no drive in the front wheels (gq)

[young pup]

i have zero drive to the front of my gq, the hubs lock fine. i jacked up the front end put it in 4wd locked the hubs, both wheels turn when u turn one but the drive shaft doesnt spin. then i drove forwards with it in 4wd n the hubs unlocked n the front shaft turns..

Any ideas?

[Mario]

busted CVs ? both???

[oldmate]

How are you determining you have no front drive?

If you jack up the front and turn one wheel, the opposite wheel should spin, and in the opposite direction. The front shaft won't spin when you do this. This eliminates broken cvs, locking hubs or the carrier/spider gears in the diff.

When you select 4wd you say the front shaft turns? That's how it should.

So from all visual inspections everything seems normal. The only thing I can think of is a broken pinion.

The best way to check that 4wd actually works is to jack up all wheels, engage 4wd, put it in gear and start the motor. All the wheels should turn, or at least one wheel on each axle should turn.

[BadMav]

i have zero drive to the front of my gq, the hubs lock fine. i jacked up the front end put it in 4wd locked the hubs, both wheels turn when u turn one but the drive shaft doesnt spin. then i drove forwards with it in 4wd n the hubs unlocked n the front shaft turns..

Any ideas?

Is it making ANY noises out of the ordinary?

You may have a broken output shaft, stripped spline on an axle, pinion or output shaft, cv, locking hub, diff gears or an axle. Even when broken, the two ends (or faces) may bind enough to turn the drive shaft and diff.

First, pull both of your locking hubs off and check that they are working properly.

Next try jacking one wheel off the ground, select 4wd, put it in gear, lock both hubs and try and rotate the lifted wheel by hand, you may need to really lean on it (it may take a bit of force to overcome the friction). Obviously if it slips, grinds etc, something is broken. Watch your drive shaft when doing it, if it spins it may be a broken ouput shaft or a stripped spline on the output shaft.

Jack both wheels off the ground and turn your wheels lock to lock, if you feel something stopping, clicking or crunching when steering, it's probably a cv. Rotate each wheel while at full lock to confirm this and to find which one.

Drop your diff oil out and check for any metal filings etc. this will indicate either diff bearings or if larger pieces are present, possibly diff gears or planetary gears.

Oil leaking out of your swivel hub wiper seals MAY indicate a broken axle.

If either of the splined ends of the axle or corresponding internal spline on the diff or cv are stripped, the only indication is a lack of drive but would be enough to turn the driveshaft like you say yours is doing.

Other than that, you know the only way that you are going to find out... now break out your tool box

[young pup]

there are no yuck noises any where and all four wheels were driving today on flat. but it seems as soon as there is a mound of dirt or something where the front end articulates or gets stuck (as in front wheels need to pull the car up a rock etc) the rear wheels sit on the spot spinning and the front wheels look like they want to drive but they just sit there shuddering... but like i said there is still no unusual noises. maybe i just need a locker lol

[BadMav]

Fault dignosis over the phone or internet is hard at the best of times. Try those things I said above and you may find your problem without totally dismantling the front end.

Sounds like a wierd one tho, for that to happen, things usually go BANG, CRUNCH, CRUNCH, SHUUDDER, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK ooh locked steering

Rowen

[young pup]

ye that is true ill have to have a muck around tomorrow.. i hope its not expensive, i just sold my gut lux for 9000... so i have 9000 bucks worth of spending money on gq goodies not repairs..

[jezzaGQ]

have u checked that both ur diff ratios are the same?

[bj on roids]

Transfer case?

Im thinking something in the chain or front drive has simply come off. Hence no bad noises

[oldmate]

Transfer case?

Im thinking something in the chain or front drive has simply come off. Hence no bad noises

the chain could be skipping on the teeth. I'd also check the splines at the free wheelin hubs and cvs. they might make enough contact to turn by hand, but slip when any amount of torque is applied.

[turps]

If you are checking the hubs. Makes sure there is very little grease in there if any.
To much grease and it holds the locking rings off the splines of the stub axle.

[351ciofgrunt]

i have zero drive to the front of my gq, the hubs lock fine. i jacked up the front end put it in 4wd locked the hubs, both wheels turn when u turn one but the drive shaft doesnt spin. then i drove forwards with it in 4wd n the hubs unlocked n the front shaft turns..

Any ideas?

From what you've said so far you haven't convinced me that you have no drive to your front wheels.

Jack the front of your car off the ground, disconnect your rear driveshaft, put it in 4wd, lock your hubs in and check that you have drive to your front wheels.