Wheels Turning in Neutral Normal?

[Pete112]

Hi,

I have my '76 on jack stands without tires since I was overhauling all of the brakes. In order to check the brakes with the booster on, I had the car running. Then I noticed as the car was running and in neutral, the back wheels (actually the hubs/rotors) were spinning very slowly. When I hit the brakes, they stopped spinning (proving my brake job went well ) and the car ran just the same. When I do the same thing in first gear, the car bogs down and presumably would have stalled if I stop them completely. Same result in reverse.

So I imagine while it's on the road, I won't even notice this symptom. But it struck me as odd and I just wanted to know if it was symptomatic of a bigger clutch, transmission, or throw-out bearing issue. Maybe the clutch should be adjusted?

[So Cal Mark]

normal

[mbouse]

a little disconcerting the first couple of times, ain't it?

just throw a leg or a body part under the moving wheel. it will stop.

[MNspiderman]

Its just the centrifugal force following through the drivetrain. Even though the tranny is in neutral, you have parts spinning round and round and they are simply moving the oil which is moving the other parts causing your rear axles to rotate. Totally Normal

[Pete112]

MNspiderman, that's really interesting! I love manuals, they are just so - manual

Thanks everyone! Good to know it's normal and to appreciate why it's normal!