I've kept wanting to buy this to eliminate the awful vacuum system the engineer that dreamed it up should be shot for replacing the trouble free lever. However, the $150 price tag for a locking cable pull dissuades me. (It is stainless steel-much better than regular that I'd think would eventually 'freeze' from corrosion. Yes, $150 is a lot to me as I'm a working poor schlub.) The other thing I'm not sure about is changing the OEM configuration to something that quite honestly doesn't look good and when the day comes to sell a handle sticking out would make the potential buyer wonder what else I've rigged up. (Unless the buyer is mechanically inclined and totally understands the manual pull.)

Has anyone mounted this system I see in the LMC catalog? It's pretty sad that LMC even states the OEM vacuum system causes the axle locking gear to round off and not want to engage. I think my gear is rounded off as I can feel resistance the final 1/2" of travel whenever I push in the vacuum diaphragm-sometimes it locks, sometimes it doesn't after a little grinding. With the manual pull I'd think I could 'feel' what the gear is doing, also allowing me to apply more force. If it works without me having to tear the axle apart and replace the gear so much the better.

I'd love to hear people's opinions on this-along with how difficult it was to install and general longevity of the system. Reading the instructions I'm not crazy about drilling the 11/16" hole through the firewall for the cable even though they provide a bushing. Couldn't I run it through where the antenna comes through? Thanks for reading!

 

I built my own using this cable and some other fittings for about $45 total and many others here and on other forums copied mine with great success for years. I've got a write up on the very first page of my build thread showing what and how if you're curious. The pics are dead thanks to photobukit but if you on a desktop you can get an extension to see all the photos properly.

 

Thanks for the link! What exactly are the dimensions on the cable clamps and what is that brass fitting?

 

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I built one from a cable pull but it kept slipping and got partial or no engagement. I may not have had it anchored correctly or solidly enough.

I eventually went with the Bravada Axle Swap and it took me about a day. I love this option. When I press the button IT WORKS. When the stupid vacuum system goes in my wife's truck I will do the same thing. No appreciable change in milage but a little more noise & minor vibration above 60mph due to front prop shaft rotating constantly.

There was a thread from a guy last week that tie wrapped his axle in the engaged position. That may also be an option. I also saw a guy that cut the cable at the axle shaft Front Axle Engagement Switch location and pinned it in the "engaged" position or locked it in place with a Vice Grip. These achieve the same solid axle result as the Bravada Axle Swap but IDK about wear on the half shafts and ring gears due to constant front axle engagement.