4wd not engaging...Please help

bstewar77 · 07-24-2007, 02:08 PM

I have a 98 dodge ram 1500 4x4 with a 7' lift, 36' swampers. Last weekend was a car show and I entered the tug o war contest. I did ok for a while, tied one guy beat another one and the last one I was pulling and heard a snap. The 4wd stopped working and of course I lost. Drove home fine I guess because it is the front that broke. I can put it in 4wd and the driveshaft spins as it should but that is about it, its like its not in 4wd because the front tires do not spin. But there is no grinding noise or anything when turning it. Putting it in 4wd pretty much doesnt do anything with the front tires anymore. Any ideas? At this point 4wd is not a huge deal for me, I hardly use it. I mainly use this truck to pull my boat back and fourth from the lake so as long as I am able to do that I'm good. Just would like to know what it may be.

Any help would be great!

mudseeker · 07-24-2007, 02:23 PM

i bet you turned your ring and pinion into shrapnel. but i could be wrong.

Ford4x4Chik27 · 07-24-2007, 02:27 PM

Might have blew your hubs...

bstewar77 · 07-24-2007, 02:56 PM

Is it still ok to drive in regular 2wd? The front driveshaft does not spin so it should be ok right?

mudseeker · 07-24-2007, 07:56 PM

i would be cautious about that. those hubs and CV axles are still rotating when the truck is moving even though the drive shaft is not. if there is something broke in there it could bind up and cause your front end to lock up while driving, thats just a worse case scenario though.

bstewar77 · 07-24-2007, 08:08 PM

Thats what I was afraid of. I guess before I drive it I could open up the front diff and see what falls out. Opening that up I should see if it were the ring and pinion, correct. What about the front axle actuator shift fork thing, could that just have broken? I guess I will just have to open up the diff and look.

mudseeker · 07-24-2007, 08:13 PM

not sure on the actuator, but when you crack it open have a buddy spin one tire at a time and see if everything spins freely. haven't worked on a dodge front end, so i'm basing my opinion on chevys front end.

bstewar77 · 07-24-2007, 08:15 PM

Sounds good, thanks for your help. Sounds like a weekend job for me.

75K30 · 07-24-2007, 09:55 PM

Opening the thing up will tell you everything you need to know. Chances are you broke an axle shaft (like where the disconnect is) or simply a short shaft. I believe even the 1500's have a live front axle with a disconnect and does not have locking hubs.
With that front axle disconnect it will be very difficult to determine whether or not it is a the diff, or the axle.
Remove the cover and look for the carnage. Either way, no matter what broke, it will require the removal of the axles to fix. The answer will be under the cover.
If it is broken in the axle and not in the diff, you will have to turn the front drive shaft, and see which axles rotate tires at the same rate as the diff.
tough to check with an axle disconnect, but can be done with the help of a buddy.

Ford4x4Chik27 · 07-25-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75K30

Opening the thing up will tell you everything you need to know. Chances are you broke an axle shaft (like where the disconnect is) or simply a short shaft. I believe even the 1500's have a live front axle with a disconnect and does not have locking hubs.
With that front axle disconnect it will be very difficult to determine whether or not it is a the diff, or the axle.
Remove the cover and look for the carnage. Either way, no matter what broke, it will require the removal of the axles to fix. The answer will be under the cover.
If it is broken in the axle and not in the diff, you will have to turn the front drive shaft, and see which axles rotate tires at the same rate as the diff.
tough to check with an axle disconnect, but can be done with the help of a buddy.

Wouldn't he hear something if it was a busted shaft??

07-24-2007, 02:08 PM	#1
bstewar77 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6	4wd not engaging...Please help I have a 98 dodge ram 1500 4x4 with a 7' lift, 36' swampers. Last weekend was a car show and I entered the tug o war contest. I did ok for a while, tied one guy beat another one and the last one I was pulling and heard a snap. The 4wd stopped working and of course I lost. Drove home fine I guess because it is the front that broke. I can put it in 4wd and the driveshaft spins as it should but that is about it, its like its not in 4wd because the front tires do not spin. But there is no grinding noise or anything when turning it. Putting it in 4wd pretty much doesnt do anything with the front tires anymore. Any ideas? At this point 4wd is not a huge deal for me, I hardly use it. I mainly use this truck to pull my boat back and fourth from the lake so as long as I am able to do that I'm good. Just would like to know what it may be. Any help would be great!

07-24-2007, 02:27 PM	#3
Ford4x4Chik27 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sac-Town, Cali Posts: 1,711	Might have blew your hubs... __________________ '93 Isuzu Amigo, Toyota Axles/Tcase/Drivelines, 35" MTR's. '01 Pathy, DD. ************************************ A fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F.....**

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07-24-2007, 02:23 PM	#2
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 7,155	i bet you turned your ring and pinion into shrapnel. but i could be wrong.

07-24-2007, 02:56 PM	#4
bstewar77 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6	Is it still ok to drive in regular 2wd? The front driveshaft does not spin so it should be ok right?

07-24-2007, 07:56 PM	#5
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 7,155	i would be cautious about that. those hubs and CV axles are still rotating when the truck is moving even though the drive shaft is not. if there is something broke in there it could bind up and cause your front end to lock up while driving, thats just a worse case scenario though.

07-24-2007, 08:08 PM	#6
bstewar77 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6	Thats what I was afraid of. I guess before I drive it I could open up the front diff and see what falls out. Opening that up I should see if it were the ring and pinion, correct. What about the front axle actuator shift fork thing, could that just have broken? I guess I will just have to open up the diff and look.

07-24-2007, 08:13 PM	#7
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 7,155	not sure on the actuator, but when you crack it open have a buddy spin one tire at a time and see if everything spins freely. haven't worked on a dodge front end, so i'm basing my opinion on chevys front end.

07-24-2007, 08:15 PM	#8
bstewar77 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6	Sounds good, thanks for your help. Sounds like a weekend job for me.

07-24-2007, 09:55 PM	#9
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,312	Opening the thing up will tell you everything you need to know. Chances are you broke an axle shaft (like where the disconnect is) or simply a short shaft. I believe even the 1500's have a live front axle with a disconnect and does not have locking hubs. With that front axle disconnect it will be very difficult to determine whether or not it is a the diff, or the axle. Remove the cover and look for the carnage. Either way, no matter what broke, it will require the removal of the axles to fix. The answer will be under the cover. If it is broken in the axle and not in the diff, you will have to turn the front drive shaft, and see which axles rotate tires at the same rate as the diff. tough to check with an axle disconnect, but can be done with the help of a buddy.