Front driveshaft not turning (AWD)

[lJusticel]

I just bought a 97 5.0 and upon checking the front end when I got it home I found the front wheels spin like a 2wd with only one tire off the ground and the driveshaft doesn't turn. In my experience with differentials when one tire is lifted and the other is firmly on the ground the driveshaft should spin. I'm thinking somebody gutted the diff. or am I missing something?

 

[lJusticel]

Could the ring and pinion have ground themselves down? Any ideas?

I'm thinking that if the front diff is bad I want to swap some 4.10 diffs into it. I was thinking of using a 98 ranger front diff. I have done a little searching but couldn't find much about a ranger swap. I want manual hubs. Are there any detailed threads about it out there?

Edit: Found the thread for the manual hubs.

 

[my98nnj]

We're you in neutral or park when you spun the wheel?

 

[lJusticel]

I was in park with all three other wheels on the ground. Tried both sides. Same thing it spins like a 2wd. The driveshaft doesn't even attempt to turn. I'll also add that I hear a bit of a growl when driving. I can't imagine that the gears ground themselves up that bad to be able to freewheel like that and not cause any other damage.

 

[ExDude]

.

 

[lJusticel]

The front dana 35 is "open", meaning no posi or locker. Normal. Go out to a dirt road and punch it from a dead stop. If it sits there spinning the rear tires off, then your transfercase as experienced a serious malfunction. If it "grabs-and goes", then it's all good.

The growl could be a number of things...

I fully understand what an open differential is and how it works. What I am getting at is the fact that when a wheel is spun and nothing else spins something is wrong. It shouldn't just freewheel it should either spin the other wheel in the opposite direction or spin the driveshaft. I lifted the whole front end just a little while ago and spun one wheel and the other did not turn. I'm pretty sure the spider gears are shot.

 

[ExDude]

Then if your sure about that Justice, then you know what you have to do.

 

[lJusticel]

I guess I'm gonna have to find some 4.10 axles now. I probably should be a little upset that someone sold me a truck that needs alot of work but I'm kinda stoked that I have an excuse to change the gears. Is that crazy?

 

[IAmTodd]

Is the full halfshaft in place? Do you experience it rolling in park? If there is nothing connected to the front driveshaft the AWD transfercase will allow the truck to drift.

 

[lJusticel]

Everything is in its place. I would not be questioning anything if there was a piece missing. I am a mechanic by trade. I was just wondering if maybe there was something else going on in the front axle housing I wasn't aware of. If it is simply an open diff then I know full well now the spiders are thrashed.

 

[Jason c]

If I am not mistaken, on the AWD, the front is what holds the vehicle in place when in "Park." So the drive line is not supposed to spin when you have it in "Park."

 

[boominXplorer]

Make sure there isn't a vacuum disconnect on the axle, v8s did not come with one but the v6s did up till 97. Who knows what could of been swapped in there in the past 15 years

 

[lJusticel]

If I am not mistaken, on the AWD, the front is what holds the vehicle in place when in "Park." So the drive line is not supposed to spin when you have it in "Park."

You are not mistaken. The driveshaft is in place as are both cv axles. With only one front wheel in the air it should not freewheel. It should "try" to spin the driveshaft. I understand that the driveshaft won't spin but it will at least not allow the lifted wheel to spin.

 

[lJusticel]

Make sure there isn't a vacuum disconnect on the axle, v8s did not come with one but the v6s did up till 97. Who knows what could of been swapped in there in the past 15 years

It doesn't have a vacuum disconnect. I'm starting to think that the ring and pinion are munching on the remains of the spiders and that is what is causing the growling.

 

[boominXplorer]

It doesn't have a vacuum disconnect. I'm starting to think that the ring and pinion are munching on the remains of the spiders and that is what is causing the growling.

Very good possibility. I have seen plenty of 8.8s eat up spider gears but never front d35s unless a larger than 33" tire is used, that's another story

 

[burchesss]

The front pinion was striped clean when I bought my 96 5.0 same growl