Front Drive Shaft Question

[1qik4]

I have a 1997 XLT with AWD. Can I remove the front driveshaft and be ok driving it around. Please let me know, someone. Thanks.

 

[wyochimneysweep]

yes you can. some will say that when in park without front drive shaft in it will row. i dont buy into that cuz i had a trailer with a 1500 chevy on it and parked on a slop and no roll

 

[1qik4]

Thank you

 

[wyochimneysweep]

the 87 shelby a turbo 2.2l or turbo 2.5l?

 

[1qik4]

Originally a 2.2L intercooled turbo. It is now heavily moddifed with a '90 2.2L VNT motor.

 

[IZwack]

It will crawl over a long period of time (say overnight) if you dont set the parking brake (or the parking brake is weak).

 

[Cobraguy]

yes you can. some will say that when in park without front drive shaft in it will row. i dont buy into that cuz i had a trailer with a 1500 chevy on it and parked on a slop and no roll

Why would you compare this to a Chevy drivetrain?

Besides, we don't allow language like that on this forum...

 

[gijoecam]

Why would you compare this to a Chevy drivetrain?

Besides, we don't allow language like that on this forum...

LOL!!

Indeed, due to the design of the viscous coupling in your transfer case (V-8 AWD, NOT the Control-Trac A4WD behind the V-6's), with the front driveshaf removed and the transmission in park, motion can be transmitted through the transfer case. With no front driveshaft, there is no opposing force to hold the vehicle in place and, therefore, it creeps downhill.

If it doesn't creep, the transfer case is shot.

-Joe

 

[wyochimneysweep]

. i dont buy into that cuz i had a trailer with a 1500 chevy on it and parked on a slop and no roll

how is that comparing it to a chevy drivetain????? i had a trailer with a chevy on it and parked on a hill and it never creeped down the hill. if the vicous heats up and then transfers power to the front how is it going to hold if it cold?

 

[gavin]

how is that comparing it to a chevy drivetain????? i had a trailer with a chevy on it and parked on a hill and it never creeped down the hill. if the vicous heats up and then transfers power to the front how is it going to hold if it cold?

transfer cases are not the same.

without the front d-shaft, it will roll. I know; I had my front d-shaft removed multiple times, most recently for a couple months. It WILL roll on a steep enough incline.

Why? Because without the front d-shaft, you only have 70% holding force (output is split 30/70?).

Did the Chevy have AWD? No. Chevy pickups did not have AWD. There is a difference in the design/workings of the different t-cases.

 

[coondog491]

wow! use your head! He just said the chevy was ON the trailer. not on the ground. ON the trailer! he was saying that the explorer had extra weight trying to pull it downhill.

 

[gijoecam]

yes you can. some will say that when in park without front drive shaft in it will row. i dont buy into that cuz i had a trailer with a 1500 chevy on it and parked on a slop and no roll

wow! use your head! He just said the chevy was ON the trailer. not on the ground. ON the trailer! he was saying that the explorer had extra weight trying to pull it downhill.

I understood what he meant, but his argument is irrelevant. The simple fact of the matter is that without the front driveshaft installed, the torque applied to the rear driveshaft while in park is not fully opposed in the transfer case. With the front shaft removed, the front output of the transfer case can and does rotate ever-so-slowly. That's what allows the vehicle to creep downhill.

Again, unless the AWD transfer case in his truck is bad to start with, it will creep.

-Joe

 

[1qik4]

Thanks all!! I am going to give it a shot. I do hope its just my driveshaft.

 

[gavin]

what's going on with your truck?
lots of clunking/banging/thunking type noises, that appear to come from the front-end?

if this is the case, then chances are very high that the grease in the cv-joint at the t-case end of the d-shaft dried up and shot the bearings.

 

[1qik4]

No noise, just a pretty decent vibration. Feel it post at 40-50 km/h. But it is there at any speed.

 

[gavin]

No noise, just a pretty decent vibration. Feel it post at 40-50 km/h. But it is there at any speed.

that's about how it starts out, and progressively gets worse.
good chance it's the shaft

 

[1qik4]

Well, I took out the driveshaft and still have the vibration. Not to happy about that.

 

[gavin]

where do you actually feel the vibe?
floor-board, seat, steering wheel....?
does the vibe seem to change at all when turning?

 

[1qik4]

I can feel it in my seat and in the wheel. No change when turning. Feel it most at 40-50 kms. WHen slowing from a speed greater you really feel when you hit the 50-40 km.

 

[CDW6212R]

Check the other u-joints, it can easily be a front axle CV joint.

BTW, the Ford AWD vehicles can and will roll without both drive shafts in them. They will not do it every time, but they will roll, as other have properly pointed out.

The answer is to park properly, as in use the parking brake every time. Keep the parking brake adjusted and use it, then you will never have the creeping problem. Regards,