1995 Dodge Ram 1500 V8 4x4 SLT Shortbed

I just purchased this truck. My my front drive shaft is not installed on my truck. I am able to spin the input on my front differential with my hand. Is this a bad thing?
Someone told me there might also be a switch or something on the differential to lock it into drive. Or the gears might be damaged. In the end I am going to take the cover off and inspect it.

Thanks

 

Please post in the tech section.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...new-topic.html

 

It's normal on these trucks to be able to do that because of the cad unit on the passenger side axle tube. It's got a vacuum motor that's slides a fork over to engage the axle. Why did the po remove the front shaft?

 

welcome to df.
read this - http://dodgeram.org/tech/repair/4X4/4x4_engagment.htm

and then search and read some of the old threads on the CAD, but you won't be able to search on CAD because the site search engine sucks.

be cautious, there's probably a very good reason the PO removed the drive shaft, which doesn't even turn in 2wd.
either the drive shaft is bad, or the t-case is bad, or something inside the dif, or the cad was grinding.

 

There's the possibility of differing gear ratios also.

 

only reason that makes since take it out would be the differ in ratios. the driveshaft does not move while driving till the xfer case is engaged then the CAD shifts the collar over for it and the shaft will then be locked and u cant turn it by hand, so take the cover off see if it looks good, then i would check the driveshaft and make sure it not bent or nothing. and if thats all good id take the xfer case and make sure it works fine, then all thats left is to test the CAD, it has 2 vacuum lines, take them off at the CAD unit on the axle, with the truck running and in 2wd it will have vacuum on one line, then when you put it into 4wd it will shift to the other line. if this does not work, then you have a cracked/clogged line mostly.