!!!! I Need HELP!!!!!! This is a very challenging question!

[ericautopart]

I sent a PM w/ a good price..still a lot of money for a truck w/ that many miles on it.

 

[williams.cory]

i know, i can't understand why they cost so much either. Thanks for the offer Ericautopart. But I can't afford that right now. I'm going to have to get away with one from the salvage yard for now. I will keep you in mind though, who knows a couple weeks down the road I might just end up buying a new one.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I sent a PM w/ a good price..still a lot of money for a truck w/ that many miles on it.

I've got 212k on mine and consider a new drive shaft much cheaper than a car payment. I'll put $10k in a rebuilt engine & tranny long before I buy a newer vehicle.

 

[williams.cory]

I got no problem paying that for the driveshaft. I'm not cheap or anything. But I have run into a bit of a finaicial issue Murphys law I guess, has to happen at the worst time pissible......

 

[Mbrooks420]

I hope your salvage yards are more reasonable that the ones here. They wanted around 200 for them.

 

[williams.cory]

I was going to ask, is it ok to drive without the front driveshaft on? Or will it destroy my Transfer case?

 

[ericautopart]

If you do go to a salvage yard just plunge the head around and make sure there is grease in there. Double check the u joint and consider replacing it while it's off since it's cheap insurance.

 

[Mbrooks420]

You can drive it just fine without the shaft. It will drift a bit, but even a piece of 2x4 will stop it. I used to stick a mallet under one of my front wheels, but now I just let it drift a few feet. I get my new shaft tomorrow, and then the beating of it will commence. At least it will save on my rear tires. They've been taking a beating lately.

 

[williams.cory]

cool. I'll be taking it off tomarrow. I was going to plan to just keep it on there and baby it until i got a new shaft, but its too hard to do that! lol. I am starting to really get addicted to the power this thing has!!! haha.

 

[JoeMahma]

cool. I'll be taking it off tomarrow. I was going to plan to just keep it on there and baby it until i got a new shaft, but its too hard to do that! lol. I am starting to really get addicted to the power this thing has!!! haha.

Please keep us updated on this. If it turns out to be the transfer case don't junk the truck! Buy a used one. They are super easy to put in too. Hope it's just your drive shaft though. Good luck.

 

[williams.cory]

Please keep us updated on this. If it turns out to be the transfer case don't junk the truck! Buy a used one. They are super easy to put in too. Hope it's just your drive shaft though. Good luck.

I thought you had to take the tranny out to access the transfer case? I will keep all of you guys posted on what happens. I appreciate all of your help and suggestions.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Nope, the transfer case bolts to the transmission extension housing with 6 bolts. Pull both d shafts, and the 6 bolts, and out it comes.

 

[williams.cory]

Wow, and all this time I thought that you had to take the tranny out with it. Well glad to know that if it is my t-case then I won't be scaping it after all. I just have to find a used one somewhere.

 

[JoeMahma]

T.C. is really easy. You have to take the console out too and gain access through the removable plate in the floor to get to the top bolts. Took my son and I like three hours to remove and replace and that was including going to get coffee and parts.

 

[williams.cory]

I havn't gotton around to taking that front driveshaft off yet

How exacly do you take it off? Do you just inder the bolts on the front and back and it just drops out?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Pull the caps off the front u joint, and remove the 6 bolts. Then push the d shaft towards the t case, and it should come right out. You don't have to pull the center console is you have smaller hands, or a fair amount of tools.

 

[williams.cory]

Just got done taking it off. And that front driveshaft was my problem!!! what a relief!!! I was worried there for a couple days. But I want to leave the shaft off, but won't that burn up my t-case? I know some people says its ok and others say its really bad for it. There just a part of me that says I should put the d/s back on. Any input? And by the way, I wish my explorer was always 2wd! I was peelin out and man its got some power! I would have such a ball with it if it were 2wd! lol

 

[Mbrooks420]

Was the drive shaft visibly, or obviously bad, or did the noise just go away? I really don't think it will hurt the t case. I drove for several months without one, and then several months with one in, and the t case worked as it should. I've got 150k, and have been plowing with it for 3 years. Plus I do a fair amount of log skidding, and snow wheeling, so my t case has seen it's fair share of abuse.

 

[williams.cory]

did you spin the wheels a lot with the d/s off? Or did you take it easy? If I spun the wheels a lot would it burn it out?

 

[Mbrooks420]

I did a lot of accidental spinning, but no super burnouts. My mudders only have about 1,000 miles on them. I certainly didn't take it easy. I think the spinning flange on the t case would take a lot less stress with no shaft than turning the front diff, and an axle shaft.