Front shaft spins in 2WD?

[KidVermicious]

So I just ran into a bit of weirdness. I was under my truck with the rear axle on stands, chasing a drivetrain noise, and I noticed my front drive shaft spinning. WTF, says I, and up and out I go to make sure the selector is in 2HI. It is. WTF again.

So, I try and do all my own work, and I'm learning a lot, but this has got me stumped. The front shaft should NOT be spinning when I'm in 2wd, correct?

Also, how much should the linkage be moving underneath, when I operate the selector? It gives me a satisfying clunk when I move it into or out of 4HI, but the linkage itself, underneath on the transfer case, is only moving maybe an inch, if that. The 4WD light on the dash agrees with my selector, but if the linkage is sloppy, maybe I'm driving around with the transfer-case engaged or half-engaged?

(1986, 22re, auto, manual hubs)

 

[1kz-t4r]

Check and make sure you free the locking hubs

 

[Hyde802]

Well, your right, the shaft shouldn't be spinning in 2wd. Have no idea why it would be.

 

[KidVermicious]

Well, your right, the shaft shouldn't be spinning in 2wd. Have no idea why it would be.

Thanks for the sanity check.

My working theory is that something is wrong with the transfer case or selector linkage. I just don't know what. There's a little slop in the linkage, I'm going to take it apart today and see if I can tighten it up some.

ETA - yeah, it's got to be something in the transfer case, because the front shaft is spinning slower than the rear shaft.

 

[fourwd1]

If it's spinning slowly and it stops when you grab it with your hand, don't worry about it.

 

[KidVermicious]

If it's spinning slowly and it stops when you grab it with your hand, don't worry about it.

I didn't try grabbing it, I'll check that. It starts fairly slow, real lazy like, but then it gets going pretty good.

I though these cases were gear-driven, is there a viscous coupling or something in there?

 

[Hyde802]

The case on you 86 should be gear driven.

 

[the_dingman]

The transfer case is chain-driven.

I would suspect a front hub isn't letting go. Try jacking it up and turn each wheel and see what happens.

 

[jdsjunkyard]

The transfer case is chain-driven.

I would suspect a front hub isn't letting go. Try jacking it up and turn each wheel and see what happens.

the hubs wouldnt have anything to do with it. but it is normal for the front shaft to spin. its how they are. if u grab it, it will stop spinning.

 

[KidVermicious]

The transfer case is chain-driven.

I would suspect a front hub isn't letting go. Try jacking it up and turn each wheel and see what happens.

No, this is with the front wheels stationary.

I didn't get a chance to crawl under it today, but it's good to know that a little spinning of the front shaft is normal. Thanks guys, and I'll report back if it doesn't stop when I grab it.

 

[the_dingman]

Interesting.

I was thinking that if a hub was stuck, when driving, it would spin the axle and likely the axle.

Good luck.

 

[KidVermicious]

Interesting.

I was thinking that if a hub was stuck, when driving, it would spin the axle and likely the axle.

Good luck.

Sure it would, when driving. I wasn't driving, I had the rear axle on stands.

 

[fourwd1]

I didn't try grabbing it, I'll check that. It starts fairly slow, real lazy like, but then it gets going pretty good.

I though these cases were gear-driven, is there a viscous coupling or something in there?

No yours is chain driven.
There isn't a viscous coupling, but it's due to the same effect.

 

[GreenMasheen]

So I just ran into a bit of weirdness. I was under my truck with the rear axle on stands, chasing a drivetrain noise, and I noticed my front drive shaft spinning. WTF, says I, and up and out I go to make sure the selector is in 2HI. It is. WTF again.

So, I try and do all my own work, and I'm learning a lot, but this has got me stumped. The front shaft should NOT be spinning when I'm in 2wd, correct?

Also, how much should the linkage be moving underneath, when I operate the selector? It gives me a satisfying clunk when I move it into or out of 4HI, but the linkage itself, underneath on the transfer case, is only moving maybe an inch, if that. The 4WD light on the dash agrees with my selector, but if the linkage is sloppy, maybe I'm driving around with the transfer-case engaged or half-engaged?

(1986, 22re, auto, manual hubs)

If you can hold it and stop it while spinning the rear drive shaft, that's normal. The front shaft drags over with the transfercase oil and floating engagement dogs in the transfer case.

 

[KidVermicious]

Yup, it stops. Thanks guys, appreciate the wisdom as always!

So, guess what. That drivetrain noise I was chasing? It's coming from my front diff. Guess why? It's pretty much dry. I opened the drain plug, and all I've got is goo. And I can't fill it, because the motherfarking fill plug is stripped and frozen. My 6 point socket slips right off. Tried spinning it with a cold chisel, didn't work. Tried welding a nut to it, I'm not good enough to make it stick. I'm going to try and find a 6 point 24mm impact socket, and take my driver to it, maybe that'll make it let go. If that doesn't work, I'll have to drop the bastidge and work on it on my bench.

Anyway, that's the source of the drivetrain noise. Front shaft is spinning a dry differential. Grr.