Hello...first post here. Im about to buy a 91 V8 Dakota and the 4x4 doesnt work. The transfer case seems fine since you can feel it kicking in, and also the front drive shaft spins. But from there its not turning the front tires. Does this sound like a hub problem, ring and pinion, or gears problem? Any help is appreciated.

 

To me it sounds like your front axle disconnect is not engageing. I belive they work off of engine vacumm. Check the hoses and replace any bad ones. I wish I could give you more detail but mymodel year does not have a front axle disconnect.

 

so the front drive axle engages but the wheels dont turn? Sounds like the automatic hubs are bad. Unless you have manual locking hubs in which case make sure they are manually engaged.

 

Yea thats what I was thinking as well. I have auto hubs. Do they have a fuse? I havnt checked for that yet.

 

But wait...it has independant front rear...so now im thinking that the spider gears are wiped out. We are going to pop the pumpkin here soon.

 

As far as I know no ifs has hubs. They only have central axle disconnect! check that first.

 

you might want to try the vaccum hoses to the 4x4. I have a 1992 Kota and my 4x4 just went out recently and had the same symtoms as yours, and i took it to my mechanic and it works perfect now. what had happened was they got to close to the exhaust pipe and melted a hole in the side...slowly letting more and more pressure out to the point where the 4x4 would not engage. It cost me $127 with labor

 

check the fluid in the front axle, replace it if it looks bad or low. if that does not work replace the vaccum hoses to the axle disconnect, both these solutions are cheap.if that does not work pull out the automatic disconnect from the axle housing (two bolts) and check to see if the fork is seated properly on the fork bearing, don't worry no springs will fly out or anything will fall apart, it's pretty simple. pry the disconnect bearing with a screwdriver back and forth (lock and unlock positions)you can easily see this bearing. if it wont move at all it's seized, and you will have to replace it (not likely the problem, just an option)i only know this because i had to replace the outer axle shaft bearing and sealon the passenger side on my 89 dak. 91 and 89 should be the same. it's a simple setup, vacuum operates a fork that pushes a bearing forwardover a split in the passenger sideaxle and locks it together, (similar to a hydrolic clutch on a standard). there are no locking hubs of any kind on these trucks. automatic locking hubs is just a term they use for this system.

don't worry, if your ring and pinion where gone it would notmove