Ok, I replaced the whole half axle, and the ball joints. Not too bad of a job. But the big disappointment is it still won't go into 4WD. No front axle engagement, no light on dash. Not 4L either.

Any suggestions???

We are supposed to get a decent snow storm tomorrow night and I'll need the plow!!!

What else could have happened? I drove it for 50 or so miles on the way down with that bad vibration. On the way back (read above) I figured out how to keep it from doing it. Could the actuator (CAD?) be damaged somehow on the other side?? Does it engage electrically? I haven't been under that side to look yet. Simple things to look for? If the axle was vibrating severely something came loose?

Thanks. Some pics below. Yes, I know I had the brake dust shield on backwards, I took the hub off and flipped it over...

<img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk51/johnshenry/Mic%20PIcs/DSCN5069.jpg">

 

its all vacuum operated, not electrical.
its actually very simple, just a Rube Goldberg series of events.

http://dodgeram.org/tech/repair/4X4/4x4_engagment.htm

 

Ok, good link there, good info. Not all that different from my old '87. I'll go out and have look, praying for just a loose vacuum line.......

 

Fixed! (at midnight).

That link is great, I followed the troubleshooting steps, determined that I did have vacuum at the CAD and it "swapped" lines when the lever was put in 4H. So I took the actuator (CAD) out and tried applying vacuum, and no movement . I put in a vice, pulled the 3 C clips out and took out the vacuum motor. I tugged on the shaft and suddenly it freed. So I tested it with vacuum, then put it back in the housing and tested it again, and saw the fork move.

Put it back on the axle and voila! 4WD again. REALLY glad it was nothing major. I was dreading what I might find after driving it that long with a floppy axle.

Now of course this means it probably won't snow tomorrow.

The CAD housing was pretty corroded and the vacuum pod rusty. I think I am going to try to get anew (or good used one) and replace it in the spring, and do a better job of running the lines.

Anybody have a source for a new CAD housing, LMK.

Thanks again for all your help!!!

JH

 

A good place for the vacuum operated CAD is the trash!!

Ditch the vacuum and go with manual
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-29.html

With the manual setup you get the lovely 2 wheel low..

 

+1 on posilok.
+1+1+1 on 2wd low

 

dont forget craigslist...lots of parted out rams and whole rams selling for less than an axle would at the junkyard...

 

X2... I am on CL just about everyday to look for a junker in my area, I have found a 5.2 engine, complete for $250...

I was looking for an intake manifold for my plenum fix, those at a JY go for $100, just be worth buying the whole damn engine for $150 more

 

there was a rebuilt 97 transmission for $500 locally on mine a couple days ago...3,000 miles on it since AMMCO rebuild.... of course I couldnt find anything when mine went in december...

 

Oh man, that seems like my luck as of late!