Does anyone know when the trans is in neutral with the engine off are you supposed to be able to turn the driveshaft by hand? Also, with the wheels off the ground and the engine running and the trans in neutral the wheels spin slowly. The truck is a 1998 Ram 1500 4x4, 5.9L with a 46RE automatic trans. The problem I'm having is the truck is acting like something is dragging and slows down rapidly when I let off the gas like if the parking brake was left on, but its not and when I had the transfer case off, everthing spins freely except the output shaft of the trans. I've changed the filter and trans fluid on a regular basis, and the only thing I've ever seen in the pan is fine particles on the magnet. Any thoughts would be helpful.

 

If you can spin the driveshaft while the wheels are on the ground sounds like a rear end problem to me.

 

Sorry about the confusing post, it was late. What I wanted to know is when you have the truck jacked up with the wheels off the ground, how hard is it to turn the wheels with the trans in neutral and the engine off? When I had it apart to change the axle and transfer case seals I noticed that I couldn't turn the rear wheels by hand while it was in neutral. I work my way up to the trans, and after I had the transfer case off I found the transmission output shaft wouldn't turn in neutral. everything else turns freely when not connected to the transmission. the problem I'm having is the truck is dragging like the parking brake is left on, but its not the brakes. No parts were found in the tranny pan when i changed the fluid in it, and I did use the correct fluid. the truck was doing this before I ripped everything apart, and when I had it back together, I ran it with the wheels off the ground, and the wheels do turn while it's in neutral. I can stop them by hand, and there is some resistance in them but not as bad as when it's turned off. other than the dragging, the trans appears to shift fine throughout all speeds. any suggestions?

 

You said the wheels turn when there off the ground but do the wheels turn easily when its in neutral and off the ground?

 

id check the rear end and see whats on the magnet back there