toggle switch for d30 disconnect

**MAX_Xj** · 03-26-2009, 12:12 PM

i know i know im sorry bought the repost, but i was going to put a lunch box in my 30 and was wondering if i could run the vacuum disconect off a toggle so instead of taking it out or 4wd to make sharp turns all i have to do is flip a switch and be as simple as that, or should i just go posi lock

**sentinal02** · 03-26-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenjeepmax

i know i know im sorry bought the repost, but i was going to put a lunch box in my 30 and was wondering if i could run the vacuum disconect off a toggle so instead of taking it out or 4wd to make sharp turns all i have to do is flip a switch and be as simple as that, or should i just go posi lock

as long as the stock vacuum actuator is in good working order you could re-plumb the system to use a vac solenoid off a toggle instead of the t-case switch. just a matter of finding the right solenoid to use.

Old4X · 03-26-2009, 01:50 PM

I did exactly that using the vac solenoids from the defunct pulse air system. Had to use 2 of the solonoids and a SPDT switch. Easy, and looks factory under the hood.

muddy93 · 03-26-2009, 03:46 PM

I did basically the same thing, but I used a vaccum/air switch thing that I found. I'm not sure what it's actuailly for, but it's a rotary knob, with 4 ports on the back. to engage the front axle, I just turn the knob 1/4 turn, and to disengage it, just turn it back.

oh, and sense I have the vent line just tucked under the dash, I get a cool "pshshsh" sound when I turn the knob.

Old4X · 03-26-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddy93

oh, and sense I have the vent line just tucked under the dash, I get a cool "pshshsh" sound when I turn the knob.

Like when the doors open in Star Trek?

Flingit1200s · 05-16-2010, 09:38 PM

Anyone have any links to websites that sell switches that would help me do something like this?

muddy93 · 05-17-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flingit1200s

Anyone have any links to websites that sell switches that would help me do something like this?

If you are going to use vac solenoids(which can be found on many vehicles at the salvage yard), you can use just about any switch to trigger the solenoids.

If you are wanting to use a vacuum switch(which would require routing the vac lines into the cab, to the switch), you can check out McMaster-Carr they have a pretty good selections of manual vacuum switches(actually, I think they list them as "air flow directional control switches")

Flingit1200s · 05-17-2010, 09:02 AM

Thanks for the reply. I should have explained what I wanted to do. The whole vac system for the 4x4 is gone on the jeep. I am putting a new front and rear axle in with 4:10 gears and the front has the vac disco stuff on it. I'd like to utilize that system. My thought was to put a toggle switch in the cab that would control a valve (not sure what kind or where to get the valve) in the engine compartment. That valve would be hooked to the manifold for vac and then provide vac to the disco when I flipped the switch. I don't want to run vac lines into the cab if I don't have to.

muddy93 · 05-17-2010, 09:27 AM

That will work just fine, you'll just have to find a "vacuum solenoid", and trigger it with a switch.
Just keep in mind that the axle disconnect actuator needs vacuum in both 2wd and 4wd.
For 2wd, you'll need to provide vacuum to the passanger side of the actuator, and vent the drivers side. and for 4wd, you'll need vacuum to the drivers side of the actuator, and vent the passanger side.

I've seen a write up on doing this type of setup, but it was quite a wile ago, I'll look around and see if I can find it again.

Flingit1200s · 05-17-2010, 09:33 AM

I've been looking for a writeup and can't seem to find one. I guess the vents will have to be a check valve type.

IP076 · 05-17-2010, 11:00 AM

I've purchased a few valves from these guys:

valves4projects items - Get great deals on Business Industrial items on eBay.com!

Good support, you might be able to ebay message them and see what they have that might work. Maybe hooking two up so that, depending on the position of the switch, one is always open and the other is closed.

I'm not sure how the system works, I'm replacing mine with XJ shafts and the larger U-Joints...and eliminating the CAD...however...I do have a selectable locker...

muddy93 · 05-17-2010, 01:13 PM

I haven't been able to find the jeep specific writeup yet, but I have found that 95 and 96 ford explorers have a vacuum disconnect on the front end, And that the vacuum is controled by a pair of solenoids. I found a writeup about converting the ford setup to work off of a manual switch. In the writeup, the guy had to wire it up in a way that kept the factory wiring/computer happy, but if you could find a set of these solenoids in a junk yard, I'd imagine that it would be fairly easy to hook them up to a switch, and install them in a jeep.

Here's a link to the ford writeup, it has a pic of the solenoids, as well as describes where they are located,
Manual Control over '95-'96 Vacuum Disco Front Axles - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

**Louie4** · 05-17-2010, 02:23 PM

I did this mod but after I put the Lock Right in up front I was still pulling to the left because the driver's side tire was pulling because it's still locked in. I had snagged the vacuum switch off a wagoneer that used the same shifting mechanism in the quadra-trac t-case as the front disconnect of YJ's and XJ's. It worked good when I didn't have a locker up front. The switch was mechanical one with 3 ports that just shifted where the vacuum went. It was in the glove box of the wagoneer.

I ended up sending that switch to a member on here so he could try it out.

Flingit1200s · 05-17-2010, 02:46 PM

Hmm.....right now I have the disco engaged all the time. My reason for trying to get the disco to work on the new front ax was so that when I put an aussie in it, it would still drive really nice on road and in the snow (because of the disco being disengaged and in 2wd of course) but with a trip of a switch and pulling the lever into 4hi, I could have both wheels pulling up front. Is this a bad idea?

**Louie4** · 05-17-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flingit1200s

Hmm.....right now I have the disco engaged all the time. My reason for trying to get the disco to work on the new front ax was so that when I put an aussie in it, it would still drive really nice on road and in the snow (because of the disco being disengaged and in 2wd of course) but with a trip of a switch and pulling the lever into 4hi, I could have both wheels pulling up front. Is this a bad idea?

My disconnect up front still works, so there's no since in pulling it out. Right now it just prevents wear on the front locker around turns because it spins the intermediate shaft. With the front axle engaged all the time the locker will ratchet around turns. It wouldn't be noticeable in 2HI because there is no torque applied to the front.

As long as the switch on the t-case still works it will do what you want it to.