I have a 2002 4x4 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab with the 4.7 engine.Can anyone tell me if the front drive shaft should turn when the switch is set to 2WD.Is there a mechanism that puts the front hubs into freewheel or are they always "locked in"? Neither the owners manual nor the Haynes book I bought give me any information on this. When I first bought the truck I thought the sound I was hearing was the tires "singing" on the pavement but I am now convinced that the sound has to do with either the transfer case, front differential, or the front axle. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

 

yeah, the whole drivetrain is engaged, what just makes it 2wd is a gear in the transfer case, disengages, disconnecting the input shaft of the transfercase from the output shaft connected to the front driveshaft, however the front driveshaft will still spin because its always connected via the front pumpkin, hope this helps explain the gas guzzling ways chrysler has designed to screw over the consumer, but they still did however build a beast of a truck

 

+2, and yes chrysler has built a beast of a truck here, never had any problems or gotten stuck, would buy another one in a heartbeat

 

lol!

 

has anyone found a conversion kit for the front to add locking hubs up front?

 

The only times i have ever got stuck was just operator error! And i second shrpshtr, id buy another in a heartbeat!