First, my truck is a 1993 Dakota/ 5.2 / AT / Ext cab/ 4x4...

It snowed a lot here and now I want to use the 4x4 for the first time. However, the light comes on, I can feel the xfer case engage, but the axles do not, or rather the hubs do not. So, I read all the posts here and found about the CA...however, I cannot find that part on my front end...would the 1993 have a different setup? The web is very hard to find anything about this problem, except for here, and this seems to be unique, since I cannot locate any vacuum lines going to the axle anywhere, except for a vent tube...

 

Yes most likely it is the CAD Central Axle Disconnect. Here is the copy and paste from the FAQ.

My 4wd doesn't work. - It uses a CAD up to 1993. Central Axle Disconnect, which is vacuum operated. It could be a vacuum leak or a bad CAD actuator. There are no locking hubs. Click HERE

 

Yeah, I read all that stuff, but I cannot find it on my axle anywhere...don't see any vacuum lines, no actuator, etc...were no other systems used at all?

 

Perhaps if someone can tell me exactly where this CAD is located? Is it on the driver side? I lay under the truck, looked down thru the engine compartment, looked past the tires through the wheel wells...cannot find it...

 

Some link that maybe can help you

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/..._engagment.htm

http://www.4x4wire.com/dodge/tech/solid_axle_cad/

 

Passenager side on back side of axel close to where the inner cv axel bolts to the flenge

 

Thank you!!! I looked at that area also, but did not find it...so will go back over it tomorrow when it is daylight again...and maybe not snowing...

So, the question comes up once more: if there is NO CAD system, what type of system will it be? I read that up to 92 has CAD, and I read that up to 93 has the CAD...so I am confused.

 

Thanks bunches Mikke...I will be looking those links over very good...

 

93 is the last year for Dakotas. If you can't find it, it is possible someone swapped in a 94-96 axle.

 

So...if someone had swapped in an axle from a newer truck, what would I look for to be the problem? How do these axles engage? Sorry if I sound ignorant, but I really am concerning these trucks....I know very little about how they work...