Odd AWD Drivetrain Situation

[alice]

I am looking for a little input/thoughts on this. I have a 96 AWD Tsi and I thought my transfer case(TC) was dead. I put the car up on four jack stands turned the front wheels while in gear and the rear wheels didn't spin, neither did the drive shaft. Dead transfer case right? I think so. So I decided to turn the rear wheels and the front wheels turned. Does this still mean my transfer case is dead? Also I turned both the front and rear wheels both forwards and backwards. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Rob10_99]

rear LSD?
did the other front tire spin the opposite way when you spun the front tire?

I dont think the rears are affected by the spinning of fronts because of no positive force applied...
thats why you turn the rear(both rears spin) and the front turns, meaning your tcase is good.
but when you spin one front, the other one turns, telling you the front spider is ok(at least should be)

 

[alice]

Luckily, both of the front wheels spin. If I spin one, so does the other. I have to check if I have rear LSD. I will update ASAP.

 

[absolute_DSM]

Just for thought, why do you think the T case is shot? --- just cause of what it does on jackstands?

 

[alice]

Here is a link to my first thread concerning the TC. Basically, I was told to put the car up on four jack stands, spin the front wheels, and if the rears don't spin, then my TC is shot.

 

[Rob10_99]

look for the orange sticker, on the door jam(how do you say that correctly? haha)

 

[marcmsj]

look for the orange sticker, on the door jam(how do you say that correctly? haha)

door jamb?

 

[Cs4g63]

Here is a link to my first thread concerning the TC. Basically, I was told to put the car up on four jack stands, spin the front wheels, and if the rears don't spin, then my TC is shot.

Where is the link?

 

[Spln_Hrd]

I never saw a link.

Your front diff is an open differential it will not transmit any of your turning force from the front wheels to the ring gear because the spyder gears will be turning oposite directions so that is normal.

And if you have a limited slip rear that is normal for your rears to turn your fronts because it will turn the ring gear because your spider gears in the rear end will not be free balling like in an open diff.

 

[Superbeast406]

due to the fact that your front wheels are connected directly to an open diff in the transaxle, your transfer case and rear wheels are not going to turn, the open diff basically turns around inside the gear that turns the shaft for your transaxle. but your rear wheels are LSD, so they turn the transfer which turns the gear casing that the open diff is in. your transfer case is fine.

 

[Superbeast406]

Maybe Spln_hrd said it better

 

[VanIsleDSM]

I'm pretty surprised nobody mentioned it?

That orange sticker specifically says to not rotate any raised wheel while the car is on stands, but maybe that only applies to when not all 4 are in the air.. I'm not sure on that.

 

[Dream On]

I don't think it should hurt anything as long as all 4 are up in the air and are able to spin. You'd run into problems if one was trying to turn but was on the ground though.

 

[Rob10_99]

Yeah that sticker says that for safety,
you think spinning all 4 wheels on/off pavement on/off gravel would do any damage then that sure as hell wont,

I cranked the car over a few times with the front on jackstands(a while back),
luckily the starter doesnt have much torque or it would have jumped the jack stands!

 

[alice]

Thanks for all the great information, I still have to learn about the transmission and drivetrain and I have just learned quite a bit. Here is that missing link about my transfer case and my reasoning for thinking that it was bad. Link: http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250317