What is this - axle disconnect?

[Oilburner]

Hey guys, just looked at an Overland & a Rubicon, they both have this thing hanging on the pass side of the front axle housing. Anybody know what it is?

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[jpfreak]

CAD system that hasn’t been used since the YJ. It stops the front drive shaft from spinning in 2wd, so it should allow better gas mileage. Hopefully it turns out to be more reliable that the YJ system.

 

[Abunchahicks]

It’s used on the JL as well. There have been issues.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

Never had that issue on my CJ, but you could look through the floor to verify if the hubs were locked or unlocked so really it was a wash.

 

[RedTRex]

Interesting.

 

[Austin Himself]

Yes that is the Front Axle Disconnect, it allows the front axle shafts to spin freely while in 2 wheel drive.

There will likely be aftermarket solutions that remove it entirely, and convert the axle shaft to a 1-piece design as well.

 

[Renegade]

There is a company making 1-piece axle conversions already. They are pretty expensive though. Another alternative could be to lock the coupler in place permanently, which I did on my YJ, but the JL/JT computer system may detect that and be a problem...

 

[cgoodwin0990]

My YJ and old 2001 Dodge ram 1500 both had vacuum actuated CAD systems. They worked fine until the vacuum hoses rotted and blocked the CAD passageways. New CAD system in my YJ is cable actuated and works like a dream now. No issues.

 

[WXman]

The weight of that unit alone offsets the 0.0005 MPG that it saves. Another example out of 1000 of the federal government making life more difficult for its citizens needlessly.

As mentioned, why do you think Wranglers and Ram pickups stopped getting this system at the end of the 1990s? Because it was unreliable garbage, that's why.

So far my JLU has been fine, but I'd rather not have it.

 

[RedTRex]

The weight of that unit alone offsets the 0.0005 MPG that it saves

That was my thinking also.....

 

[Ole Cowboy]

The weight of that unit alone offsets the 0.0005 MPG that it saves. Another example out of 1000 of the federal government making life more difficult for its citizens needlessly.

As mentioned, why do you think Wranglers and Ram pickups stopped getting this system at the end of the 1990s? Because it was unreliable garbage, that's why.

So far my JLU has been fine, but I'd rather not have it.

Just to address your point: At one time the Feds set standards to be met and challenged if the standard was too high. Over time what has morphed is that now govt tells you the process by which you have to meet the standard. Look at the Mayor of NYC, telling residents what size cup they can buy a soft drink in, what days kids at school can eat meat, dictating salt content at restaurants...etc!

This happens in almost all govts in all of history.

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