I just bought a 1997 Ram 1500 5.9L and the front hubs won't lock when I shift into 4H or 4L I can feel the transfer case shifting but the front hubs won't lock. Any ideas. Thanks.

 

My mom had a similair problem just a while ago... Do you still have the manual for your truck?</P>

 

All I have is the owners manual and that isn't any help.

 

I know nothing about your truck, so please take thispostwith a HUGE GRAIN of salt.....but could it be you havehubs that need to be manually locked on the wheel?? Like Warns?</P>


Hope that helps, and best of luck with the problem..... Tim</P>

 

Maybe possibly (im not sure for your vehicle) but try after enguaging, </P>


backing up about 12 feet. </P>

 

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Is your 4WDlight coming on when you put the shifter in 4hi or 4lo? </P>


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I'm fairly sure that you havethe same problem that I had to fix. Your transfer case engages and sends power to the front dirveshaft but, the CAD unit on the front axle is not engaging. The CAD is located on the right side of the front axle. When you put the transfer case in 4x4, vacuum is applied to the CAD unit, which engages afork that locks the front right, outer axle shaft, to the inner axle shaft. Without this engagement, power is applied to the front differential and nothing happens. This because the front differential is an open design (not limited slip). All the power is going to the path of least resistance, which in your case is the inner shaft on the right side. Without the inner shaft being engaged to the outer shaft (via the CAD) 4x4 won't truly work. </P>


Now comes the hard part trying to find out why there is no vacuum (if this is the case). If your not very mechanical, I'd pay a good mechaninc to fix this. Here is a link to an article on how to do away with the vacuum system: http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/posilock.php</P>


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Bill,</P>

 

I have the same truck and know people who have had problems with the auto locking hubs. sgbofav is right. The vacuum engaugment system on these truckssuck and so does the open diff. Check out http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/dodge_page.html, they sell manualengaugment kits. Thisprobabaly won't fix your existing problem; but it is something to look into once you do have it fixed (you should probablyfind a mechanic since it can get kinda complicated).I plan on ordering a kit for my truck and I'll post a review.

 

Just saw a manual engaugment kit on E-bay today for $125.00

 

Ihave a 95 2500 4x4 and last summer the 4 wheel drive quit working. The shaft turns but doesn't turn the front wheels. I noticed a leak at the driver side front tire but that quit and I never got that fixed (probably stupid but the money and time wasn't there). Would that cause that problem or any others down the road? That was 30000 miles ago. I drive 3000 miles a month on average.

 

I had the same thing go wrong with my truck. If the CAD is working. You might want to look at your vacuum lines. They might be broken or cracked. And you are not getting the vacuum to your CAD.