Drive shaft spins, truck doesn't move

Hawk601

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I have an 88 f250 7.3 idi 4x4. Today I was driving and the truck seemed to have went in to neutral. When I got it pulled over I saw that the drive shaft was turning while in reverse or drive. When the tow truck dropped it off, I put it in park but it tried to roll down my hill. Had to chock the tires. There was no noticeable noise from the rear-end when this happened. Any ideas?
 

Cubey

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I have an 88 f250 7.3 idi 4x4. Today I was driving and the truck seemed to have went in to neutral. When I got it pulled over I saw that the drive shaft was turning while in reverse or drive. When the tow truck dropped it off, I put it in park but it tried to roll down my hill. Had to chock the tires. There was no noticeable noise from the rear-end when this happened. Any ideas?

Sounds you have catestrophic pinion failure. That's what connects the driveshaft to the differential gears. Pull the differential cover and see if there's chunks of metal.

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Hawk601

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I forgot to add that it has 1 ton floating axles. I did put it in 4 wheel and it didn't move. But, I've only had it a short time and not 100% that 4 wheel was working before hand
 

Nero

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Sounds like your rear axle went kaboom boom
 

catbird7

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If it has hub caps obscuring view of rear axles, it could be as simple as missing bolts in one rear axle (assuming it's not a position).
 

Hawk601

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Could the transfer case or torque converter be shot and not allowing the wheels to move under load?
 

Cubey

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Just to clarify: the driveshaft is moving when the vehicle is at a complete stop and the transmission is in gear? If so, something drivetrain after the transmission is trashed. The driveshaft should only move when the vehicle moves.

If the above is true, with the diff cover off, do the differential gears inside turn with the driveshaft when the vehicle is stationary? Don't run it very long that way since the gears won't have their oil bath, but idling it for a 30 seconds probably won't hurt. If the gears inside aren't moving, it's the pinion or pinion yoke. If they are, it's either your axle shafts or something else in the differential.
 
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Nero

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So to clarify, you have an auto, when in gear, your truck doesn't move, but you can see the driveline spinning? That means the trans is working as it should. Your parking pin is in the trans, which also explains why it tried to roll away when you put it in just park.

Chances are you have a snapped pinion.
Your ring gear looks like it has lots of pitting in it too that's not normal.
 

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