P38 confused?.........

Hi guys am I losing the plot? if I put my P38 auto in neutral with hand brake off I can roll the car a little way, but if I jack the car up then jack up the axle, it feels like its in gear with the wheel rocking on the prop shaft (not held by the brakes)? Changed the brake pads and wanted to check if they were binding.

As far as I understand, putting it in neutral just disengages the engine from the transmission, so wheels are not competely free to rotate.

This is why you shouldn't tow an automatic.

thanks that makes sense, wonder what will happen if I put a fuse in 11?

boyracer46 said:

Hi guys am I losing the plot? if I put my P38 auto in neutral with hand brake off I can roll the car a little way, but if I jack the car up then jack up the axle, it feels like its in gear with the wheel rocking on the prop shaft (not held by the brakes)? Changed the brake pads and wanted to check if they were binding.

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It's 4 wheel drive, there is no proper centre diff just a viscous coupling so all 4 wheels are effectively connected together. If you jack up one front wheel, it should just be possible to turn it with a lot of effort, if not the viscous coupling is shot.

Makes no difference if it's in gear or not, nor does putting fuse 11 in. Don't forget also the handbrake works on the rear prop drive.

boyracer46 said:

Hi guys am I losing the plot? if I put my P38 auto in neutral with hand brake off I can roll the car a little way, but if I jack the car up then jack up the axle, it feels like its in gear with the wheel rocking on the prop shaft (not held by the brakes)? Changed the brake pads and wanted to check if they were binding.

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You cannot just jack up one wheel and turn wheel to do this, (check for bind). You have to have both wheels on the axle off the ground. All four wheels are coupled by the transfer box. If you jack up one rear wheel you will not be able to turn it at all, unless the other rear wheel is lifted clear of ground. If you jack up one front wheel you should be able to turn it slowly with great effort, this is the method used to check that the viscous coupling is not siezed. It is difficult to check for bind as when you turn one wheel the opposite one will be driven backwards. Unless you had a cylinder that was very difficult to return you should not have any bind. Put vehicle on a slight slope and release brakes it should roll. If it does that is good enough.

garioch43 said:

As far as I understand, putting it in neutral just disengages the engine from the transmission, so wheels are not competely free to rotate.

This is why you shouldn't tow an automatic.

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Not sure how L322 is set up, but for Classic's and P38's if you put transfer case in neutral you can toe them for ever.

Datatek said:

Don't forget also the handbrake works on the rear prop drive.

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This is the crucial bit, cause the brakes act on the transmission it will rock to the extent of any slack in the props etc. Not like a normal cars handbrake that locks the actual wheels.