3 Wheel Drive ?????!!!!!!!

Ok,so I have some SJ manual hubs off Ebay, one of Martins adapter kits and 4 hours to myself, so I decided to have a go at fitting them today.

After doing the drivers side I jacked up the whole side of the car and put it in 4 wheel drive, started the engine, put it in 1st gear and presto, both wheels turning (with the front hub in lock mode).

After doing the passenger side I did the same test but only the rear wheel was turning so I thought "great, duff front hub" !. But after removing the hub and doing the test again I noticed that the splined shaft wasn't turning even though the shaft between the transfer box and the diff was turning.

Now correct me if I'm wrong but I presume this means I have a broken drive shaft ?.

Right, I'm really confused now

Have I got a busted shaft or has a CV joint gone ?

Do all Jimnys have CV joints as I thought that mine was a live axle with swivel joints ?????? !!!

(Hopes that Martin will be along soon with all the answers )

If both front wheels are off the floor, then likely only one will turn, the one with least resistance, due to the action of the differential.

Stop the wheel that is spinning and the other one will start turning.


The best test that all is well is to select 4wd with the hubs locked, and raise just one front wheel with the jack, leaving the rest on the floor. If the wheel turns round by hand, there is a problem. If it just moves a little each way, accompanied by clunking sounds, all is fine.

In 2wd the wheel will trun with some resistance, and you will see the propshaft turning.

facade wrote: If both front wheels are off the floor, then likely only one will turn, the one with least resistance, due to the action of the differential.

Stop the wheel that is spinning and the other one will start turning.


The best test that all is well is to select 4wd with the hubs locked, and raise just one front wheel with the jack, leaving the rest on the floor. If the wheel turns round by hand, there is a problem. If it just moves a little each way, accompanied by clunking sounds, all is fine.

In 2wd the wheel will trun with some resistance, and you will see the propshaft turning.

Yep, wheel turns by hand no matter what is selected whereas the other side doesn't when lifted so something is definately bust !.

Gromit wrote:

facade wrote: If both front wheels are off the floor, then likely only one will turn, the one with least resistance, due to the action of the differential.

Stop the wheel that is spinning and the other one will start turning.


The best test that all is well is to select 4wd with the hubs locked, and raise just one front wheel with the jack, leaving the rest on the floor. If the wheel turns round by hand, there is a problem. If it just moves a little each way, accompanied by clunking sounds, all is fine.

In 2wd the wheel will trun with some resistance, and you will see the propshaft turning.

Yep, wheel turns by hand no matter what is selected whereas the other side doesn't when lifted so something is definately bust !.

If you lock both hubs, have the main gearbox in neutral and jack just one side up, the wheel will always spin. The question is if it is spinning the front prop up to the transfer box. If it does all is fine, if it doesn't the other side's hub is not locked for some reason and the motion you are creating is spinning out through that freewheeling hub as it's easier to do that than turn the prop.

Or ensure the engine is off, the gearbox is in a gear, the transfer box is in 4WD, both front hubs are locked and then jack one wheel up. If you can't turn it due to the compression of the engine, all is fine. If you can turn it and the compression of the engine is not working against you, you have a problem.

Don't assume it's something terrible like a broken shaft, sometimes manual freewheeling hubs are grotty inside and don't slide on and off the shaft properly so stay in freewheeling mode. Then it just needs a strip, clean and light re-greasing.

I'm sure you've either got confused or it's something simple, don;t fret yourself that you have a broken shaft yet!

Kirkynut

No mate, definately something broken as without the hub on, the splined shaft doesn't turn when the propshaft is turning (in 4WD in 1st gear, engine running with same side rear in air).