Well, it has been exactly one year since I opened this thread, and last weekend I figured out that YES, I can delete the front diff. Lol.
I've suffering from a noise from the front diff...read my post-->
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3018345#post3018345
After all the parts I've changed, I never find out what was causing the noise until last Saturday when my diff committed suicide.
I was driving in the highway and heard a tak! noise from under the car, like when you hit a rock or something hard. Check immediately to the rearview mirror and nothing was on the road.
I parked the xplo outside of a store and when I step out, I smelled the particular diff oil smell....ahhhhhhhhh there was my front diff oil on the parking lot floor!!!
Definitely it wasn't hit by a rock.
First thought it was the axle seal but it was coming right from the sticker the diff has on it. check pics.
When I peeled the sticker I found the crack
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/0/0/5/0/9/webimg/676094550_o.jpg
So, Sunday morning I was a the local u-pull junkyard looking for some cv axles to get just the outer cups, (I didn't want to ruin mine in case I go back to 4wd).
Disconnected the front diff from T case by removing the front drive shaft.
Removing both front CV axles and replacing them with just the outer cups to hold the hub all together.
If you don't do this, the hub will separate and big trouble will come.
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/0/0/5/0/9/webimg/676094585_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/0/0/5/0/9/webimg/676094645_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/8/0/0/5/0/9/webimg/676094669_o.jpg
If you are experiencing a noise in your front diff, I recommend a major build up, replace all your bearings.
I ignored the diff carrier and pinion bearings.
I didn't still have time to open my front diff, well it's still bolted in the xplo,
but from where it cracked, I believe one of the pinion bearings went bad.
Will post pics once I get my hands on it.