i tried holding one side and spinning the other but only spider gears turn not main gear or DS gear.... I guess im hoping on the tcase in neutral to work !

 

Ummm errrrr..... Are both wheels off the ground?
If one is still on the ground and you turn the axle only the spider gears will turn , not the ring gear and carrier.
Not sure about turning the drive shaft. You would think it should turn.
Unless you have a LSD you didn't tell us about.

Wait just reread your post like 13 times. apparently I haven't had enough coffee this morning. Pretty hard to hold one side and spin the other with one wheel on ground. Unless your Superman.
So unless it's the LSD, you are not unlocking the transmission somehow. The transfer case shouldn't have to be in nuetral but it will help. Just putting the gear selector in nuetral should work. If it doesn't then something is fubared.

 

I'm hoping all goes well with figuring this out, but if you take off you drive shaft, replace your u-joints. that should be a piece of cake. Also, whoever told you that changing your oil in your t-case, i wouldn't listen to. That is like a mechanic saying don't change your oil in your car... I changed my oil in my NP-231 on my wrangler a few times, if I thought it was slipping or anything. putting new stuff in is never a bad thing, although it may clean whatever sludge may be in there, but yeah, just my 2 cents.

Good luck, I can;t think of anything that hasn't been said yet, so roll with it and let us know how it goes.

 

He's talking about changing the transmission fluid. I've heard tranny shops say that many times about high mileage autos that haven't had a fluid change in a long time. As long as the t case is in 2hi it should turn in any gear other than park.

 

turn the drive shaft at the yoke ,and its automatic transmissions that you take a chance with changing the fluid after alot of miles

 

just to clarify this fluid loss conundrum. No your tranny and t-case do not share fluid, (if they did then whats the point of the tranny and t-case both having separate fill spouts) also depending on what year your xj is, if its a 96 then your t-case should have the closed tail shaft housing meaning no fluid loss, (95 and older are open)

 

hey guys i did mean transdmission fluid change like clayton said. My fault if i mis wrote tcase fluid. and yes both wheels are off the ground but i figure i would just put car on floor, put in neutral with diff cover popped off.... roll back until bolt is revealed, park and lift and id be good to go right? Kind of avoiding the "why isnt my gears spinning" but not trying to be funny.... whats the worst that can happen if idont follow up why my gears arent turning? Im not a mechanic and ive asked a few and none know. my car runs fine but just blows my mind why there "stuck" when i try turning with hand

 

hey also.... i bought a stainless steel brake line kit from RC and it came with 3 lines?? sorry if dumb question like i posted earlier i know nada about brakes!

 

ok even in park with the wheels off the ground you can still spin the wheels so you got something thats locked up that wouldn't allow you to drive...

 

If you have full time 4wd you will need to put the t-case in neutral if the front wheels are on the ground

 

Im not quite sure if I know where your coming from....but yes my car does drive but when its lifted and diff covers off and wheels off and jacked up....the axles do not spin nor do the gears....There is some play...Turns mayb 2 inches each way then stops.

Why did I only get 3 brake lines btw anyone?

 

2 lines for the front and one for the rear it t's off at the rear diff

 

Thanks dude and Im pretty sure i dont have full time 4x4....But i figure ill just put car in neutral while its on floor and roll it until shaft bolt is on outsde then park and lift and go from there....That should work right guys?

 

I think I know what wrong, if you have both wheels off the ground you have to turn both wheel forward or reverse at the same time which requires 2 people, one on each wheel. If you just turn 1 wheel the other wheel should turn the opposite direction.

 

That does make sense, I am not questioning you but...why would it not spin at DS though? and like I said earlier why would it feel like its locking up at the tcase...? That does make sense what you said though