pulling the CV shafts

[skoal_mint]

if i were to take off my cv shafts with the diff fluid dring out, its on a 97 sport.

and when i was swaping out my ball joint, i tried to pull out the cv shaft becasue it was in my way, so i pull on it and it was just streching the boot, but didnt come out and i thought i would rip it.

will it snap out if i pull it hard enough

 

[Skibug]

Get under the truck and pry between the cv and the axle with a pry bar or large screw driver. Right where the shaft enters the housing is where you need to pry. If you have a Hayne's Manual etc... it describes this procedure. There is a lock ring on shaft to semi lock it in there. No need to be pulling on the shaft.

 

[Ray Lobato]

That's funny, when I blew out my drivers side CV on the Rubicon, it just came right out with hardly even pulling on it.

 

[skoal_mint]

ok thanks....will the diff fluid drain out?

 

[Skibug]

If the fluid level is up to where it should be, you will get a small amount of fluid that leaks out when the shaft is out.

 

[Hartman]

My drivers side always comes out fairly easy, but the passenger side is a *****.

 

[skoal_mint]

ho so i wouldnt be about to ride the truck with the botch cv shafts off...i wonder if i pull the shafts off and the jackshaft the connect to the diff, then i should be fine...unless the transfer case will leak fluid too

 

[gijoecam]

ho so i wouldnt be about to ride the truck with the botch cv shafts off...i wonder if i pull the shafts off and the jackshaft the connect to the diff, then i should be fine...unless the transfer case will leak fluid too

No, you can't. Your front wheel bearings are held together by the outer CV joint. Without it, the bearings will walk apart, and eventually, the front wheel(s) will attempt to continue the trip without the rest of the vehicle in-tow.

 

[skoal_mint]

isnt that that the three bolts are for

 

[Hartman]

isnt that that the three bolts are for

easier said than done, the front axle is a ***** to get out, and even worse getting back in.

 

[skoal_mint]

ok so hears what i want to do...i was just going to take the cv shafts off and run the truck, but fluid leaks out of diff

so i was thinking of taking off the jackshaft that comes from the transfer case and goes to the front diff off then run it like that, with the cv shafts off too so. that way the gears aint moving so they wont need fluid..

then when i trade the truck or sell it i was going put everthing back on..

So will the diff leak fluid too, because it just looks like its bolted on with 8 bolts or more i dont know

 

[gijoecam]

isnt that that the three bolts are for

No. The three bolts alone won't stop the outer flange from walking out of the inner bearing. The three bolts hold the bearing assembly into the upright, but the stub shaft on the outer CV joint holds the bearing together.

Here's a pic of it after I pressed apart to see what makes it tick:

As you can see, without the outer shaft in place to hold it together, you're relying on friction to hold the flange into the inner bearing. Without the stub shaft from the outer joint clamping the assembly together, it will separate.

And, yes, because of the way it's designed, the diff will leak. If you removed the front driveshaft, and the halfshafts, but left the outer joints in place to hold the bearings together, then, yes, you would be able to drive it, but you would want to fashion a pair of caps for the axle housing ends as the gear oil would tend to slosh from side to side anytime you took a corner, or freeway off ramp (or parked on the shoulder of a street, etc).

 

[skoal_mint]

ok, i think that pretty much says it...i'll leave them on, Thanks