I had both front covers off yesterday changing diff fluid. So I know I have two open axles.

When I shift into 4wd, I have no indicator light, but the front axle engages. At least I think so, because I cannot turn tight on pavement, and if I drive one corner up the hill I get one rear tire spinning and one front. The right front was spinning. From what I have read, the actuator engages the right front axle only, still leaving me with an unlocked front differential. This is silly.

So if I understand correctly, I can buy a spool for the front axle, and the actuator can be disengaged so i can still drive on pavement without binding. Am I missing something?

If not, who makes a spool for the front axle?

You might want to fill out your profile so we know what you have.On my 89 yj the 4wd vacuum indicator is right by the battery tray on the firewall.My guess is you have a light burned out in your dash.You might want to get a locker of some sort.It will probably be more managable than a spool.Not to mention the stress on the axles.But i don't know what kind of mods you have either.Well actually it locks both axles together,but seeing how it has an open carrier it really is only a one legger.So in a nutshell your right it still only drives one axle.You can get a Posi-Lok and then you can engage/disengage the axle manually in the cab when you want.Or you can make it yourself.
http://home.earthlink.net/~stevensch...h/cabledis.htm
You can google for lockers or spools.

The reason the tires spin is because, the tire with the least amount of traction gets the power. If you install a spool you will be replacing the carrier with a fixed carrier where the front axles are locked 100% of the time and will not slip or spin. The downside is a greatly decreased turning radius. It would be wise to install something like an auto locker up front or even a selectable locker. An easy way to fix the vaccum is to swap out the front axle for one from a TJ or late model XJ, but then you might need to change gears depending on what comes in the new one versus your old one.

Ooops.Sorry about the profile comment.I belong too many damn forums.I was thinking i was on a different forum.

i would only spool it if you buy/build a posilock. its a PITA to turn when its all locked up. $.02

not meaning to step on anyone's toes but that's a little more than needed.
you just need to swap the actual axle shaft, not the whole axle thus eliminating the need to swap gears.

Yeah - but he is still gonna spin a tire in the air without a locker.