Can't Engage any gears in 2WD!

If something was wrong with the rear diff or rear driveshaft, wouldn't the noises still be there even in 4wd? Since the rear is still getting power unless he were to disconnect the rear driveshaft and only have the front wheels powered

 

That's what I would have thought too. I only tried 4hi because I wasn't completely outta the road so it was my last resort short of pushing it to a safe place.

 

Exactly that way.

Depends. If the R&P is blown yes. If it's a broken shaft no. The front wheels will pull you and both rear tires will be spinning at the same rate so the broken shaft just rotates without making much noise. I don't know how the hell you could park it and break a shaft backing out of the driveway though. If the rear wheels both spin in opposite directions the diff and axles should be fine. If only one spins it could be a snapped axle.

 

So I might be able to do this test later tonight. Hopefully I'll post soon with the results and continue to have all your help

EDIT (instead of a double post): I feel like its likely the shaft or axle just based on the characteristics that I've been experiencing as well as the fact that it had a bad center carrier bearing when I bought it at 220k miles that I recently had replaced.

 

I'm thinking the pinion shaft collided with the differential carrier.

 

How would something like this happen?

 

Any update op?

 

Alright for those that said drive shaft, winner winner. I guess the whole thing needs to be replaced.
EDIT: the housing the holds the u join in the middle of both pieces of the driveshaft is completely worn down and stripped. Apparently that part can't be ordered individually so the whole drive shaft is being replaced. Now I'm going to go son in the corner.