posi lock on dana 30 cad axle

[NorthWoods]

So one of the previous owners of the comanche I just bought had installed a posi lock unit to replace the vacuum disconnect on the front dana 30. I am not sure if I totally understand the cad axles or not. What I guess I am trying to find out is - If I engage my transfer case into 4wd, either high or low, will my front axle engage the driver side shaft like an open diff axle? Basically 3wd if the rear has a locker. This being true if I do not engage the posi lock. Then when I engage the posi lock unit I will have both front wheels locked?

 

Any feedback is appreciated.

[Blue88Comanche]

The D30 most likely has an Open Diff, meaning if the cad is unlocked and the TC is in any 4wd mode, only the rear would get power.  with the cad unlocked the spider gears will spin as will the passenger side half shaft.  Locking the cad will allow the front axle to work like a normal axle and you will have power in all 4wd modes.

 

if the D30 has a locker then the cad would make it 3wd and the drivers side wheel would have power when the cad is unlocked and the tc is in 4wd

[Pete M]

what he said.  with an open diff and the cad unlocked, no power makes it to either front tire. :thumbsup:

[NorthWoods]

Great. Yes I ment to add in the post that the front axle does have a locker. Being the reason I asked about 3wd. Thanks for the help. I was just curious because I could feel a front wheel engagement happen when I put my transfer case into 4h when the posi lock was not engaged. It did not seem to create the typical bind in steering until I engaged the posi lock unit. Just wanted to make sure I was not crazy as I am used to running Detroit's in my full size d60 axles with manual hubs. That and the use of my dana 300 twin stick I was running in the cherokee chief I just sold allowing for fwd.