transfer case and axle removal

[IxHolyFordxI]

Hello I have a 1998 ford explorer 6 cyl. 4.0 sohc 4 x 4 and want to know if my truck would be okay if I removed the transfer case and front axles ...because I'm not using 4 x 4 right now ...so yeah would my truck run okay without the axles and transfer case on ?

 

[obie]

No. The transfer case is connected to your transmission and is what the rear driveshaft is connected to. And if by front axles, you mean CV shafts? That I don't know. I'd guess that your knuckles would basically act like 2WD spindles, but I dunno. Not really worth trying to find out, honestly. You could always just remove the front driveshaft and then do the Brown Wire Mod to disable the Auto 4WD if you really want that. That will keep your transfer case in 2WD until you actually select either Hi or Lo range.

 

[IZwack]

And if by front axles, you mean CV shafts? That I don't know. I'd guess that your knuckles would basically act like 2WD spindles, but I dunno. Not really worth trying to find out, honestly.

The CV axle shafts can not be removed because its outer half (the part that splines into the hubs) is what keeps / clamps the unitary wheel bearings together. Without the CV axle shafts, the wheel bearings will eventually fall apart as the vehicle moves.

 

[obie]

Don't the 4WD have the sealed hubs too though? So if he took out the inner CV and kinda lopped off part of the outer CV he could still keep everything together and preloaded properly. At least that's how I pictured it in my head.

 

[IZwack]

Don't the 4WD have the sealed hubs too though? So if he took out the inner CV and kinda lopped off part of the outer CV he could still keep everything together and preloaded properly. At least that's how I pictured it in my head.

Yep that can be done - the outer section can be splined and bolted back to the unitary hub. But unless there was something wrong with the front differential that's preventing me from keeping the axle shaft, I would leave it as is - extract and then cutting/disassembling a CV axle shaft is probably not worth the effort.

 

[FIND]

wouldn't it be easier to sell your 4wd and buy a 2wd? 2wds are cheaper, you could even end up with some cash in your pocket...