Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Front axle disconnect gone

[d90boy]

While putting a set of Bilsteins on the other day I noticed that my front axle doesn't have the central axle disconnect on the tube. My 2001. 4 had it so I wonder when they got rid of it. I think having a plain front axle is great but kinda disappointed that I can't do an easy 2wd low. Anyone know if there's a setup out there to run some locking hubs, Dynatrac etc?

 

[Boost]

My 02' with a build date of 1/02 does not have the disconnect. But my Dads 02' with a build date of 11/01 has it. Maybe they discontinued the disconnect 12/31/01?



Rob

 

[1tuffram]

Anyone know how this new system works and if it is better than the old? I hope the change was for an improvment and NOT to save a few dollars.

 

[d90boy]

Actually there isn't a system anymore, it's like running a pickup with locking hubs around with the hubs locked. It doesn't bother me to run this way but a little mileage and more importantly cool factor could be had with some warn hubs.

 

[Groover]

So the ring&pinion and also front driveshaft are spinning ALL the time. Kinda scary considering some posts I have read about 100 plus MPH in these trucks. I have 4. 10 and 85 is fast enough for me. Wonder how this affects front end life/maintenance?



Interesting.....

 

[ZEEEW]

Longevity should be a little better without the disconnect, because now the front dif is being driven evenly from both sides, instead of one side unevenly wearing.

Not as good as hubs, but better than the disconnect, and less crap to fail/break.

 

[Groover]

With a disconnect the "front diff" (as in ring and pinion and driveshaft) do not turn. The right axle is disconnected from the differential and spins freely. While the left axle is still connected to the differential and the spider gears (that allow differentiation on turns) allow the axle to turn without turning the ring and pinion. I agree that lockout hubs would be the best for longevity of front end parts.



I don't think that you can convince me that a full time front end (even if the t-case is unlocked) is better for longevity of the axle.



If that were the case then those of us with the disconnect should engage the disconnect and secure it in the locked position and throw away the vacuum actuator. I don't think I want to do that!! Looks like we are reverting to the old full time front axle like chevy used years ago ( with the exception of a part time transfer case).

 

[Bratton]

The rear axle doesn't have a disconnect either and it seems to hold up just fine. BD

 

[Texas Diesel]

The front axle will probably be alright but with out the disconnect the front drive shaft and all it's u-joints are spinning constantly, plus the transfer case drive chain is now turning as well. This is not an improvement but a cost saving measure.



quote:

"The rear axle doesn't have a disconnect either and it seems to hold up just fine"

This is true but the is no chain drive in the rear end either or CV joint (=mucho $ to replace)



Here are the parts that now must turn constantly because of the CAD delete: Front axle ring and pinion gears, pinion bearings, front drive shaft and all three u-joints, transfer case seal and drive chain. I'll pass on the new design and keep all my "crap to fail/break"

 

[Dieselnerd]

Is it still a Dana axle? Has anyone looked in the service manual to see if it doesn't have a different way to disconnect? Go underneath and try turning the front driveshaft by hand. If you can turn it, it's got a disconnect. If it doesn't have a disconnect it sure is a giant step backwards and seems like something they wouldn't do considering the effect on fuel economy. Just my opinion... Maybe they don't care about fuel economy, just economy of saving a few bucks in manufacturing.

 

[d90boy]

I agree texas

It's still a Dana and there's one other change I noticed. The breather line is attached to the front diff cover and looks cobbled. There's no disconnect at all. All these reasons are kinda why I wondered if some hubs couldn't be used. The cost of retrofitting hubs may outweigh the benefit in the end. The thing I wanted the most was a 2wd low to back up trailers and creep up to my trailer to hook up to it. Guess I'll just pull the front driveshaft off and keep it in back for emergencies.

 

[jberelson]

Kinda sounds like the old NP203 (I think) setup, everything turns, all the time... except the np203 had 4wd hi and 4wd hi/lock and 4wd low and 4wd low/lock...



Josh

 

[MidwestMotorman]

About the best way to describe the current style without the disconnect, is that it is nearly identical to the later 70s Dodge front axles. No manual hubs with the dodge full-time setup back then (Chevy full-time fronts still had the hubs on the knuckles. ) A lot of people put in the early 70s axles that had the lockouts or put in the newer 80s style with lockouts. One also could swap out the outer steering knuckles and get locking hubs.



It would be interesting to see if the steering knuckles from the 93 down Dana 60 would/could bolt on. Perhaps someone has already thought of this idea? Does anyone know if the newer F350s with locking hubs have a Dana front that one could pirate parts from?

