the only way a disconnect on one front axleshaft would work is if the front is a true open diff system. is this true? i couldn't find any pertinant info on the gm website as to whether the base 4x4 colorado was offered w/ a front limited slip or not.

No lockout hubs available.

ok, i understand that in 2wd, the transfercase is not gonna send power to the front diff, but the only way a disconnect on one front axleshaft would work is if the front is a true open diff system. is this true? i couldn't find any pertinant info on the gm website as to whether the base 4x4 colorado was offered w/ a front limited slip or not.

You are correct. The system only works with an open diff. You can install a traction aid of some type, but it is going to increase wear and drag while decreasing fuel mileage, and in the case of a clutch type LSD, the life of the clutches since they will always be spinning and subject to more variation in speeds since they are in the front.

As far as I am aware there are no traction aiding diffs (lockers or LSD) for the GM IFS.

EDIT: Oh except ARB for the 9.25" IFS.

ok cool thanks for the info, that answers my questions.

for the h3 the new alphas are available with a front locker and Im assuming there the same front differential as the colorados, so Im pretty sure you can get a locker for them now

the H3 Alpha has an upgraded cast iron front diff....is it the same (size) that is in the colorado?