Front wheels locked

Ok, Here is what the garage said caused the wheels to lock.
The differential was completely dry, no lubrication at all.
I understand it ruined almost the complete differential. So far about $2700.00 for repairs.
Bad part is I had a complete oil change a lube just before I left on the trip.
and informed the lube man to check the front differential as it may need some fluid.

travisc wrote:
Drop the front drive line and see what it does

I myself am not going to do any thing. the jeep is in the dealers shop about 3 hours drive from here. They are going to check it out as soon as they get new tires & wheels so they can get it on a rack.
I just told them to figure it out, and fix it.

The CV failure account sounds like the one I heard about here. Title was something like "Transfer Case Exploded."
I wonder what he's towing the Jeep with. I left our Toyota Tercel manual shift in gear once and felt it as soon as the Class C started to move.
He says the Jeep seems normal right now. The car that the scenario I described happening to me was a 10-year-old 1980 Corolla. Rear Drive, Front Disc/Rear Drum, Manual Shift, probably 125,000 miles. It drove fine "cold", either in the neighborhood or on the highway for the first dozen miles or so. When it cooled, it drove OK again. As hot as those brakes got, I don't think I replaced the pads or calipers, at least right away based on the brake-apply problem. The flex hoses, especially the front ones, can collapse internally and cause a caliper to drag, but I don't see the odds of BOTH failing and locking BOTH wheels at the SAME time. As I said above, I can see a caliper problem contributing to the fluid getting hot and applying both brakes IF the fluid can't escape back into the master.
In MY case the master had a fluid restriction. I HAVE seen mis-installed masters where the Booster pin went too far in, and I HAVE seen binding Brake Pedal Linkage. Anything keeping the master cylinder piston from going all the way back to the snap ring that holds the piston in.
If that Break Away is really connected to the Parking Brake, well... OK... but most of the parking brakes I've seen are about as effective at stopping a moving vehicle as dragging your foot.
If Break Away cable is in any way connected to the Pedal or the Front Brakes, it'd be a prime suspect. It doesn't have to lock them, only heat them up and block the fluid return to the master. At that point events would take care of themselves and apply the brakes like what happened here.

Drop the front drive line and see what it does

bshpilot wrote:

Jagtech wrote:
Sounds like your transfer case grenaded, caused by a failed CV joint. $$$$

if the transfer case or a cv joint grenades enough to lock up the front wheels he wouldnt be able to drive it afterwards (as he's said he's done).

This actually happened to one of our friends. Transfer case actually exploded, causing the front wheels to lock up intil it got stopped. Later, it would move in rear wheel drive only. He said the CV joint was squeeking before it happened, and neglected to do anything about it. This may not be the OP's case, tho/....

BTW - a tire pressure & temperature monitoring system (like the TST) would alert the coach driver to tire temps that were increasing (during skidding). I don't know how long the jeep was pulled it w/ flat tires but the TST system would have also alarmed when the tires started to drop air pressure.

Jagtech wrote:
Sounds like your transfer case grenaded, caused by a failed CV joint. $$$$

if the transfer case or a cv joint grenades enough to lock up the front wheels he wouldnt be able to drive it afterwards (as he's said he's done).

Sounds like your transfer case grenaded, caused by a failed CV joint. $$$$

Off Pavement wrote:
There was a fellow on here about year ago that claimed his toad would lock up the wheels in a turned condition on a "specific corner" he lived near if I remember correctly. I've never heard of the problem before or since, but it sounds possible you have discovered a similar issue. There was quite a discussion, but never a resolution...

Here is a link to the previous post about "Dragging A Jeep Unlimited Around Corners".

it looks like that guy was traveling w/ the KEY in the ON position & in the ignition.
jeeps build after 2010 (and some '09s) do not have a steering wheel lock and therefore don't require the key-on to disable the steering wheel lock.

it doesnt sound like the OP in this thread is putting the key in the ignition.

There was a fellow on here about year ago that claimed his toad would lock up the wheels in a turned condition on a "specific corner" he lived near if I remember correctly. I've never heard of the problem before or since, but it sounds possible you have discovered a similar issue. There was quite a discussion, but never a resolution...

Here is a link to the previous post about "Dragging A Jeep Unlimited Around Corners".