Driving a 4x4 without the front drive shaft?

[blue_kjR417]

Hey fellas,
I have a friend with a 2001 Dodge Durango. Its 4x4 and the front driveshaft UJ's are on their way out the door, he's having money problems and has to be able to drive back and forth to work daily. So, he can't afford to swap them right now. Would it be possible to remove the front drive shaft from between the differential and the transfer cases, then remove the UJ's from the shaft, then put the yokes back into the tcase and the differential so that everything was still sealed up and just not be able to use the 4 wheel drive?

 

[J-Thompson]

if it has a fixed yoke and not slip yoke at the t-case then yes
if not then no
IIRC it has a np241 so he should be good to go

 

[blue_kjR417]

if it has a fixed yoke and not slip yoke at the t-case then yes
if not then no
iirc it has a np241 so he should be good to go

iirc?

 

[jcbll95]

iirc..... if i remember corectly

 

[Uncle Krusty]

What jcbll95 is saying is correct.

The easiest way to tell if the T-case is fixed yoke or not is to look at the drive shaft.

If there is slip joint in the drive shaft, the T-case has a fixed yoke. Drop the drive shaft and you are fine.

If there is no slip joint in the drive shaft, it's a slip yoke design. If you drop the driveshaft, then there is a chance the T-case will "spit" out the yoke as you drive. The least of the problems then is the fluid leaking out...

I had the rear U-joint go out in an older Nissan 4x4 one time. With the fixed yoke, I dropped the rear driveline and was able to limp it around for 2-3 days as a front wheel drive.

 

[blue_kjR417]

I see, well thanks fellas!

 

[Marlon_JB2]

What jcbll95 is saying is correct.

The easiest way to tell if the T-case is fixed yoke or not is to look at the drive shaft.

If there is slip joint in the drive shaft, the T-case has a fixed yoke. Drop the drive shaft and you are fine.

If there is no slip joint in the drive shaft, it's a slip yoke design. If you drop the driveshaft, then there is a chance the T-case will "spit" out the yoke as you drive. The least of the problems then is the fluid leaking out...

I had the rear U-joint go out in an older Nissan 4x4 one time. With the fixed yoke, I dropped the rear driveline and was able to limp it around for 2-3 days as a front wheel drive.

That had to feel weird.

 

[blue_kjR417]

So after we pull it out do we just leave it in 2wd?

 

[Atrus]

So after we pull it out do we just leave it in 2wd?

If you're pulling the front driveshaft, yes - do not put it in 4wd. It'll be like he bought a 2wd durango.

 

[blue_kjR417]

If you're pulling the front driveshaft, yes - do not put it in 4wd. It'll be like he bought a 2wd durango.

Alright, thats what I figured. Just wanted to make sure! Thanks!

 

[Uncle Krusty]

That had to feel weird.

Did it ever...

The worst part was it was a Friday morning, and both the truck and I were committed to haul equipment for our local Boy Scout troop's camping trip early that same afternoon. Since I wouldn't be carring any of the boys, I pulled the driveline, locked the hubs, and through it in 4-HI...

It was a bit squirly sometimes, especially on the dirt roads. Any time I slightly spun a tire, the tire with traction would cause the vehicle to try to turn towards the tire loosing traction (no power steering either). I wasn't driving like I wanted to win the Baja 1000, but I was surprised some by just how much the driving of the rear axel helps stablize a vehicle. It was my first experience driving a "front wheel drive" vehicle though. Maybe it was due to the majority of the weight not being over the drive axle that made it more pronounced - I don't know.

I took it easy, and we had a great trip.

 

[05kj6spd]

4 wheel drive systems are setup quite the same as a front wheel drive so if you are driving on the front axle alone it does feel weird. I did it last year on a 4 hour trip back from Raush Creek after I snapped the bolts on my rear driveshaft. Very weird going down the hi way with the 4 wheel drive light and the cruise control light both on. Couldn't do more then 55 the entire trip.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Did it ever...

The worst part was it was a Friday morning, and both the truck and I were committed to haul equipment for our local Boy Scout troop's camping trip early that same afternoon. Since I wouldn't be carring any of the boys, I pulled the driveline, locked the hubs, and through it in 4-HI...

It was a bit squirly sometimes, especially on the dirt roads. Any time I slightly spun a tire, the tire with traction would cause the vehicle to try to turn towards the tire loosing traction (no power steering either). I wasn't driving like I wanted to win the Baja 1000, but I was surprised some by just how much the driving of the rear axel helps stablize a vehicle. It was my first experience driving a "front wheel drive" vehicle though. Maybe it was due to the majority of the weight not being over the drive axle that made it more pronounced - I don't know.

I took it easy, and we had a great trip.

That's how Front Wheel Drive behaves.