Question about 95 4x4?

[topo4u2]

Hello, I got a question....
On a 95 X with the dash button 2WD, 4AUTO, 4LOW.
When you are switched into 2wd does the driveshaft between the transfer case and front diff free-wheel or is it locked up and runs with the rear shaft. I know the front axle is not in torque with this shaft until you switch the button to 4wd.
The reason Im asking is that with my first transfer case this shaft would not rotate but with my replacement one(used) it would but I had no 4 wd. The dealer put in a new dash switch and this shaft wont rotate.
Please let me know...thanks

 

[Fischer]

Me no undastand question????

 

[topo4u2]

I thought it might be confusing....here goes again..ok, better yet 1. Dash switch in 2WD
2. Engine off
3. In Park
4. Crawl underneath and try and turn driveshaft between transfer case and front diff by hand. Will it turn???? Should it turn while driving? When you hit the 4auto does that lock the front axles to this shaft?
Hope that clears it up

 

[Fischer]

That's a good question. I am not sure. From what I understand the as the hubs are locked constantly so axle is turning which in turn should be turning the driveshaft as well. So then, Yes it is engaged and I believe the transfer case engages the front end by a viscous clutch type coupling. In 4x4AUTO it is variable based on rear wheel slippage, then in 4LOW that clutch locks up.

Does that help?


What is the problem you are trying to solve?

 

[Robert]

It should be easy enough for someone with a '95 or '96 to crawl under thier Explorer and try turning the driveshaft while in 2WD & 4Auto. In 4Auto your driveshaft shouldn't turn (at least without resistance). I'm not sure about 2WD. It depends on how the transfer case works on the '95 & '96. If when you put it in 2WD, all Ford does is disconnect the front differential from the driveshaft, leaving the driveshaft partially connected in the transfer case, it probably won't turn. If Ford disconnects the driveshaft from both the differential and transfer case when you put it in 2WD, then it's possible that it might turn. If you are certain that your driveshaft didn't turn on your original transfer case, and this one does under the same circumstances, then it sounds like Ford put in a bad, used transfer case.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I'm almost positive my front driveshaft doesn't spin free.

 

[topo4u2]

Well the first case that was in a week ago, I could not spin the shaft, after they put this used one in I could but I did not have 4x4. They just installed a new dash switch and put my old hall effect speed sensors in and now I cannot spin it.
Now Im not sure what is normal or not? Im pretty sure for some reason power is getting sent to the clutch inside transfer case, but I wish I knew from what? I truly believe that it should just free-wheel in 2wd but I could be wrong.

 

[Fischer]

It won't spin, the hubs are a sealed hub cartridge bearing. It's like having your manual hubs locked 100% of the time. The transfercase does all the shifting and engaugeing of the 4X4. It is just like the rear axle, there is no way to prevent the spider gears from turning as the shafts are connected to a hub which is not dis-engageable. Thus the shi**y gas mileage, there may be no torque to the front shaft but it is always turning if the tires are turning.

 

[topo4u2]

Hi Fischer, Im not sure you understood me? I know that the front axles will turn all the time, and they will lock with the rear shaft once you put it in 4wd BUT the output driveshaft of the transfer case is not free-wheeling in 2wd. It is locked with the rear I guess, I mean when the vehicle is stopped and I go underneath I cannot spin that shaft....but the front axle is definately disengaged from it untill I hit the dash switch.
I called several people and im getting conflicting answers...some say it free-wheels and some say it is locked with rear end?

 

[Fischer]

I would think that if it was ran in a rack in gear that the front would not spin and you could spin it freely by hand. Possibly just lifting the front end and seeing if you can then spin the shaft. I am guessing that you will be able to spin it.

Is this output you are talking about just the output to the front drive shaft?

 

[mikefox]

I just went out and checked mine. The shaft does spin freely when parked and in 2wd. If yours does not, there maybe something in the T/C wrong or the vacuum disconnect for the front axle is engaged.

I tested some more and found that with the switch in 4auto and key on the shaft will not turn freely. In 4auto key off, it will (vacuum switch to front axle is turned off with no power). In 4lo it won't turn freely no matter if key is on or off because T/C is locked in 4lo. Hope this clears some questions up for you.

 

[topo4u2]

Well mikefox I hope mine is not screwed up! You have no idea what I have been through with the dealer on this one. I called 3 service (ford) centres here and they said that the shaft should not turn freely anytime. Only locks up at the front diff with the switch turned to 4Auto or 4low.
Maybe some of us have different transfer case set ups? I don't know? Mine did spin freely the other day then they put a switch in and now it does not..but they say it normal........If anyone cares to I would love to get a poll of all the people with 95-6's and crawl under quickly and see if that sucker spins or not? In 2wd mode of course.
please let me know! Thanks!

 

[topo4u2]

By the way...mine is an automatic!

 

[mikefox]

My trans is auto as well. Don't know if that makes any difference, but thought I would add it in here.

Maybe yours is fine and mine is screwed up. Hopefully others will read this and check theirs out and let us all know.