Guys, hello and thanks for having me aboard!

 I just sold my 2008 5.4 SuperDuty for a very clean 2002 Sport Quad cab 8' 4x4 Cummins with an automatic.  Picked it up in Virginia on Saturday and drove her home 300 miles and averaged 20.7 mpg. I have over 400 miles on the trip clock and have still have 3/8 tank- i cant believe this fuel economy, Unreal! 

 

Anyway, after the drive home I got under the truck to give it a once over with my creeper and trouble light and saw no major issues.  Today, after it being very cold here in SW PA, I noticed fluid on the inside rear tire.  Under closer inspection, It appears to be brake fluid, and after more inspection, seems to be pushing fluid past the caliper seals and brake components on ALL 4 CORNERS! Anyone heard of this before? Its dark and I was using a flash light on snow, but I am totally freaked out after owning this for 4 days,

Any help appreciated.

AP

OK, no CAD on my truck (4/02 Build date). So the front drive-shaft spins all the time, 2wd or 4wd, hence the blown u-joint.  Strange they made no provision for disconnecting the axles after the CAD.  That would have been a 1-2 highway mpg improvement I'm sure, though I'm not sure I would have wanted the CAD anyway. 

AP

OK, no CAD on my truck (4/02 Build date). So the front drive-shaft spins all the time, 2wd or 4wd, hence the blown u-joint.  Strange they made no provision for disconnecting the axles after the CAD.  That would have been a 1-2 highway mpg improvement I'm sure, though I'm not sure I would have wanted the CAD anyway. 

AP

Plus the wear and tear it causes.

Plus the wear and tear it causes.

Like??????

joints that never get used are just as prone to going bad from dried out seals causing rust, and vibration too as joints in constant use.

Then take into account the maintenance of the entire vacuum system and the CAD itself and the non CAD is still an advantage.

I see 2wd guys with no better mileage than 4X4 with CAD rigs.

I guess I've just been lucky, as I've never had the issues people speak of with the CAD systems. The only thing I've ever had to do is replace the vacuum lines between the t case and the actuator. Even my former 00 which now has over 400k miles on it (now owned by a friend) has never had any problems with the system.

It would be neat to see the differences (or similarities) of the new CAD systems in the 13 trucks.

Edited January 13, 201411 yr by diesel4life

I can say from experience with a shovel many many times that the split second of pulling a lever and have instant 4X versus the several seconds of the CAD system to engage will determine if you are stuck or not.

The electronic CAD on my 2010 sucks big time, better have it in 4X long before you think you will need it, not only is the CAD electronic but the T-case actuator is as well, average time to engage is about 5+ seconds........if your lucky. :banghead:

 

Man is this thread derailed from a brake fluid leak,

Edited January 13, 201411 yr by Wild and Free

I understand what you mean. Fortunately its never been a problem for me. If I'm in an area where I think I may need 4 wheel drive, I'll engage it. I don't wait until I can't go any further and then attempt to get out with 4 wheel drive. Usually by then its too late anyway. With an 7000 pound truck, momentum is key and trying to crawl out of a hole you just buried yourself in in 2 wheel drive is going to have limited success.

Edited January 13, 201411 yr by diesel4life

I use mine everyday in the winter, Driveway is a pretty steep slope, 200ft with a 90 degree uphill left in the middle.  Grabbing the lever and gettin' it on the roll is way better than my auto t case in my old super duty.