I'm in dier need of a 4x4 vacuum shift motor for my 1998 Ram 1500. This is the unit that engages/disengages the 4x4 and mounts onto the front axle. I need the entire unit as both my vacuum motor and fork are bad. I tried to find one in my living area with NO luck and the Dodge dealers sell the items each and NOT as a unit and wanting way to much for them. So I figured I would give this great forum a try as it's always good for everything else. If someone here has a good spare and wouldn't mind selling it or know of somewhere that has a good one for sale for a good price as well, PLEASE let me know ASAP. Feel free to contact me direct at gbart@mwt.net if you wish.

Thanks in advance!

 

i wouldnt go with the vaccum anymore. go with a posi lok system. gets rid of the vaccum actuator all together.

http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/

you can find them cheaper on ebay.

 

I actually made one and was working great. I made mine with a locking choke cable so I could lock it in or out. What I found with this though is that when I pulled it all the way over to also engage the 4x4 dash light it must of been too much pressure on the fork that it ended up having too much friction on it and wore right through the fork, so now the fork slips right over the axle sleeve. Maybe whatI need to do is pull it all the way and then let it back just a fraction and then maybe it would have a little free play so the friction wouldn't be there to wear through another one. With all this being said I can do without the entire unit but need a good fork at least. I just figured I would check into an entire good unit and maybe save me the hassle of having to replace another fork down the road?

 

have you checked with the dealer for a fork? or looked around for an upgraded one?

 

Yes, the dealers around here in Wisconsin want $55 for just the fork. I just hate the thought of friction wearing out another fork at that price, but again if I back off the cable once I engage it all the way to allow just a bit of freeplay maybe it won't happen again, but then the 4x4 dash light doesn't stay on. I suppose I could weld an extention rod piece on the light swich or the fork rod that would turn the light on sooner?

 

i suppose you could... i would look around for a heavy duty fork, or like you said do some "reinforcin" lol

 

The bad thing is that they make the forks out of "cast" crap instead of something "solid." It it was a solid fork there wouldn't be any problems, or at least put decent wear pads on the fork ends that would hold up as well.

 

motorbrreath>>> Do you know where I can order a "heavy duty" fork? I noticed that posi-lock has cast iron ones that are only $10 more then the OEM aluminum ones. Would love to have steel if there's a place that makes them.

 

Dude, you can use one from a dana 30 out of a cherokee, grand cherokee or wrangler and it will fit right like a charm. I know this because i just replaced the one on my 96 ram and it worked flawlesly.

the only thing i had to change, and not necessarily, was the fork from my old vacuum motor which by the way was cast iron. When i bought the new vacuum motor i placed it directly over my dana 44 and all holes and fork position matched.

These vacuum motors are plenty on any junk yard, i bought mine for like 22 bucks.

Try it, any questions let me know.....

 

cuaco_ortiz>>> Maybe a '98 is different from a '96?? I wouldn't think so though. I can't find any yards around here in Wisconsin that have any at all as I guess they go out just as fast as they come in. I have a yard that has one coming in on Friday but didn't quote me a price as of yet as they don't know the condition of it until the take it out, but the last time I talked to a yard that had one a long time ago they wanted $150 for it. Boy if you can get them that cheap wherever you are, I would gladly buy one from you giving you a few extra bucks for doing so.