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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle

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Tweeter

02-17-2007 06:09:41




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My 4wd disengages when I need it most. I am looking for the fully electric actuator rather than heat/gas thing. I am told that the Dormin 600-100 is the one I want for a 1988 K2500. Is that the one I want cause that is what the one looks like on my truck. I thought the electric model looked different. I would like to replace this soon, so could someone lead me in the right direction with a part number or something. Is there a GP Sorensen cross reference number?

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bradk

02-17-2007 11:47:41




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-17-2007 06:09:41  
You need the RBN-600-101 and a harness kit from your GM dealer.The harness kit will also have a steel spacer that needs to be inserted in front axle housing before screwing in new actuator.

Bob explained how to wire in harness.~brad



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Tweeter

02-17-2007 16:24:01




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to bradk, 02-17-2007 11:47:41  
The RBN 600-101 is for 1996 and newer trucks. Mine is an '88. Will it still work?



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bradk

02-17-2007 20:12:27




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-17-2007 16:24:01  
Yes,it will.~brad



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Tweeter

02-18-2007 06:23:01




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to bradk, 02-17-2007 20:12:27  
Do I have to do any modification to make that unit fit cause that looks larger than the original?



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bradk

02-18-2007 07:39:57




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-18-2007 06:23:01  
No mods needed on yours.The only one that needed a bit of grinding was the older 1 ton.This actuator (along w/the herness)is the update cure for 88-up slow or no engage on GM trucks.



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Steve A W

02-17-2007 09:35:01




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-17-2007 06:09:41  
4-Wheel & Off road Had a writeup on a manual cable system.
It is offered by "4x4 Posi-Lok" www.4x4posi-lok.com It looks pretty easy to install.



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Tweeter

02-17-2007 09:43:53




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Steve A W, 02-17-2007 09:35:01  
I have seen that setup but I rather keep things somewhat stock and it is over $200 for the kit from Posi-Lock.



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Bob

02-17-2007 08:19:30




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-17-2007 06:09:41  
When changing from the thermally-actuated unit to the DC motor actuator, a conversion wiring harness is needed. Does Dorman have the harness?

Otherwise, you'll have to get the harness from GM.

Have you priced the actuator from GM vs. Dorman?



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Tweeter

02-17-2007 09:24:36




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Bob, 02-17-2007 08:19:30  
This one looks more like might be electric but it is for truck 1996 and newer.



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Bob

02-17-2007 09:43:53




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-17-2007 09:24:36  
The one at Summit is the style you want.


Third Party Image


You will need to get a conversion wiring harness from Chevy to make it work, though. The new style fast and positive unit WILL NOT work unless conversion harness has already been installed, or you install it. The harness runs back to the upper LH side of the transfer case, and gets spliced into a brown wire at a 2-wire lug that is connected to a screw-in switch on the transfer case.

Conversion harness part #'s

1237 6316 (old part #)

8895 9465 (new part #)

Expect to pay about as much for the conversion harness as for the actuator.

Clear as mud?

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Tweeter

02-17-2007 09:53:19




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Bob, 02-17-2007 09:43:53  
I am not clear on this yet. Is the problem with this normally the actuator or the vacuum switch on the transfer case? The other day I had it in 4WD high and shut the truck off, then turned the truck back on couple minutes later and I had no 4WD. I never disengaged it when I shut it off. Then miles down the snowy road I applied the brakes quickly and the 4WD light on the floor came on. This wasnt the only time it doesnt work. Normally when I get stuck I pull the lever into 4 High and nothing happens at all. I even give it time to do its thing.

So Bob, you are saying the actuator from Summit (Item# 600-100) is the one I need plus a wiring harness from GM.

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Bob

02-17-2007 10:09:50




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-17-2007 09:53:19  
There's NO vacuum involved in this full-sized GM system. When you move the lever to "4X4", a switch on the transfer case sends power to the heater in the thermally operated front axle actuator, heating it up, and it then exstends, and engages the central axle disconnect. As the shift rail in the front axle moves, it operates a switch that makes the "4X4" indicator light come on in the cab.

As soon as you shut the ignition off, the actuator cools, and the process has to repeat at startup.

The new-style actuator is a little gearmotor, that operates instantly, and stays put when the switch is turned to "OFF".

To the newer-style actuator won't plug into the harness, plus it needs another source of power from the existing harness at the transfer case.

Hence, the need to buy the GM conversion harness to make the new-style actuator work in the old-style chassis.

Check the price of the newer actuator at GM. I suppose they've gone way up, but they used to be about $80.00.

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Tweeter

02-18-2007 06:26:28




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Bob, 02-17-2007 10:09:50  
Does the original actuator wear out from age or are they terrible units? Can I just replace the original unit with a new one of the same thermal type or will a new one crap out too in the cold?



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Bob

02-19-2007 02:39:37




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Tweeter, 02-18-2007 06:26:28  
The thermal units usually work pretty good, for a few years. Slow engagement in the cold is a typical sign of impending failure.



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Tweeter

02-17-2007 09:20:46




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 Re: Chevy 4WD Actuator Front Axle in reply to Bob, 02-17-2007 08:19:30  
Dorman wants roughly $80.00 for the unit. I posted a link to it. Can you tell me if that is the electric one?



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