Was doing some checking today for a suspected bad U-joint - with the truck in park and front end raised, I can rotate the front driveshaft, doing so spins the front wheels. Same, if I give wheels a spin so does the driveshaft. Confused... I thought I shouldn't be able to spin the drive shaft unless in Neutral or all 4 wheels are off the ground and TC is in Neutral... I'm in 4Hi, in park, and parking break engaged. Sound normal?

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Your observations are correct for 4Hi which does NOT lock the T Case and allows some independent movement. If you were in Hi or Lo Lock, then and only then the front would be locked to the rear and movement of the front would be significantly limited.

 

Thank you! In which case, do I really need to set my truck in neutral to swap out the front driveshaft?

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Not at all. I have dropped both front and rear, done U Joints, then reinstalled them while in Park with T Case in 4Hi, on a level surface and one wheel chocked.

 

X2 on chocking AT LEAST ONE WHEEL (BOTH SIDES)

 

I choked both wheels, and I work on a flat ground.. but I'm extra paranoid when it comes to being under the car, rather have it in park, brake on, and rear wheels on the ground if I could.

Also replacing my dif bushing while I wait for additional parts, holy chit it came out no issue but putting a new one in proved to be something else. I used bushing press tool as I don't have a press, and a huge metal pipe for leverage, got about half way in before top metal plate just bent and broke off. any tips or tricks? Saw a few write-ups on it, guy had to literally stand on the breaker bar to get it moving lol

Is a 6ton press enough? Or need something more substantial?

 

Sorry for the dumb question, but why would this matter for dropping drive shafts? Is there any need for anything to to turn?

 

You'll want to rotate the driveshaft to access the 4 bolts that hold it.

 

I used a friends 12 Ton press, It was still a BEE-AHTCH!

 

End up buying a 12 ton press and was able to do it - I think next time I'll get one of those outfitter designs.