8 3/4 open diff, both axles rotate freely?

[koosh]

Moving on to my next project…69 Bee, 8 3/4 rear, what believe to be open third member. I picked up another third member (another open) to swap it out since going down the road there’s slight howling. I jacked up rear if car and put jackstands under the axle. Car is still in park. Removed wheels & brake drums. Grabbed passenger side axle and it will spin forward and backward. Went to drivers side, it will also spin forward and backwards? The driveshaft does not move. Being a rookie at this, I don’t understand why both axles could spin independently forward and backward without the driveshaft turning at all?

 

[khryslerkid]

What direction does the opposite tire rotate when you turn it?

 

[33 IMP]

If it's open (and yours 99% are,) turning one wheel with the driveshaft locked, the other wheel will turn too, in the opposite direction.
With a suregrip and a locked driv3shaft, neither wheel should turn.
Unlock the ds, with a sg both wheels turn the same direction.
In an open, you are turning the side gears and spiders, sg won't let you do that.

 

[koosh]

What direction does the opposite tire rotate when you turn it?

Opposite direction

 

[33 IMP]

Opposite direction

Open.

 

[koosh]

Open.

Yes, i understand that. My question was how both axles can turn with car off the ground and driveshaft locked in park.

 

[ruffcut]

post #3, spider gears allow for both to rotate

 

[koosh]

post #3, spider gears allow for both to rotate

So ya’ll are saying what i have is normal?

 

[33 IMP]

So ya’ll are saying what i have is normal?

Yup.

 

[koosh]

Thanks everyone!

 

[khryslerkid]

Yes, i understand that. My question was how both axles can turn with car off the ground and driveshaft locked in park.

 

[MoparMur]

That is a very good video.