Re: Axle Question

[Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided>]

On Sun, 23 Nov 1997, Ed Whitcomb wrote:

> I just replaced a Dana 30 front axle assembly in my Scout (the ring and pinion 
> were stripped when I got it).  When I hold the hub on either side (with the hub 
> locked) and turn the pinion, the axles don't turn.  Is this normal operation? 
>  If so, what causes the front wheels to turn in four wheel drive?  Centrifugal 
> force?  I don't have a front drive shaft yet so I can't test it any other way 
> right now.

Huh?  If you have the hubs UNLOCKED and you turn the PINION, the axles 
(in particular, you should notice the U-joints on the axle shaft ends) 
should turn.  If you jack the truck (front) up, lock the hubs, the tires 
should turn too.

If you then turn a wheel, the pinion should turn, too.

OTOH, if you have AUTO hubs, turning the wheel will do NOTHING, it's all 
in the pinion.. but, it doesn't take much at all to engage the AUTOs.. 
playing with my "new" Dana 44 front end with AUTOMATIC hubs, I can turn 
the pinion by hand, and the axle shafts turn immediately.

-Tom Mandera, Helena MT
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout
'72 and '77 Scout IIs