 

[Groover]

Notice how the boys with the new toys and no disconnect chime in that they like it that way. I guess if I had a new one I would like it too.

New toy owners please don't flame me. It's human nature to think what we happen to have is better than what somebody else has. I really do think it is a step in the wrong direction though (my opinion) . It probably saved DC a whole $50 per truck.



I will keep my disconnect "crap" system and be thankful!

 

[JHansen]

I'd trade my disco front end for one of the newer non-disco models in a heartbeat-as a matter of fact if I could have had the choice when ordering my truck I would have paid extra for the non-disconnect (don't tell DC though or they'll probably try to charge me back! ). The vacuum shift is the weak link in my truck as far as I'm concerned-I go places where it's absolutely essential that my 4x4 works or I'm in for a long wait (or walk depending on cell coverage).



My XJ has 300000 km on the same basic setup (Selec-Trac with the front end always turning) with no problems whatsoever-AFAIK the front axle U-joints, driveshaft U-joints, everything is still factory original-sad to say I think even the front gear oil is !



Plus the non-disco front end is the ticket for my next top-secret driveline modification!



Jason

 

[Texas Diesel]

"Originally posted by JHansen

The vacuum shift is the weak link in my truck as far as I'm concerned-I go places where it's absolutely essential that my 4x4 works or I'm in for a long wait (or walk depending on cell coverage). "



I have seen a conversion kit to replace the vacuum motor with a cable linkeage setup.





"Plus the non-disco front end is the ticket for my next top-secret driveline modification! "



OK what is it??????????



Jason

 

[Big K]

I wonder what else...

If this is indeed the case with my new truck, scheduled to ship on the 15th, I'll be an unhappy camper. I had planned on the 2/low as the first bomb for this truck, as it is DEE equipped, and I'm towing/backing trailers quite a bit.

I'm not fond of the vacuum disconnect, but at least it offered the option. I would much rather have hubs, and will go to great lengths to acquire them, if this new info. is fact.

I wonder what else has been changed that I don't yet know about?

 

[JHansen]

Yeah I know about the cable shift dealie there TD-thanks for the heads up though. I think I'm gonna fab up a permanent replacement for the vacuum motor as a temporary fix when the time comes to lock 'er solid-I'll do the front axle in 1 fell swoop with a non-disco housing, 35 spline axle shafts and somebody's selectable locker-hopefully at that time Eaton will have their E-Locker out for the 35 spline 60 as I'm not especially fond of having air-engaged stuff inside the housing with the cold temps we get-remember the reliability kick I get on?



And the top-secret driveline mod? I dunno-if I spill the beans I may have to call in a hit seeing as it is really top secret . However I've alluded to it a few times in the past-so I may as well say what I'm up to. Eventually-hopefully before winter comes again although with the way I'm spending money here lately it may get pushed off again-I'll be retrofitting a NVG242 transfer case into the Silver Cloud to gain the full-time 4x4 selection for the nasty roads we get in the winter. There are various flavors of this case in varying strengths-the top dog is used in the Hummer. So I'll be doing a little parts mixing-and-matching to get as much strength as I can. DodgeTorqueWagon and I have been trading PM's for a while sharing what we know and don't know about the 242 in an effort to come up with the strongest combo. Will the end result stand up to a BOMBed Cummins? Dunno-I suspect the R&D curve could have a strange bend or two in it but time will tell. That's why I need the front end turning all the time-the 242 has no front shaft synchronization so it needs to have the front shaft spinning at speed to allow the shift from 2wd to 4wd.



Jason

 

[illflem]

What a gyp! I'll bet DC did it so they could sell more replacement transfer cases.

 

[JHansen]

Thing is Bill-I don't really see how turning the front driveshaft all the time is gonna affect the life of the transfer case. I realize the chain will turn all the time-but there's no load on it so stretch is going to be minute-and as far as I know stretch is what kills them. Like I said in a previous post my XJ has over 180000 miles on it without a wrench put to any of the 4 wheel drive hardware. I know we're talking on a larger scale here-but I'm still confident that there's not going to be any appreciable driveline problems from it.



Don't get me wrong-I'm not defending DC here. God knows they've looked for ways in the last 2 years to cut their costs while raising the price of the finished product-I seriously believe if they figured nobody would notice a missing tailgate that they'd delete it too! . I just don't think the sky is falling totally over this-bummer for the guys that wanted a 2 low provision I will admit. Some of us though (maybe only me!) see it as a bonus rather than a negative.



Mr. Driveline Himself!