3X4 JIMNY :(

hi guys, I recently bought a 2000 jimny, had the usual problems, replaced the boot floor, replaced auto hubs with manuals, now I took in to a field today to check the 4x4 and seem to have a problem, only 3 wheels are spinning, the front offside been the one that isn't. so heres what ive done, I jacked the front offside corner up, with the 4x4 engaged and hubs locked, there is a lot of friction, almost as if the brake is binding, but that is a different problem, probably a sticky caliper. anyway the wheel rotates all the way round which I know that it shouldn't, I tried the other side and that seems fine, quarter turn and it takes up the slack in the diff. I then put the jimny on axle stands and with the 4x4 engaged only the 3 wheels spinning. so my question is, is it likely to be the front diff or half shaft???? would the near side wheel work as it should if the diff had gone? thanks for any help guys. john.

3 wheels spinning is perfectly normal. 4x4 doesn't mean all 4 wheels will spin all the time (unless you also have diff locks fitted in both axles). As standard you still have an open differential in each axle so should expect to spin just 1 wheel on each axle on slippery ground. If there was an issue with the drive to the offside front then the nearside front wouldn't spin either.

Reminds me of Sir James May driving that SJ off the raft and claiming it was 3 wheel Drive.

Sounds like you have some sort of locking differential in the back, as you should only be able to spin 1 wheel on each axle at a time.

Put it in 4WD engine running. Jack up one front wheel. Try and turn it round. If it turns a little each way and stops, 4WD works.
Then put it in 2WD, and the wheel should rotate round and round, then 2wd works too.

facade wrote: Reminds me of Sir James May driving that SJ off the raft and claiming it was 3 wheel Drive.

Sounds like you have some sort of locking differential in the back, as you should only be able to spin 1 wheel on each axle at a time.

Put it in 4WD engine running. Jack up one front wheel. Try and turn it round. If it turns a little each way and stops, 4WD works.
Then put it in 2WD, and the wheel should rotate round and round, then 2wd works too.

I did try that, the front near side only turns slightly, when I jacked the off side up it turns all the way?? When I had all 4 wheels off the ground, in 4h 1st gear, back 2wheels rotate only the near side front was spinning, is that normal?

If all wheels are off the ground they should all spin, but a binding brake might be enough to send all the drive to the other wheel on that axle. Was the other front wheel spinning noticeably faster than the rear wheels?

If you are in 4wd, manual hubs locked, engine off but in gear and jack one front wheel up you shouldn't be able to spin it. If you can something is wrong.