4 wheel drive issue

ivaskaj · 07-17-2008, 04:07 PM

My 4x4 is not working in my '79 CJ-5, and I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with it. The transfer case DOES spin the front drive shaft, but I got hung up on a log in the back yard today and only the back wheels were spinning. Could this be a hub issue or something inside the axle? The ring/pinion must be fine, or the front drive shaft wouldn't even spin, right? Who knows, maybe I'm just not locking the hubs right. I've never had a 4x4 before. How far do you have to turn the hubs before they are locked? I turn the driver side til it stops, but the passenger side one will get tight and seem to stop, but when you keep putting pressure on it, it will just go on and turn some more. Any ideas? Thanks.

Edit: Yes, I DID have the xfer case lever in 4 Low. I tried 4 High, too.

**BESRK** · 07-17-2008, 04:55 PM

You can have someone watch the front axle ujoints (in the steering knuckle area) to see if they're turning. If at least one side is turning, then I'd suspect that hub is toast or isn't "locked in" properly.

If neither axle shaft is spinning (but the driveshaft is), then there's a problem in the differential (pumpkin).

No_Bs · 07-17-2008, 05:01 PM

Sounds to me like a hub issue. If the one keeps turning and never stops, it's toast.

PaulS · 07-17-2008, 05:12 PM

Agree with hubs. If one hub locks but the other doesn't, neither one will get any power (unless you have a locker in the front diff, which you probably don't). BESRK is right--if you can see one of the front knuckle U-joint turning, but the wheel isn't, the hub isn't locked.

-Paul

ivaskaj · 07-17-2008, 05:37 PM

As soon as I can round up a second set of jack stands to get the whole thing off the ground, I'll look at the front u joints and see what's up. If they spin and the wheel doesn't, then that means the transfer case and axle are OK, right? If it turns out to be my axle, I would assume it would be cheaper to buy a used one instead of having mine fixed. Will the front axle from a YJ bolt into my CJ? If not, what axles are a direct bolt in with no cutting or welding involved? Thanks. I've been to all the local junkyards and keep hearing the same thing: "Those are rare, when we get one in, it's gone in a week." If it's a hub, how hard are they to change? I have never worked on anything other than routine maintenance before.

Smtty58 · 07-17-2008, 05:45 PM

Did you hear any noises while the driveshaft is spinning? An ungreased slipjoint in the driveshaft will eventually strip the splines, and the driveshaft will spin but it won't turn the pinion flange. You can check the locking hubs by jacking up one wheel at a time, locking that hub and spinning the tire while watching the axle. If you have an open diff, the shaft will turn with the tire.

ivaskaj · 07-17-2008, 06:24 PM

I was getting a terrible noise, but that was from the front shaft bumping into the starter due to an un-attached motor mount. I have fixed that, but I do notice now that I look closer that the front drive shaft is bent. Not like a dogs hind leg, but still bent. What kind of havoc can that wreak in the front diff? Also, I'm sure this thing has never been greased. It is beat to hell and back and all rusty. No nice ones in my price range. Thanks.

No_Bs · 07-17-2008, 08:51 PM

If it's slightly bent like a U, it won't hurt anything, other than balance, and yes it would probably wear U-joints faster too but not much. If you have stock size tires on it, I can't see the axle being grenaded, they are tougher than most people think. (plus there would be A LOT of noise most likely) Check the hubs, they are probably the problem. Oh yeah, just for another tip, when you have it jacked up and are watching for the axle shaft spinning, put a screwdriver or prybar through the axle joint to make sure that it is actually being spun positively by the wheel,and not just dragging.

ivaskaj · 07-17-2008, 09:44 PM

Well, I have found a parts vehicle for $500 obo on craigslist. It's a '73 with good running gear. Body is rusted out, but everything else is there and supposedly good. Does that sound like a good deal? I could snag the axle if mine turns out to be toasted, and probably sell the rest for at least what I paid.

No_Bs · 07-18-2008, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivaskaj

Well, I have found a parts vehicle for $500 obo on craigslist. It's a '73 with good running gear. Body is rusted out, but everything else is there and supposedly good. Does that sound like a good deal? I could snag the axle if mine turns out to be toasted, and probably sell the rest for at least what I paid.

'73 is too old, the front would be drum brakes. Find out what your problem is first, it's probably a $50 hub.

ivaskaj · 07-18-2008, 01:30 PM

True, I never thought about the primitive brakes on the '73. Hopefully it's a hub. I just got off work now and I'm gonna jack it up and see about the hubs.

