CK5
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D60 with auto hubs?
- Thread starter CK5
- Start date
Yes, factory. Went with the "shift on the fly" NP205
An option for only 3 years (82-84, iirc). I would assume they’re just as problematic as the smaller versions. There’s a paragraph or so on the ORD tcase tech page about them because of the syncro’d 205 that was paired the option.
A cool thing to put on the shelf.
Yeah, the 205 has different shift collars etc for a synchronized 2 to 4 hi shift. The 205 is identifiable by an oiling vein on the rear cover of the front output (see pic), a regular 205 doesn’t have the vein.
The 205 is fine, the only drawback I know of is that it won’t accept an upgrade 32 spline front output shaft because of the shift collar assembly.
The 205 is fine, the only drawback I know of is that it won’t accept an upgrade 32 spline front output shaft because of the shift collar assembly.
I have owned two 83 model K-30’s and found paperwork on one that the hubs were warranty swapped out for manual hubs due to repeated failures and the other was a local fire brush support truck and they said the hubs were replaced early on because they had trouble engaging and disengaging.
Just like said up above those auto hubs are just as problematic as the K-10/20 hubs were - they ain’t nothing special about them and should not be trusted out on the trail.
It’s my understanding that they were standard equipment in 83&84 model years ( manual hubs optional ) and after that they became optional through 85~87 with the manual hubs being standard.
Kind of like GM’s gov-lok diffs - sounds great on paper but not so much in reality and they would never admit defeat even when it’s obviously a flawed design in the end.
Just like said up above those auto hubs are just as problematic as the K-10/20 hubs were - they ain’t nothing special about them and should not be trusted out on the trail.
It’s my understanding that they were standard equipment in 83&84 model years ( manual hubs optional ) and after that they became optional through 85~87 with the manual hubs being standard.
Kind of like GM’s gov-lok diffs - sounds great on paper but not so much in reality and they would never admit defeat even when it’s obviously a flawed design in the end.
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That’s cool, I didn’t know they were available for that long.
I think they were far and few between for 85 & 87 ( and for good reason ) kind of like the 4-spd overdrive option MY6 ( NP440 ) lasted until 1987 but in very low numbers.
I think it was a sales gimmick ordeal so they could advertise that the convenience of auto locking hubs were available across the board on all 4WD trucks and once the GMT400’s came out they dropped that crap on the V series trucks like a bad habit.
Yup, as said, pretty rare on K30. Fairly common on 1/2 and 3/4T. I've run the 10 bolt version with good luck even on the trail but I did understand how they work and had a pretty specific driver to put them back in. I lived within a few highway miles of my parents and inlaws 10-ish miles to town and all our driveways often required 4wd in the winter and I didn't like leaving hubs locked all the time on the highway and also go tired of getting out to lock hubs all the time. Do the auto hubs were great.
The synchro 205s are fine and there were a LOT of them built. I'm sure it was far more than the number of trucks that actually got auto hubs. It's not just he clutch ring that's different, it's every single part of the front output assembly. So if you want to go to a 32 spline, you really need the entire assembly from another 205 to do it. The good news is that the assembly is pretty strong so unless you're pushing the limits of the 30 spline shaft (which not many people actually do) it's generally a solid system.
The synchro 205s are fine and there were a LOT of them built. I'm sure it was far more than the number of trucks that actually got auto hubs. It's not just he clutch ring that's different, it's every single part of the front output assembly. So if you want to go to a 32 spline, you really need the entire assembly from another 205 to do it. The good news is that the assembly is pretty strong so unless you're pushing the limits of the 30 spline shaft (which not many people actually do) it's generally a solid system.
Wow, I had no idea that the syncro’d 205’s came in non auto hub’d trucks - very good to know!
I had the syncro 205 on my old 83 K-30 and I must say that the shifter engagement feel was very solid and precise - way better feel than most other regular 205’s.
Glad to hear Doc Watson is confident in these cases because I still have two of them and they are the lowest mileage ones that I have - I never used them because I was worried about the difference in the internal shift linkage.
Great info !
