I just installed a front driveshaft onto my 4WD JEEP WRANGLER. The driveshaft turns but the front wheels dont?

Question

The front wheels do not have lockers. Could this be the problem?

Answer 1

Let's try to Identify where the problem is.

-Start the jeep
- pull the 4WD lever to 4HI
- move bacwards and forwards a few feet to make sure everything is engaged
- turn the jeep OFF
- if manual leave it in reverse, if auto leave it in park
- go under the truck and try to turn the driveshaft by hand
-if you can turn the shaft your transfer case chain is broken
- if the shaft doesn't turn chock the wheels and put the jeep into neutral
- the shaft shuld spin freely, listen for noise coming from the differential pumpkin.
- loud clicking, crunching, grinding, or jamming up requiring you to wiggle the shaft to move it, means a major problem internally that needs professional repair.
- If it turns free with no noise jack up the drivers side wheel.
- rotate the wheel by hand. the drive shaft should be spinning with the wheel. if not you have a broken axle shaft.
- If you have a TJ lower the drivers side and raise the passenger. Again rotate the wheel and see if the shaft is spinning.
- If there is any noises from the pumpkin while you spin the wheels it usually indicates diferential failure.
-If you have a YJ, lower the drivers side and raise the passenger side. have a friend hold the driveshaft and spin the wheel by hand. If the wheel turns and the shaft doesn't you have axle disconnect failure.
- On a YJ there is a round disk haped thing with three hoses connected to it, located on the axle tube top on the passenger side. Check for broken hoses and repair otherwise replace the unit.
- Final check, put the front end up on axle stands (DO NOT USE TWO JACKS!!!!), have a friend hold the driveshaft and spin one wheel. The other wheel should turn in the other direction. If it doesn't or you can't turn it without spinning the driveshaft, you have internal spider failure in the differential. Professional repair required.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Try engaging the hubs, Manually if possible, - (then you know they are engaged for sure). If the hubs are not engaged, the wheel will turn, but the axle shafts will remain still (not turning).
The "lockers" must be electric, so check fuses, - and switching circuit!. --(as you said that there are no lockers), - otherwise you should see instructions on "hubs" to tell you wether they are "in ", - or "out".--- Or possibly they are "full time Hubs (can't be disengaged), and you just "turn off" the front by disengaging the transfer case!" If this is the case, you are putting on "tons" of un-nescessary wear on them when they aren't required! This is real expensive!

I assume the "transfer case" is in gear,- if the driveshaft turns (under engine power!) You would have to jack up all four wheels to check this out, as the rear wheels will want to push the car foreward, (unless the driveshaft to it is removed).

Answer 3

Jeep Wrangler Front Drive Shaft

Answer 4

the front driveshaft will spin each and all of the time in 2WD in a YJ when you consider that they don't have locking hubs on the two front wheels. A YJ in basic terms has one axle disconnect on the passenger area axle shaft. The motor that controls this works off of vacuum.

Answer 5

hmmmm!
Why did you installed the driveshaft?
What years is the jeep?
How did you find out that the DS turns and the wheels don't?
No, that is not the problem.
Problem is in the diff.
If the jeep missed a driveshaft, previous owner removed because there is a mess in the diff.

Answer 6

If you have the automatic locking hubs they won't engage until you have travelled 4 or more feet forwards. With it sitting on the jack stands won't engage in many circumstances. If you have tried "driving it" and they still won't engage then some of the other suggestions such as the actuator or bad differential sound more plausible to me.

Answer 7

there should be a vacuum actuator that engages the front differential when you place the jeep in 4wd check to see if there is vacuum at the actuator if no there is you have a vacuum leak if there is vacuum you may have a bad acututor. hope this helps

Answer 8

it sounds like your automatic hubs are not engaging to lock up .check them to be sure they are functioning properly .otherwise change to manual hubs or replace the automatic hubs if they are broken .
If the jeep was bought used the front axle may have been disabled (you said you just installed a front drive shaft was it missing ?)

Answer 9

no manual or auto hubs on the Dana 30, just the vacuum actuator, the drive-shaft will spin freely unless it is locked in. you could pull the differential cover and inspect the internals for damaged teeth.

Answer 10

check for vaccuum leaks on the hubs and front axle. Most likely.... the front axle. There is a vaccuum operated actuator that "locks" the front hubs.