vagabonddreamer

97 2500 4X4....wont stay in four wheel drive....I have searched the forum and read a number of articles on the vacuum actuator forks etc....mechanically the actuator and forks seem to work correctly....what i need to know...is how far side to side should the intermediate shaft be able to slide...right now it can slide into the front diff far enough to touch the centre pin....when it does that...the sift collar does not engage properly...i have the service manual for this truck...it does not indicate the existence of a keeper ring or anything to prevent this much movement 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch approx....i know sometimes there are slight variations from info in the manual...can anybody help?? thx...vs

waldersha

Mine moves that much as well. There isn't anything to hold it, but when it is slid all the way in, the collar should still reach and engage properly. I just replaced it because the splines had worn on the end of the axle shaft. I also replaced the shift collar.

The shaft is junk, but I ended up with an extra shift collar that is a good one. You might check the splines on each to make sure that they aren't worn.