A friend of mine was following me the other day and said my front drive shaft from the transfercase to the axle was turning while I'm moving forward? Is this right in 2wd? I checked the 4wd on a lift and it didnt turn in 2wdbut, it seems the front axle is turning the prop/drive shaft. Whats wrong with that picture? CAD or something else.. is this an easy fix that someone can point me towards?

 

It turns with the front wheels because the front wheels do not have a manual hub that you can unlock. This is normal.

 

Unless your truck has lock out hubs, the axle will turn because the front tires are turning it. It is just not engaged inside the transfer case. If you had lock out hubs installed, the connection between the tires and the driveshaft would only be made when you engage the lock out hubs.

I don't think that you have an issue.

 

that worried abot it install lockouts..

 

So the front drive shaft is never disconnected from the front axle and always turns when moving forward, Right? Just want to be clear I'm saying the drive shaft from the axle to the transfer case is turning while moving forward in 2wd. Sounds like ya'll say thats fine. I know the front axles turn since I dont have hubs.

 

thats right ... any truck that does not have lockouts installed is gonna turn the shaft , all acts the same...plus it makes it so much easier to work on with out the locking hubs..

 

The industry stopped using the locking hubs simply cause turning the axle, diff, and shaft under 2wd was acceptable vs using locking hubs to keep 'em from turning.

 

Another nicve thing about the axle turning is your u-joints don't get the chance to freeze up like they can when you have lock-out hubs. I had it happen once on my old Ford. PITA replacing a broken u-joint during weather when you need the 4 wheel drive.

 

ok kinda on the same topic i have my front driveshaft out because i dont have the money to get new u joints for it right now and i had the back end up and was just checking some things and i put it in gear with the wheels off the ground to see if there was any hop in the drive shaft and i noticed the output on the transfer case spins while its in 2wd. i was just wondering if it is just free wheeling or if is actually in gear i just dont want to put it back in and find out it is in 4 wheel drive

 

Anyone correct me if I am wrong...

I was under the impression that the front driveshaft should NOT turn in 2WD.

It's true that we don't have hubs that unlock. However, the left shaft turns forwards and the spider gears rotate the center shaft in the opposite direction. As such, the cage stays still as would the ring and pinion and furthermore, the driveshaft would remain still. The center intermediate shaft in the axle is rotating backwards due to the rotation o the spider gears. The right shaft is able to rotate forward due to the CAD being disengaged.

I know that my front driveshaft does not turn in 2WD. I've seen some that float or slowly rotate due to some mechanical imperfections and whatnot, but not a 1:1 turning with the drive line.

I'll see if I can CAD it for you...




[IMG]local://upfiles/61062/CAAA3A2C57A344FFB12E0D30B4CD69CD.jpg[/IMG]

Since the CAD is disengaged, the center shaft and right shaft are able to turn in opposite directions.

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Point to take...
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I don't believe that the driveshaft should spin as I have read numerous articles about how the front axle in these trucks operates...

Please post any feedback.