axle interlock

Your front pumpkin essentially has two differentials in it. The first one divides the power between the front and rear differentials. The second one is your front differential and acts like the differential in your rear pumpkin, it splits the power side to side.

When you lock the power divider, you're forcing both front and rear differentials to turn the same speed. Essentially instead of just one wheel spinning, now you need two to spin in order to get stuck.

A common misconception is that the front differential receives no power unless the power divider is "engaged". This is completely false. All four wheel ends receive power regardless if the interaxle is locked or not.

 

Clear, concise, and absolutely correct!

Now, prepare for the idiocy to follow...

 

Depending on the rear end should be added to your statement. The old rockwell rears that have the thru shaft do not drive the front axle at all unless the power divider is engaged. The only way there is power to the front rear is if the actuator moves a slip yoke on this shaft and engages the splines and allows the main shaft to turn the power divider.

 

There's exceptions to every rule, and that would be it.

There's also "common knowledge" out there that you should run with the interaxle locked all the time. This is a huge mistake, it wears tires out faster, and puts substantial strain on the power divider. Slippery/wet conditions only.

 

look at the divider in the trucks, it's possible the lock is there and just not plumbed to a switch.

From Tapatalk- for when you're really addicted.

 

look at the trucks that have them. You will see the actuator with the airline going to it on the front half of the front rear. You'll know what to look for on the others. Some Mack rears have a limited slip design to the power divider, no external control. Take the vin to dealer, they can tell what you got. Same for the Pete. If you can find a knowledgeable parts guy, anyways.

I'm away from truck or I'd snap you a pic.

From Tapatalk- for when you're really addicted.

 

Engage before entering slippery conditions. It does you no good once your stuck.

Our freighshaker even has full locking diffs in rear axle.

Good to have when deliverying to jobsites with flatbed