Spinning front driveshaft

[mamon77]

HInguys new to the site and new to 4Runners. I just purchased one and was having son deive it when I noticed the front drive shaft was spinning. So i checked the hubs they weren't locked and the selector was in 2H. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Thanks

 

[ToyoTech]

hubs could be sticking and not fully unlocking.

put some color tape on the front axles and see if they spin or not

 

[KidVermicious]

Mine did that too. Unlock the hubs and stick the rear on jackstands, put it in drive and see if it spins then. It probably will - if you can grab it and it stops, it's nothing to worry about.

 

[mamon77]

Thanks guys will check it out this weekend

 

[SV_Dude]

I'm a little confused here. When does the front drive shaft spin? Does it spin freely when you turn it? If so, it's supposed to do that under the conditions you described. When the transfer case shift lever is in 2hi and the front hubs are unlocked, the front drivetrain is more or less dead weight and will free spin when you turn it. If you're saying that the front drive shaft spins while driving then that's a whole other story.

 

[KidVermicious]

I'm a little confused here. When does the front drive shaft spin? Does it spin freely when you turn it? If so, it's supposed to do that under the conditions you described. When the transfer case shift lever is in 2hi and the front hubs are unlocked, the front drivetrain is more or less dead weight and will free spin when you turn it. If you're saying that the front drive shaft spins while driving then that's a whole other story.

No, it can spin while you're driving with the hubs unlocked and tcase in 2wd - the theory is it's the tcase oil being sloshed by the spinning rear driveshaft and acting like a viscous coupling to spin the chain drive on the front shaft. It probably doesn't do it on a manual.

 

[SV_Dude]

I guess I'm just not seeing any problems here??

 

[KidVermicious]

I guess I'm just not seeing any problems here??

Right .

If he puts the rear on jackstands, puts it in drive, and can grab the front shaft and stop it spinning, then there's no problem.

 

[mamon77]

Mine is a manual, so r you saying it shouldn't be spinning? Haven't put it on stands yet but enjoy reading and learning!

 

[SV_Dude]

What we're saying is that if the front hubs are unlocked and if the transfer case is not in 4wd, the front drive shaft should spin. It's a free spinning system at that point. Now if you either lock the hubs and/or put the transfer case in 4wd, the drive shaft shouldn't spin unless you're driving.

 

[mamon77]

Ok got it thanks!!

 

[Gerdo]

No, it can spin while you're driving with the hubs unlocked and tcase in 2wd - the theory is it's the tcase oil being sloshed by the spinning rear driveshaft and acting like a viscous coupling to spin the chain drive on the front shaft. It probably doesn't do it on a manual.

What we're saying is that if the front hubs are unlocked and if the transfer case is not in 4wd, the front drive shaft should spin. It's a free spinning system at that point. Now if you either lock the hubs and/or put the transfer case in 4wd, the drive shaft shouldn't spin unless you're driving.

With the vehicle not moving/running, grab the front driveshaft with your hand (hubs unlocked, transfer case in 2wd). Does it spin freely? If so, all is good. If not, something is stuck.

There can be enough viscus drag to cause the front driveshaft to rotate while driving. This would be nothing to worry about. Maybe a good fluids change will stop it. Maybe also rebuild the hubs, that grease could be old and gunky.