1985 Dodge 4x4 Question

[GreenMachine]

  I know this is a Charger site, but I figured someone here could answer my question.
 
  I bought a 1985 Dodge Ram 4x4 W150 at a good price to get me to work and back. The previous owner had taken off the front drive shaft due to bad U-joints. Having the 4x4 working is not very important to me but I figured I would get it working anyway so I replaced the U-joint. When I went to install it, I noticed the axle yoke spun freely. I thought something was broken until I read up on the Dana 44 with Center Axle Disconnect. But the CAD only isolates the drivers side, should the driveshaft spin freely with the CAD open?
   
  Also, I'm not a big fan of miles of vacuum hose. Is there a way to bypass everything and engage the CAD manually, maybe have one vac. hose to plug in when I want 4WD?

[Plumcrazy]

It's normal for the driveshaft to turn freely when the axle is disconnected.

To make the disconnect manually you would have to apply vacuum to one side of the axle disconnect vacuum diaphram to engage it, and then the other side to disengage it.

[Lurker]

you can get kits, i am not sure were, that run your axle disconnect with either and electric soloniod or a cable.

[GreenMachine]

  Thank You for the replies, so in 2WD (driving down the road) the r/h side axle just spins the spider gears and can't spin the pinion without the l/h side engaged? I stumbled across a website www.ramchargercentral.com that has a ton of info about the CAD setup, but doesn't answer that. I guess it doesn't matter, but I'm curious.
 
   I think I will do the low buck thing and run a line to the actuator and manually plug it in the right port when I need 4WD. I did see the cable operated set-up, but as little as I would use it, I can't justify the cost vs. just getting out of the truck and plug in a line.
 
   

[Lurker]

with an open differentail the left side tire will spin the left axle when rolling down the road (i am assuming left side is short side) and the right tire only spins the outside half of the axle up to the disconnect. all the disconnect is is a splined collar that slides over both halfs of the axle in 4x4 and in 2wd slides off one side. its a poor set up and not very safe either imagine having a differential pile up while driving 55 in 2wd and having the right front tire lock solid. i had the CAD in my 99 dodge half ton and when i bought my 02 deisel they did away with that system and used a solid axle like and old 70's powerwagon lol.

[Plumcrazy]

i had the CAD in my 99 dodge half ton and when i bought my 02 deisel they did away with that system and used a solid axle like and old 70's powerwagon lol.

It depends on what front axle the truck has.  Dodge is still using that system, only now it has an electronically controlled actuator.

[Lurker]

i had the CAD in my 99 dodge half ton and when i bought my 02 deisel they did away with that system and used a solid axle like and old 70's powerwagon lol.

It depends on what front axle the truck has.  Dodge is still using that system, only now it has an electronically controlled actuator.

my 02 is a dodge its got a solid dana 60, in 03 they went with AAM front axle and the electronic CAD, i think 02 is the only year 02's with a solid but there are some later year ones with the AAM axle.