Alright guys, I just got under the truck to look for the CAD system. The axle has nothing. There are no vacuum lines running to it. The only hose that goes to it appears to be a vent line on the top half of the diff. cover. Now, my truck has the Dana M60 axle. Could that be the difference? Did they not have the CAD system?

 

Hmmm, you should have a CAD axle. It should be located on one of the axle tubes.

 

I have gone all around that axle and have found nothing. From what I have seen for pictures it looks like a box with a cover and a round item that looks like a vacuum advance with 2 vac. hoses connected. There is nothing like that on the axle at all.

 

That's odd. Either sounds like someone eliminated the CAD unit already, or they swapped in a non-CAD axle. If that's the case, then you'll have locking hubs on it that are not unlocking. Try backing up a bit to get them to unlock. You may have to pull the hubs apart and regrease everything.

If you can, look around the diff cover for any numbers on the axle. Maybe we can narrow down exactly which version of the D-60 you have.

 

It'll basically look like a round sleeve about halfway down the long axle tube, just inside of the passenger side coil spring. The mechanism is on the back side of it. Your vent and vacuum lines should attach there. Like Ramtuff said, maybe somebody had an upgraded D60 installed. Look for the lockouts.

On the front driveshaft spinning, they sometimes do. Just as long as there's no power going to it. Because the axles are Constant Velocity style (axleshafts are splined directly to the wheels), the axleshafts are always spinning. If there is less friction in the T-case than in the Center Disconnect, the driveshaft will spin. Once more drag is applied to the driveshaft it should stop spinning. However, if it is powered, indicating either bad Center Disconnect or T-case, then you've got problems. Try putting a thin zip-tie thru the yoke and attached to the frame or something solid. Pull ahead very slowly for a few feet. If the zip-tie breaks, you got problems.

 

I just went outside here in NH to look. It's 7 deg. out there! There is absolutely nothing on the axle. All it has are 2 lines going to each brake caliper. Now I did grab the numbers off of the tag on the diff cover. I will list them below. I also pulled the hub cover off of the wheel and there is no hubs behind it. Now I checked the Star Network Report I got and it does show a Dana M60 axle spec. for it. The axle does have the Chrysler stickers still wrapped around it. So, I don't think it is anything aftermarket. Here are the numbers and thanks again guys!
52070136A0
3 54 611223 1
The diff. cover is marked Dana. The truck does have the HD Snow Plow Prep, Camper Special Group, HD Service Group, Trailer Tow Group and the 241HD Transfer case which gives you the PTO connection. If any of this makes a difference.

 

Hmmm, the plot thickens. I did a search on the numbers you listed, and it comes back as the CAD actuated version.

 

It will be in the 40's Wed. and I get my but under there again to look one more time for the CAD. It is -3 now.

 

Hi I am new to the site I have a 2002 2500 5 speed my front drive shaft turns all the time to I can not find anything on my front axel but a breather hose does some one make a kit that you can manually lock and unlock the front end

 

Margarett, I am in the same boat. I have not found the Central Axle Disconnect that everyone is talking about. I purchased a Dodge factory service manual and all the show is the CAD system but my truck does not have it. I have not found a manual hub kit either. I was trying to find the cad system to see if that was the issue but no luck. What started this for me was the mileage. I am getting 11 mpg so I thought maybe the 4wd was not disengaging.