1997 TJ 5-speed front seized up

[v8blakdak]

Parked my 1997 TJ with 220k miles a month ago, was totally fine off-roading in 4x4 etc. it’s been super cold, today I went to move it, and the rear wheels spin but the fronts locked up in 2wd. Jacked the front diff and the wheels spin by hand, but the driveshaft does not. I unbolted the front of the front driveshaft and bungeed it up to move the jeep a couple 100 feet, drove fine. The front DS seems to not compress in or out (slip joint?) does this sound like a front diff issue or DS issue ?

 

[Chris]

If it was working fine before you parked it and you went off-roading prior, I'm wondering if you didn't accumulate a bunch of mud and debris in your front driveshaft (and elsewhere) and it's frozen up due to the cold weather. Did you wash the underside thoroughly with a pressure washer before parking it? Is it parked in a garage or outside?

 

[v8blakdak]

It’s parked outside under a awning, last offroad trip we did a lot of wheeling in deep water and mud and sand (all my breather lines are extended)

 

[macleanflood]

Wrap your front diff in an old electric blanket or put it in a heated shop.

-Mac

 

[Ashim]

If the front wheels spin by hand with the front of the front driveshaft disconnected then I'd say the front differential is fine. Can you turn the front yoke of the transfer case by hand?

 

[v8blakdak]

If the front wheels spin by hand with the front of the front driveshaft disconnected then I'd say the front differential is fine. Can you turn the front yoke of the transfer case by hand?

Seems like I can’t turn

If the front wheels spin by hand with the front of the front driveshaft disconnected then I'd say the front differential is fine. Can you turn the front yoke of the transfer case by hand?

the transfer case yoke spins freely by hand, the yoke on the front diff does not (jeep is on the ground) I can try spinning it with the front tires up in the air

 

[Ashim]

Yeah, front tires need to be off the ground to turn the yoke on the front diff. The fact that you can turn the yoke on the transfer case means it should be OK.

 

[Ashim]

Is the double cardan end of the front driveshaft seized up?

 

[v8blakdak]

Is the double cardan end of the front driveshaft seized up?

Not sure I still have the driveshaft attached to t case just bungeed up since it’s off the front diff

 

[v8blakdak]

Seems like the slip joint on the driveshaft is completely siezed, if it was binding it was locking up the front end so much that the jeep wouldn’t move. The yoke on the front axle and the tcase spin freely with the shaft removed so looks like il be getting a tom woods DS