4wd front shaft only??

[melmount]

If i remove my rear driveshaft for repair(balancing) can i drive the truck using 4wd but not have the rear shaft in?Just use the front shaft to get to the shop to balance it? It may be an hour ride there. Will that hurt things?

[HVAC SuperTech]

I dont think it would hurt things too awful bad, just dont be flying down the road at no 70 mph. I personally wouldnt go over 55-60.

[melmount]

thx.........

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by melmount

If i remove my rear driveshaft for repair(balancing) can i drive the truck using 4wd but not have the rear shaft in?Just use the front shaft to get to the shop to balance it? It may be an hour ride there. Will that hurt things?

The only thing you might hurt is, your front axle, hubs, or t-case. I say this because if you are dry pavement and have to make turns your front tires may grab the asphalt or cement and bind up. Which could cause something to break. Usually it is a hub.

I personally would not go over 35-40 miles an hour doing this.

I have done it but not for a hour drive. When my carrier bearing went out I took the rear driveshaft and drove home in 4wd. But I only had to go about 5 miles.

[Jake]

I wouldn't be afraid to even drive 70. I wouldn't flog on it much because the front driveline wasn't designed to be taking 100% of the engine power. But you shouldn't hurt anything. Turning shouldn't be an issue either because most front diffs are open.

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by Jake

I wouldn't be afraid to even drive 70. I wouldn't flog on it much because the front driveline wasn't designed to be taking 100% of the engine power. But you shouldn't hurt anything. Turning shouldn't be an issue either because most front diffs are open.

Yes the diffs are open. But the front axle is not designed to be driven in 4wd on dry pavement. If his tires catch grip during a turn then the hubs, diff, or t-case could become damaged.

Can it be done yes it can be. But should be used as a roadside emergency. When something breaks in the back. So you can get somewhere to repair what ever is broken.

[Jake]

Yeah, i would definitely be careful. I would turn very slowly so if it does start to catch you can stop before it binds up real bad. Straight line driving should be good though.

I think the ESOF trucks allow you to put it in 4 up to like 80 MPH or something so straight line it cant be too bad on it.

[Highbeam]

I've done it on Toyota trucks. There is no reason at all that anything would bind in the front end. It's an open differential and the rear end isn't attached to the TC. It is just like running in 2wd, your rear end doesn't bind up on turns does it?

The front end was never designed to take 100% of the engine torque so be easy on it.

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by Highbeam

I've done it on Toyota trucks. There is no reason at all that anything would bind in the front end. It's an open differential and the rear end isn't attached to the TC. It is just like running in 2wd, your rear end doesn't bind up on turns does it?

The front end was never designed to take 100% of the engine torque so be easy on it.

Um ok if you say so. But how about you go throw your truck in 4wd on dry pavement and make a turn. Then come back and tell me it does not bind up. Those tires grab traction on the asphalt or cement. Next thing you know you have a hub that is stripped out and broke.

I have been around way to long to know better. Heck my truck blew out a warn locking hub on wet pavement. I was in 4wd and made a left turn and I didn't think it was going to happen. Being it was snowing outside ice on the ground and the pavement was wet. But it did happen.

In my opinion it is not worth the risk of damaging something else while trying to get something repaired.

[oasis04]

Originally Posted by bigcountrysg

Yes the diffs are open. But the front axle is not designed to be driven in 4wd on dry pavement. If his tires catch grip during a turn then the hubs, diff, or t-case could become damaged.

Can it be done yes it can be. But should be used as a roadside emergency. When something breaks in the back. So you can get somewhere to repair what ever is broken.

Dry pavement binding up in front axle would only happen if the rear shaft is there. No problems driving it like this for an hr or more.
Brother drove a 8" lifted yota with solid axle and 35s for months like this