Drive shaft turns but rear wheels do not

TRREED

MEMBER
1985 JEEP CJ7
4.6L
V8
4WD
MANUAL
150,000 MILES

I have a Jeep that has an older 304 V8 installed w/3 speed manual transmission and transfer case. It runs fine but in 2wd the drive shaft turns but the rear wheels do not. It will drive in 4wd, but not 2wd. I have pulled both 2 piece rear axles and neither are broken. I have looked closely at the ring & pinion gears as well as the spider gears and they all look fine with no debris in the rear end case. The ends of the axles also look fine, no damage on the splines going into the rear end. I did find that the hub splines had spun on the drivers side axle, and while it needs fixed I don't think this is why the Jeep will not drive forward, as the right rear is the primary driver (it does not have posi-trac). Any help would be greatly appreciated!

2 Replies

DOCDTC

MECHANIC
53 POSTS

Hi,
Have an assistant watch the axle nut on the affected side, while you attempt to move in 2wd.
Although it may favor the right rear, an open diff will opt for the path of least resistance. If it can slip the spline with less effort than push the vehicle, it will. Watch for the axle nut to turn when clutch is released. The only other possibility I can even think of is if somehow the splines in the pinion yoke are gone, the pinion nut would retain yoke while allowing it to rotate without transferring power to wheels. Hope this helps Doc

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Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 AT 7:57 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,005 POSTS

GONNA GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF WAYS TO TEST THE CRAPPY 2 PIECE AXLES

1ST WAY)

PUT THE REAR AXLE UP ON JACK STANDS

IN 2WD SEE IF THE WHEELS WILL TURN WHEN IN ANY GEAR (THE WHEELS ARE NOT UNDER LOAD, ONE OR BOTH WHEELS MAY TURN)

IF YOU GET TURNING (IN THE AIR), YOU MOST LIKELY HAVE STRIPPED THE AXLE/ HUB

2ND WAY)

IF YOU HAVE A STANDARD DIFFERENTIAL (NOT A POSI-TRAC) ALL POWER GENERATED THRU THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL TURN THE AXLE/ WHEEL THAT HAS THE LEAST TRACTION

THIS ALSO GOES FOR A MUFFED UP SPLINE IN A 2 PIECE AXLE (THE AXLE WILL SLIP IN THE HUB, BECAUSE THE THE WHEEL HAS YOU ANCHORED TO THE GROUND AND IT'S JUST SO MUCH EZier FOR THE "NOW WOLLERED OUT" HUB TO ALLOW THE AXLE TO SPIN INSIDE OF IT, RATHER THAN TURN EITHER WHEEL

REMOVE THE DUST CAPS THAT ARE OVER THE AXLE NUTS

HAVE YOUR PAL STAND ON ONE SIDE OF THE JEEP THEN THE OTHER, AND WATCH THE NUTS AS YOU LET OUT ON THE CLUTCH IN 1ST GEAR WITH BOTH WHEELS ON THE GROUND. IF THE NUT SPINS ON ONE SIDE, IT'S TIME FOR NEW AXLES! (IF YOU ARE REAL ALERT AND THE OLE 304 AIN'T MAKING A GOSH AWFUL ROAR, YOU CAN USUALLY HEAR THE STRIPPED AXLE MAKE A STRIPPED KINDA RACKET

IF THE HUB(S) HAVE EVER BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AXLES, MANY TIMES THEY JUST WON'T "BITE" OR MATE UP AGAIN AND WILL STRIP. THESE PUPPIES REQUIRE 250 FT-LBS TO CUT THEIR OWN SPLINES. USUALLY WHEN ONE STRIPS, IT INTERNALLY CUTS GROOVES 'ROUND AND 'ROUND THE AXLE AND HUB. THESE GROOVES KINDA ACT LIKE LOCK RINGS AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE HUB WITH A HUB PULLER (OR ANY OTHER TYPE) GENERALLY, YOU CUT THE AXLE OFF WITH A SAW-ZALL AND REPLACE THE AXLE AND HUB

WANNA DO IT RIGHT?

LET'S INSTALL 1-PIECE AXLES, NEVER HAVE ANOTHER SLIPPING AXLE!

I BELIEVE THIS IS THE WHOLE KIT, BOTH AXLES, BEARINGS, WHEEL STUDS, AND ALL! CALL TO MAKE SURE! BEING AN '85 YOUR MODEL 20 AXLE SHOULD BE THE LONGER WIDE TRACK AXLES. JUST MAKING SURE! AS YOUR RIG WAS NOT OFFERED W/ A 304 AND 3 SPEED TRANNY IN 1985, UNLESS MAYBE IT WAS SPECIAL ORDER

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/motive-gear-10-factory-complete-rear-axle-shaft-kit-mg22126/99985961-P?searchTerm=axles

USE THIS METHOD TO SAVE MORE $$$(YOU MAY ALREADY GET FREE SHIPPING-DO YOUR HOMEWORK!)

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2001-dodge-neon-milage-just-want-put-fliuds-their-locations

IF YOU ARE NOT HAVING A STRIPPED HUB ISSUE, RETURN WE'LL TALK DIFFERENTIAL/ TRANSFER CASE

KEEP US POSTED ANYWAY, WE CAN STILL ASSIST YOU

THE MEDIC

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