What year is your truck? Is there a center axle disconnect? You would likely hear hellacious noises coming from the dif if there were problems in there because broken parts would be trying to spin when engaged

 

Go with the Aussie or Lock Right. They are virtually the same thing, both lunch boxes. I put a Lock Right in my 02 and it was the best investment I made for the truck.

 

Something to be said for the way it used to be where you had a pair of shifters sticking out of the transmission hump. One for the for the 435, or 455 New Process transmission, and the other for the NP200 series transfer case. You got out engaged the hubs and moved the transfer case shifter from neutral to either Hi, or Low by hand and off you go. Not as fancy but in my neck of the Hi Plains there are a loads of these old trucks Ford, Chevy, GMC, Dodge. and International's still doing their jobs. I rather liked the Ford Trucks of about 1964 because of the way the separate transfer cases where mounted you almost had to use a step ladder to get in them, Bullet proof!

 

I agree. If manual hubs and transfer cases were an option on today's trucks, I'd opt for it every time. At least I still have my 77 Bronco, it's built the way a 4x4 should be, live axles and manual hubs and shifter. Don't get me wrong. I love my truck and the nice ride the Indy front provides, and the 4 wheel has worked as it's supposed to, but there's really no question as to which handles off roading better.

 

Truck's a 90, and I do believe that it's split. The front diff doesn't make any noise, just acts like it's not working, I guess. Could there be a disconnect front the hub to the axle, maybe it got put on incorrectly when my ball and u joints were changed? If the diff isn't making noise as if it's broken, is that a give away that it SHOULD be functional, but just isn't engaging to the axles?

 

Your pumkin is not centered. On the longer side there is a coupler that joins the axle and allows your 4 wheel drive to work. It is either vacuum activated or electric. If it's vacuum, check the lines going to it to see if they are cracked and replace them. If electric, check the wires going into it. You could run power right to the motor to see if it works. I'd have to look up your particular truck to find out for sure. I'll see what I can find

 

Pumpkin... meaning diff? I think it's vac, but I have no idea. But, if it's electrical it'd make sense for sure, because my wiring is a bonafide mess.