88 chevy 1500 front axle

i have a 88 chevy 4x4 the transfer case is locking in but the front axle is not. how do i fix this problem?  

Front axle thermo actuator is likely bad.(or circuit is open) These old style actuators fail a lot with age.  

thanx imma try that  

can i get the front axels to stay locked in, without changing the acuator?  

Big_B:
can i get the front axels to stay locked in, without changing the acuator?

No, at very least you would need to remove actuator and install a spacer between it and shifter fork to keep it engaged. Why do you not want to change it??  

i don't use the truck for nothing but to ride in the hunting club and play in the mud. and i don't want to get in a hole and the thing won't go into 4 wheel drive. i have been reading every where that there is alot of problems on the thermo actuator so i would like to find a cheap way of bypassing it  

You could retro fit a newer style servo actuator. I have one on my 2000 K3500 and I have plowed snow with it for 9 years and while I have had trouble with other things I have not had 2 cents of trouble with it.  

That is the way to go. I learned that trick from my brother. He did that to my sisters 89 GMC. The newer style is so fast its like its hooked to linkage. If I ever keep an IFS with the old junk in it, I know the cure and will probably do that first thing. Its about time Chevy figured that problem out. They have a few more yet on the IFS.  

well im not sure what to get and how to do it so if somone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated