ok, that's what I wanted to know. I figured drive wheel shouldn't spin independently. just didn't know for sure. and I pretty much did little to nothing on the minor overhaul. changed every seal on the tranny, and one differential bearing. that's all. had the casing cleaned somewhere so it looks good...and u know, I STILL think its the axles as well, but its just so hard to believe cus the pin in the middle of the differential that holds the differential gears in place is in the way it seems. the end of the axle seems to be hitting on that, so it cant go any further. I have the tranny taken apart again, and checked and everything was installed correctly, so it rules out tranny problem...so now im lookin at axles or clutch...P.S. whenever I turned the wheel of the side I "thought" I had seated correctly (the passenger side [it WAS flush with the tranny]), the differential didn't move at all.only the gears inside of it. I had car in first gear. I was trying to turn the other wheel to move that differential pin (that the driver side axle is hitting on the differential that I mentioned) so that it was straight up and down to see if the clip went in easier...but when I turned the "good side" it didn't move the differential at all...just those four differentil gears turned. any thoughts?