4wd Is Broken

Everything works from the transfer case down to the front axle differential. The Yoke that fits into the U-joint turns. Except for the tires won't spin

 

before you took them off did you try and spin each wheel . and see if driveshaft would move

 

Yes. The tires spin freely but the drive shaft did not turn when turning either wheel

 

do what nick said . turn drive shaft by hand and see if axle stubs turn in spindle . if one spins . hold that with a pair of pliers and do it again . check the other side . open differential . if they do then the problem is with the hubs

 

I will have to check what nick suggested when i get home. Wife had a honey-do list. So, now im not doing my fun stuff

 

I had same problem. Hubs were good and driveshaft turned, but no 4x4. Pulled the diff cover and the spider gears were smooth as a baby's behind and not transfering power.

 

Did it make a noise when it broke?

 

No. I had no warning. Put it in 4 and nothing. Going to open the diff tomorow after work. This would be a "worst case" scenario for me. Is it difficult to change these out? can i do it without removing the axle?

 

Do you know for sure the front gear assy worked prior to this.

 

Yes. Im pretty sure after i got it up and running i was in the same mudhole, put it in 4 and was delighted at the rooster tail from the front and back.

 

Mine was like that when I bought it. There were no hills around during the test drive to put the 4x4 to a good test. I did put it in gear and didn't hear anything bad because the gear teeth were already in the bottom of the differential housing. The seller did not say anything about the front diff being bad.

I wound up pulling the front driver's hub and had to pull the axle just a few inches to get enough clearance to get the gear off the end of the axle. After that, the other gears pretty much fell out.

If I knew how I would put up some pictures for you, but I am not that techie. Sorry.

Good luck.

 

so, I was up all night thinking about this. would this be an opportune time for an axle upgrade/swap? I was reading up about the Dana 27 being ok for mild use, but not for any serious off roading.
I for sure fall into the "mild use" category. logging trails are about the extent of my wheeling, and that's only when I can keep my heep on the road for more than a week at a time.

I was racking my brain, and the only thing I can recall is about 2 months ago I was in 4wd and pulling out a big bush root-ball from a friends yard. I heard some popping, but just assumed it was flexing something from the winching and driving in reverse. other than this, literally, my little guy has only seen pavement, and the flat trails behind my house with an occasional mud puddle if its been raining a lot.

I have no problem changing spider gears (if that's the extent of my problem), but why would they fail? if I replace them, am I doomed to repeat breaking them?

 

I spun my front driveshaft splines on my blazer years ago straightening a frame rail on a wrecked suburban. Check your driveshaft again. Your symptoms are the same as what I exeperienced in a similar situation.

 

47v6, if its my driveshaft splines, how do i check that? when the 4wd is engaged, the driveshaft spins, as does the yoke attached to the diff.