4x4 wont engage...

[ssmokinss]

yes i searched this topic to death. This is my first post and i just got this explorer a few months ago so bare with me. The t/c shift motor works fine. the front driveshaft and transaxle WILL engage,disengage. Both hubs were replaced less than a year ago. I do know that the splines coming out of the transaxle spin while the 4x4 is engagd. however if i apply light pressure against it, the transaxle stops spinning while the driveshaft continues to spin. I noticed that they both connect inside the front differential. I assume thats where the problem is. Just wondering if there are any common problems that occur inside of there. If am no mechanic so this is the best i can desribe it. By the way, it is a 1994 ford explorer. thanks

 

[MrShorty]

1st: terminology. That front pig is a differential, not a transaxle. Transaxle refers to a combination transmission + differential like you find on front wheel drive cars.
I didn't completely understand what you describe, but if you can stop both axleshafts and the front driveshaft continues to spin, then there's a problem in the front differential. Problems like that in the front differential aren't common.
Because the front differential is an open differential, it will easily be possible to stop one of the axleshafts, because all of the power can go to the other axelshaft.
One other thing to look for, if either axleshaft can spin without spinning the wheel, then there's a problem with the auto hubs.