Driving without front differential?

[freak]

2000 Explorer 4x4 4.0 OHV.

My front diff is making a growling noise and I fear it is in need of bearings. Is it ok to remove it, the half shafts and the front driveshaft and still drive it? I know some wheel bearings need the halfshaft to stay together so I thought about getting some old halfshafts and taking them apart and use the wheel bearing end only. I ask because I need the explorer for a trip and I don't have time to do a rebuild on the diff right now.

 

[Turdle]

yes-
as long as you have a stub shaft in the hub -you can drop the front diff and drive shaft for 2wd operation. This will work for an indefinite fix if you choose

Or, the front diff could be left hanging I guess, but if it was me I would pull it so I could tear it apart in my free time.

 

[freak]

Cool! Thank you!

 

[freak]

Finding stub shafts is proving to be difficult!

 

[KPT]

Its just the outer part of the halfshaft. Do what you were talking about in the first post.

Find some junkyard halfshafts, remove the outer boot and it'll just come apart.

 

[Turdle]

^^or use your current ones-

 

[freak]

Its just the outer part of the halfshaft. Do what you were talking about in the first post.

Find some junkyard halfshafts, remove the outer boot and it'll just come apart.

Yeah I know what it is. I just can't seem to find any around the area.

 

[freak]

^^or use your current ones-

They're brand new! I don't want to take them apart!

 

[daddychris]

I am thinking of doing the same thing for money reasons.
I do not want to rebuild the diff right now, and have 2 slightly smaller tires to use on the front.
What do you have to do at the transfer case when you remove the front drive shaft? Anything, or just unbolt and leave it alone?

 

[freak]

Just take it off and you are good to go.

 

[daddychris]

pm sent

 

[techieman33]

just leave the transfer case alone. I've been doing this for a couple of months now with no problems while I look for parts to go to a true 2wd setup.

 

[freak]

Did your diff go out or are converting for other reasons?

 

[techieman33]

Did your diff go out or are converting for other reasons?

I'm converting because I want 2wd. My mountaineer is a street truck that is much more likely to see a drag strip than a gravel road. So it just makes sense to me to dump that couple hundred pounds of extra weight.

 

[freak]

If you were closer I'd be driving right over to beg the diff from you!

 

[techieman33]

If you were closer I'd be driving right over to beg the diff from you!

It's already been sold

 

[daddychris]

guys,
i'm getting ready to do this right now and came across some stuff saying you'll only get 60 some percent power to the back wheels, could burn up the transfer case, etc

Any truth to this....the vehicle is 1999 and is constant AWD

thanks

 

[techieman33]

guys,
i'm getting ready to do this right now and came across some stuff saying you'll only get 60 some percent power to the back wheels, could burn up the transfer case, etc

Any truth to this....the vehicle is 1999 and is constant AWD

thanks

yes and no. It is a possibility but there have been people running for long periods of time without their front driveshaft in place with no problems, myself included. Without the the front driveshaft it will give all of the power to the back tires. I made back to back runs at the track once with and without the front driveshaft and the times were within a tenth of a second. Telling me that without the front shaft in place the rear axle was getting all of the power.

 

[daddychris]

tech,
you had the constant AWD as well?

 

[daddychris]

Alos,
did you remove the front diff as well?