**Mike Romain** · 07-18-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivaskaj

True, I never thought about the primitive brakes on the '73. Hopefully it's a hub. I just got off work now and I'm gonna jack it up and see about the hubs.

You can just jack up one front tire at a time and lock it, then hand spin it to see if the axle turns. If it is anything like my 86, it could just be a loose screw in the turning part or dried up grease that needs to be cleaned out to let it move free again.

ivaskaj · 07-18-2008, 02:03 PM

OK, I locked the passenger side hub and jacked that side up and turned the front tire over by hand. The front drive shaft did NOT spin. I did the same on the driver side, and the shaft did NOT spin. I tried it w/ the transfer case in 2wd and 4wd, and nothing. So this means that either both my hubs are broken, my axle is broken, or something in the front diff. is broken, right?

ivaskaj · 07-18-2008, 02:07 PM

I just jacked the whole front end up and un locked the hubs, or moved them to where unlock should be. I spun the driver side wheel, and the passenger side wheel did nothing. I spun the passengers side wheel, and the driver side wheel did nothing. I guess my front diff. is blown?

ivaskaj · 07-18-2008, 02:10 PM

I just checked the front u joints/axle shafts, and something weird is going on. When I lock the driver side hub (the one i think actually works) and spin the tire, the axle shaft spins, and when i unlock it it does not spin. Normal, I guess. However on the passenger side (the suspected bad hub that keeps spinning), no matter where I put the hub the axle shaft spins with the tire. Sorry for the rapid multiple posts, but I'm out here working on it now w/ my laptop.

07-17-2008, 05:37 PM	#5
ivaskaj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	As soon as I can round up a second set of jack stands to get the whole thing off the ground, I'll look at the front u joints and see what's up. If they spin and the wheel doesn't, then that means the transfer case and axle are OK, right? If it turns out to be my axle, I would assume it would be cheaper to buy a used one instead of having mine fixed. Will the front axle from a YJ bolt into my CJ? If not, what axles are a direct bolt in with no cutting or welding involved? Thanks. I've been to all the local junkyards and keep hearing the same thing: "Those are rare, when we get one in, it's gone in a week." If it's a hub, how hard are they to change? I have never worked on anything other than routine maintenance before.

07-17-2008, 06:24 PM	#7
ivaskaj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I was getting a terrible noise, but that was from the front shaft bumping into the starter due to an un-attached motor mount. I have fixed that, but I do notice now that I look closer that the front drive shaft is bent. Not like a dogs hind leg, but still bent. What kind of havoc can that wreak in the front diff? Also, I'm sure this thing has never been greased. It is beat to hell and back and all rusty. No nice ones in my price range. Thanks.

07-17-2008, 09:44 PM	#9
ivaskaj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Well, I have found a parts vehicle for $500 obo on craigslist. It's a '73 with good running gear. Body is rusted out, but everything else is there and supposedly good. Does that sound like a good deal? I could snag the axle if mine turns out to be toasted, and probably sell the rest for at least what I paid.

07-18-2008, 01:30 PM	#11
ivaskaj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	True, I never thought about the primitive brakes on the '73. Hopefully it's a hub. I just got off work now and I'm gonna jack it up and see about the hubs.

07-18-2008, 02:03 PM	#13
ivaskaj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	OK, I locked the passenger side hub and jacked that side up and turned the front tire over by hand. The front drive shaft did NOT spin. I did the same on the driver side, and the shaft did NOT spin. I tried it w/ the transfer case in 2wd and 4wd, and nothing. So this means that either both my hubs are broken, my axle is broken, or something in the front diff. is broken, right?

07-18-2008, 02:07 PM	#14
ivaskaj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I just jacked the whole front end up and un locked the hubs, or moved them to where unlock should be. I spun the driver side wheel, and the passenger side wheel did nothing. I spun the passengers side wheel, and the driver side wheel did nothing. I guess my front diff. is blown?

07-18-2008, 02:10 PM	#15
ivaskaj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 234 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I just checked the front u joints/axle shafts, and something weird is going on. When I lock the driver side hub (the one i think actually works) and spin the tire, the axle shaft spins, and when i unlock it it does not spin. Normal, I guess. However on the passenger side (the suspected bad hub that keeps spinning), no matter where I put the hub the axle shaft spins with the tire. Sorry for the rapid multiple posts, but I'm out here working on it now w/ my laptop.