my wife's S-blazer had a stuck vacuum switch at the transfer case, allowed vacuum all the time to the front axle acutator, probapbly saved it, had a bad axleshaft seal and alot of the oil was gone. if it was indeed disconnected the spiders would have been spinning away like mad in 2wd (normal) but with no oil, since the axle was "live"' the ring gear was slinging enough oil around to keep things lubricated. ive since done away with the transfer case vac switch and now have a valve to turn on/off the vaccum to the front axle. and i have 2wd low range capability now, just like in the ranger with manual hubs!