Are my hubs working right?

[90Xjay]

I was under my jeep this week, installing a new exhaust manifold and I removed the front drive shaft to get my hand up the to the lower manifold bolts. When I was twisting on the drive shaft it turned and I noticed that my left front tire would turn. I am out of 4WD, no light is on and the last time I was in 4WD,last weekend, I shifted back to 2 high and drove in reverse about 20 feet or so and the light went out. Isn't the wheel supposed to spin free and not turn the drive shaft?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

If you have no vacuum disconnect on the front axle (TJ and some XJ's) the front left tire will turn in that situation. Nothing's wrong. It may even turn if you have the vacuum diconnect, but less likely. It's parasitic drag and the effects of an open differential.

Mine turns all the time, since the front diff is welded solid.

 

[90Xjay]

Thanks BH, I was just wondering if that was normal or not. Sometimes I hear a noise, like a pump motor coming on and then going off for a few seconds, the only thing I can attribute it to woud be the vacuum motor under the coolant tank near the firewall. I am in the middle of installing a 3" lift kit, (back done, waiting for time to do front), and I aim to check the line for leaks down to the disconect on the front axle.

best regards.