I have a 2001 Ram and a couple weeks ago I started having problems with the 4wd. During the last noreaster I was driving in about a foot of heavy snow when the front end started making some pretty weird noises. It sounded like the axle was slipping and disengaging and I was losing traction. I looked at a bunch of other threads reguarding similar problems, so I checked the vacuum lines and they seem to be fine. Instead of cutting the lines like suggested in a couple of posts I disconnected them to see if it would help. With the lines diconnected the 4wd light didn't come on and the fron axle did not engage at all. I think the problem is with the CAD on the front axle. I just want to know if there is anything else that I should look for before I call my mechanic.
I am considering replacing the vacuum system with a cable posi-loc. does anyone know of any issues that I need to consider before switching over to this type of system?

 

I went and stuck my 98 in a drift this winter.While rocking it back and forth during extraction,the CAD Vac canister was slightly bent which caused the same problem as your discribing. After I finally figured it out, all I had to do was bend in back square and bingo. It is too fragile to be located where it is if you ask me. No more snow cannon balling for me!

 

diagram and explanation of cad
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/..._engagment.htm

posilok instructions (real good tech site)
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/posilock.php

another posilock post
https://dodgeforum.com/m_718119/tm.htm

i like the posilok. especially the ability to have 2wd low for slow speed trail riding.
its a little tricky to engage/disengage.

ps... for help regarding 2nd gen rams its better to post in that forum. there are so many forums here you don't get the right viewers outside the specific vehicle model.