My truck has a LIVE FRONT AXLE, the front driveshaft, with U-joints, spins all the time. 260,000 miles so far, I think it's working just fine. What do you think live front axle trucks are doing differently? U-joints can be put to work, they weren't designed to just sit there and do nothing. They aren't delicate little flowers meant to just be looked at.

Another benefit of a live front axle? When the NP231 loses the output shaft snap ring it wont destroy the t-case because when the mainshaft walks forward and engages the 4wd collar, the front driveshaft is already spinning, unlike a CAD truck where the driveshaft is stationary when the 4wd collar gets engaged.

 

YOUR truck is a dakota, which has an ifs front end, completely different to a ram which has a SOLID FRONT AXLE. YOURS doesnt have the cad unit OURS do, its completely different. i know what went wrong with my truck, i know what caused it, im trying to give a lending hand, and youre arguing with me. you shouldnt post somewhere on subject you know nothing about.

 

You think I didn't know that??? It's not completely different. There is nothing wrong with a live front axle, period. And guess what, Dakotas did have CAD until 94, then they got rid of it because it's an unreliable POS. So starting in 94, everything else being the same, the front driveshaft now spins when you drive because they got rid of the CAD, driveshafts are not failing left and right. Jeeps have solid front axles with no CAD starting around 95 as well, they do just fine too. Your u-joint was destined to fail, your driveshaft was dented or off balance or your pinion angle is wrong, period, end of discussion.

 

I think the front shaft joints on our trucks go bad more from non use of 4wd. The shaft doesn't spin like the rear, so moisture and stuff ruins the joints.

 

y'all are getting way too worked up over this.
have a beer and relax.

 

I'm not all worked up, and I am having a beer. LOL

 

not you. see above. have a beer anyway, i might have one myself.

 

I know, just kidding.

 

since the original poster quit posting about 2 days ago i'll take this opportunity to jack this thread some more and point out that zman has more posts than i do in only half the amount of time. but also his posts are short where mine are longer, so i might have more post-words. lol, dog gone this beer is good.

 

LOL, I like to keep it short and simple, just to get the ball rolling for the rest of the knowlegdeable people here on DF.