On-road driving with front shafts removed

phxtoad · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:34 pm

I'm debating swapping out my worn-out front drive shaft assemblies for some of Al's JE Reel replacements.

What is the best way to temporarily seal the openings in the front diff and passenger side axle tube when you pull your front drive shafts? Plastic bags and rubber bands? Duct tape?

Any concerns with on-road (only) driving with these temporary seals? As long as I don't engage the transfer case, the front propeller shaft doesn't spin, right? I'm assuming the front diff fluid will be drained during this...

Thanks,

Todd

rs4mtnitro · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:16 pm

I don't think that is a good idea. I know on a chevy if the half shafts are removed the bearings will separate and the wheels will come off with the hubs.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:09 pm

When I broke my front diff, I drove the KJ without the front half shafts and without covering anything at all for about 160 miles? - drove about 50 MPH highway and streets without any problems. I would not recommend doing this unles it is an emergency.
I did not have problems at all - as long as both half shafts are completely out and you do not engage, you will be ok
as I said - this was an emergency so I did it with no problems - had to sign waivers to the dealer that gave it to me like that at my own request.

"your question: Any concerns with on-road (only) driving with these temporary seals? As long as I don't engage the transfer case, the front propeller shaft doesn't spin, right? I'm assuming the front diff fluid will be drained during this... "
If you MUST do it, go ahead, but I would not drive it more than absolutely needed.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:48 am

with jeep t-cases the front shaft does spin, just no power.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:15 am

USAFCOP wrote:

with jeep t-cases the front shaft does spin, just no power.

Not if you take the half shafts out. :wink:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:00 am

Quote:

Jeepjeepster

USAFCOP wrote:
with jeep t-cases the front shaft does spin, just no power.

Not if you take the half shafts out.

I'm agreeing with USAFCOP here,it will still spin,need to remove front driveshaft then you are okay.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:55 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

Quote:

Jeepjeepster

USAFCOP wrote:
with jeep t-cases the front shaft does spin, just no power.

Not if you take the half shafts out.

I'm agreeing with USAFCOP here,it will still spin,need to remove front driveshaft then you are okay.

What will be causing it to spin? The front driveshaft is disco'ed when in 2wd. The only thing that makes the front end spin is the front tires in 2wd. If the half shafts are out, the front end will not spin.

Jack up the front of your Jeep. In 2wd, you can turn the front driveshaft with the rear wheels on the ground. :wink:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:14 am

It turns just like the old clutch fans,the fan still spins(you can grab it and it will stop,but DON'T try it) even though it is "not" recieving power(clutch not locked).In the TC the coupler that locks to supply power to the front driveshaft works the same way so the chain the the front driveshaft will start to spin going down the road thus spinning the front driveshaft,it's just not getting any power.Remove both driveshafts and put in gear you will see both TC outputs will spin but you can grab the front output and it will stop(again I don't recommend trying to stop it,this is your safety warning).

DoverKJ · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:06 pm

With the front half shafts out, the front ds will not spin. The tc case disconnects completely the front ds when in 2wd.

If we had manual front hubs and could unlock them, the front shafts and ds would not spin at all. I've known several people (including my dad)that would have their 4x4's with floating rear axles and manual hubs(front and rear). They could put the tc in neutral, unlock the front and rear hubs and the only parts that would be spinning would be the tires, and hubs. Works really well if you wanted to flat to but not put any wear the rest of the drivetrain.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:44 pm

Many people do not know this, but the old cherokees used to have auto disco'ing front axles. Kinda like locking hubs, but it did it automatically by vacuum.

dgeist · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:33 pm

Some Ford torsion-bar setups (like full size broncos) had the same. It would engage with a little centrifugal force from the front drive, then you had to go in reverse to disengage (or something along those lines). Hubs had a lot of parts and most people ended up swapping them for locking units after wheeling awhile. Sometimes, going in reverse for 50 feet just isn't an option...

Dan

RFCRD · **Posted:** Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:01 pm

dgeist wrote:

Some Ford torsion-bar setups (like full size broncos) had the same. It would engage with a little centrifugal force from the front drive, then you had to go in reverse to disengage (or something along those lines). Hubs had a lot of parts and most people ended up swapping them for locking units after wheeling awhile. Sometimes, going in reverse for 50 feet just isn't an option...

Dan

My friend has the vaccuum lock hubs on his Ford Excursion PSD. They are not very reliable and he usually finds out the hard way, like when he has to back uphill out of a snowy driveway. Go figure, over 3 tons of truck and it can't go through snow. Atleast the Liberty goes through snow. :wink:

On-road driving with front shafts removed

Who is online