I have a 98 ram 1500 with 318 5 speed 4x4 my front axle is engaging the front drive shaft coming from the transfer case to the front axle is spinning but my front tires are not, the 4x4 light use to always be on but now it is not
Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

check the vacuum lines that run to the CAD, there will be 2 lines, when in 2wd one line should have a suction, and when swapped to 4x4 it should swap lines. and engage the CAD. even if the CAD isnt working the other side should still be turning?

you can take the CAD out and leave the lines connected and swap it into 4wd and see if it moves the fork or not.

 

Can I put in a full time poss in

 

Sure. Lots of options. You can disassemble the cad, move some e-clips around, and have the front axle always locked. Or, pick up a posi-lok, then, when you want 4 wheel drive, pull the expensive stick, yank on the posi-lok, and down the road you go. Or..... get an NP242 t-case, do whatever with the front axle, and have all wheel drive as well. Just depends on what ya want.

 

I have the truck in the air I took the vacuum thing out and slide the clip over so the right tire is locked in but when I start the truck and put in 4x4 I am only getting the right back and left front wheels to spend

 

Open differentials front and rear. That's typical.

 

Can I get a solid axle for it to get rid of the limited slip or put different axles on it

 

You already have soid axles. If you have a limited slip in the rear, it ain't working. It IS rebuildable though. Don't recommend LSD for the front though..... that may cause other issues.... However, I seem to recall someone having detroit lockers front and rear, and not having issues......

You WANT the differentials to be able to, well.... differentiate.... otherwise, when you try and turn, the truck is going to want to go straight. May be ok on good traction surfaces, but, when things get a bit slick, you will be in serious trouble.

 

limited slip will allow both tires to turn at different rates from each other, so if you have one it aint workin like heyyou said. more than likely you have open diffs which will transfer all power to one tire when it doesnt have traction. which is why you only have one tire spinnin on each axle.

so to get back on topic, your front spins now when you manually moved the collar over to engage the front shafts? so that tells you your CAD isnt workin, more than likely doesnt have the vacuum on the line it needs. you can try to fix that or go with a posi-lok.

 

Agreed, most likely a vac issue. Mostly a pain in the booty to diagnose but very cheap. Cracked line is typical. Start at the CAD inspecting and working backwards.

Does your HVAC vents etc. work funny? lol