99 explorer sport 4wheel dr. can wheels attach with out the front diff ?

[Stephan baker]

i have no front differential been working on it for a while but it needs to moved. and i have have everything to re assembe the front end except the front diff. it being the last thing taken off im not sure where start without it.but i have to move it not far.about 1000 ft . just not sure how... any ideas?

 

[Hello folks]

. have the hubs, brakes and wheels reasembled to be moved on its "own"

Hello, what are you trying to say?

 

[410Fortune]

FYI without the front cv axles in the wheels bearings the wheel bearing will come apart and wheels fall off very quickly

 

[Stephan baker]

Hello, what are you trying to say?

i have no front differential been working on it for a while but it needs to moved. and i have have everything to re assembe the front end except the front diff. it being the last thing taken off im not sure where start without it.but i have to move it not far.about 1000 ft . just not sure how... any ideas?

 

[Turdle]

If you are only moving it 1000 ft, just bolt wheels to hubs and move it. Do not drive it like that though.

 

[Hello folks]

i have no front differential been working on it for a while but it needs to moved. and i have have everything to re assembe the front end except the front diff. it being the last thing taken off im not sure where start without it.but i have to move it not far.about 1000 ft . just not sure how... any ideas?

 

[410Fortune]

My stepson failed to torque the cv nuts on my old 2000 Mountaineer with two brand new motorcraft wheel bearings…. the truck made it about 2000’ before both bearings failed, I was driving it at the time had to tow it back home and buy new bearings

Be careful here you might want to bolt the cv axles in place and torque the nuts just to be safe. Maybe Jon knows something I don’t just rolling the truck around they maybe fine but having the cv flop around in there while you move it may also save your wheel bearing s

I recently cut a old cv axle so that we have a stub we can bolt into the bearings just for this purpose

 

[Hello folks]

I have done exactly the procedure you are contemplating. With all steering and suspension components securely in place and nothing actually connected per: front Drive Train you can move it either by pushing, towing or driving.
I have actually tied Half shafts and brake calipers up temporarily to move the vehicle. As the Spline ends mate with the Transfer case, the integral female spline receiver is sealed, you should not lose any Trans fluids. As I did this more than a decade ago, I am operating on memory.
The rationale is that you have essentially turned your vehicle into a 2WD, for the moment.
I recall having driven mine upwards of 30 miles in that condition.

 

[C420sailor]

Get some old CV axles and install the outer stubs. You need the stubs installed in order to properly pre-load the bearings.

Unless the bearings are shot anyway…then I’d say go real slow (a crawl) and see what happens

 

[J_C]

Hmm, I used to state the same thing, that you need CV axle preload on the hubs, but then I vaguely recall someone stating that they are factory preloaded. Might vary per manufacturer? Might just be that, that someone was wrong. Always safer to do it than gamble, though I'd expect you would be okay if you just crawled it 1000' so low stress, low heat.

Are these the original hubs? I'd be more inclined to risk it with the original hubs, thinking it's about due to have those replaced anyway.

 

[410Fortune]

Without the cv stub shaft in there and the nut torqued the bearings will fail very quickly I know because it cost me $$$$$$ for two new motorcraft unit bearings after my wheels almost fell off

 

[C420sailor]

^^ this is the man to listen to

 

[Fix4Dirt]

not wheels but same idea