Ermmm not sure that’s right.....

[Simon Goldsworthy-Hill]

Hi all....

So quick question, I was replacing the steering ends yesterday and brakes, had the car jacked up on both sides. I put it it in first gear so that I could undo a wheel bolt with the impact wrench. However, whilst the near side wheel was ‘in gear’ the off side was still free wheeling..... I feel that is not right and there may be an issue there.....any clues?

 

[Wudy]

If both wheels are in the air then the differential will allow rotation to be transferred between each wheel.
Both wheels should be free to turn, if one wasn't the brake could be binding or something.

 

[Simon Goldsworthy-Hill]

It was in gear....

 

[Wudy]

It was in gear....

Being in gear only stops the drive pinion of the differential, this would mean you can't push both wheels in the same rotation at the same time (or push the car while it's on the ground).
But with both wheels in the air if you rotate one wheel, the wheel on the opposite side should rotate in the opposite direction. That's how the differential works.