Rear diff questions

[msggunny]

Ok, so first off let me make sure i am on the right track.

On an open diff, with one wheel off the ground it should rotate freely.

Correct?

So here is the deal. i was adjusting the brakes on Saturday and had one wheel up in the air and was trying to rotate it to set the brakes. It wouldnt turn more than 1/16th or so, i thought it was my parking brake at first but confirmed that it wasnt that or it being in gear.

I tried rather hard to get it to spin, but it wouldnt. This seems like either a "Locker" or something else is in it.

I then got tired of dicking with it and put the entire rear in the air and low and behold both tires would rotate, but in opposite directions like with an open diff.

Could something be up with my spider gears? I dont want to pull out the diff as it works fine right now.

No weird noises, no ratcheting, no jerking while turning.

Any ideas?

[jimfoo]

One wheel should be able to turn when it's jacked up, e-brake on or not, with an open diff. With a posi, I believe wheels will turn in opposite directions when both are jacked up, both in the same direction with a locker. There were some rare traction diffs in Rovers from way back. Could be you have some kind of posi, maybe a True Track or Quaife. A broken bit would cause the diff to appear as locked, with both wheels spinning in the same direction, and they could only be turned with it in neutral and no e-brake on.