What does it take to go from 4wd to 2wd?

[X~FACTOR]

Okay, I'm all searched out.

What parts could I trash and what part I have to save to re-use?
Is there anything I need to plug?
Anything I need to purchase before tackling this job?

Thanks.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Okay not everyone answer at one time now...

 

[atlranger]

Buy a 2wd parts rig and swap the front end.

 

[Hartman]

Do the brown wire mod so you have a 2WD setting

You will need the following:
- 2WD spindles
- Inner and outer spindle bearings, dust seal, castle nut, cotter pin, and dust cap
- 2WD rotors
- 2WD ABS sensors

Remove the CVs and swap all those parts in. You can leave the front axle in or take it out, just make sure you leave it in 2WD setting. The harder way would be to take the front axle and transfer case out and swap in a 2WD transmission.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Thanks Hartman.

Can I leave everything in place and just pull the CV's out? What would happen if I do just this and not get any 2WD parts?

If I take the front axle out, do I need to plug anything that might leak tranny fluid? The same with the transfer case?

 

[Hartman]

Well you're a little confused. You cannot just pull the CVs out and leave the 4WD knuckles, etc. in because the CV shaft actually holds the bearing together. So, without the CV shaft in there to hold it together, unhappy things will occur. If you take the front axle out, you obviously have to take the driveshaft out as well, but you can leave the t-case in there as-is. You aren't taking anything out that will cause the t-case or tranny to leak fluid.

This is what I did when I swapped to 2WD briefly.

 

[gijoecam]

Okay, I'm all searched out.

What parts could I trash and what part I have to save to re-use?
Is there anything I need to plug?
Anything I need to purchase before tackling this job?

Thanks.

Okay not everyone answer at one time now...

Thanks Hartman.

Can I leave everything in place and just pull the CV's out? What would happen if I do just this and not get any 2WD parts?

If I take the front axle out, do I need to plug anything that might leak tranny fluid? The same with the transfer case?

As already mentioned, it's not a simple affair.

Which engine do you have? Aside from possibly needing to swap engine, trans, and transfer case, there's the front driveshaft, front axle, halfshafts, spindles/knuckles and front brake rotors that would all need to be swapped out, as well as the front ABS sensors for the 2wd you'd need to find (probably come with the donor spindles if you're lucky)... Then there would be the whole GEM and PCM reprogramming to deal with as well...

The whole thing is SO not worth it... An ad on Truck Trader is less than $20, and you can likely find one similar to yours in 2wd. It's way less work.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Well you're a little confused.

Thanks. I got it now. I'll try the Brown wire mode first and go from there...

 

[rhyno]

To answer your question, you can just pull out the front drive shaft. I did it on mine in the past when the trasfer case was locked into 4x4. I had it like that for months with no problems. Nothing else was removed and nothing will leak because of driveshaft removal.

 

[gijoecam]

To answer your question, you can just pull out the front drive shaft. I did it on mine in the past when the trasfer case was locked into 4x4. I had it like that for months with no problems. Nothing else was removed and nothing will leak because of driveshaft removal.

Not if he has a V-8, hence the reason I asked which engine he has.

 

[btimm86]

it take more time and money then its worth. but if you love your truck like i do mine then go for it. might as well swap in a solid axle while your under there.

 

[X~FACTOR]

To answer your question, you can just pull out the front drive shaft. I did it on mine in the past when the trasfer case was locked into 4x4. I had it like that for months with no problems. Nothing else was removed and nothing will leak because of driveshaft removal.

Hmm... that's interesting. So all the bearings stayed in placed?
I have V6 SOHC, btw.

 

[Hartman]

If you're wanting to swap to 2WD to get lower, pulling the front driveshaft won't help you much. You'll still be limited by the CVs up front, so it kind of defeats the purpose.

To be honest, the method I described above is not that difficult or overhwelming, all things considering. I swapped from 4WD to 2WD and then back to 4WD.

 

[oplitic]

Ironically enough X~factor, I was just about to look into this. I lowered my truck last year and want to just take out the front portion of the 4wd. I was gonna ask if it's possible just to pull the front end out and leave what I can. I just don't want to wear out cv's and have even more noise. Plus I think the cv's are what's making some of the noise when I drive. Not sure.

So, according to the thread so far, pull the front axle, driveshaft, unhook cv's etc. from wheels and anything else and it can work? Or is it too risky? Or did I read it wrong?

 

[gijoecam]

You read it wrong... You cannot pull teh CVs. They hold the wheels on.

 

[Hartman]

Ironically enough X~factor, I was just about to look into this. I lowered my truck last year and want to just take out the front portion of the 4wd. I was gonna ask if it's possible just to pull the front end out and leave what I can. I just don't want to wear out cv's and have even more noise. Plus I think the cv's are what's making some of the noise when I drive. Not sure.

So, according to the thread so far, pull the front axle, driveshaft, unhook cv's etc. from wheels and anything else and it can work? Or is it too risky? Or did I read it wrong?

Read my post above, you need to swap in 2WD parts.

 

[oplitic]

You read it wrong... You cannot pull teh CVs. They hold the wheels on.

I thought the control arms held them on? The wheels are on the hub, the hub is on the metal piece between the two control arms, shocks are holding the control arms, somethign like that.

The CV's don't 'hold' it. Just turn the wheel when in 4wd. That's what I thought.

Edit:
yeah, read it wrong. oops.

 

[oplitic]

You read it wrong... You cannot pull teh CVs. They hold the wheels on.

I thought the control arms held them on? The wheels are on the hub, the hub is on the metal piece between the two control arms, shocks are holding the control arms, somethign like that.

The CV's don't 'hold' it. Just turn the wheel when in 4wd. That's what I thought.

 

[X~FACTOR]

If you're wanting to swap to 2WD to get lower, pulling the front driveshaft won't help you much.

The main purpose is to go light weight as much as possible. Since I don't see much snow more than a couple of inches anymore, there is no sense of having 4x4. Never went off road. But, yeah, I want to go light weight as much as I can.

I have removed the front grill/bar, hidden hitch, spare tire, even shaved the rear wiper and mechanism. I definitely felt a difference in pick up power. There is definitely more to be had... just need to go light weight.

Rollpan is on its way. Plus I am venting the hood and adding the EE hood scoop. Anything and everything I could do to go light weight.

 

[5.0]

Is it possible to remove the the front differential, cv shafts, and driveshaft and then bust apart the CV joint and bolt the small splined shaft part into the hub assembly to keep the bearings together? He could keep his front bearings, spindles, and ABS stuff to save some $$$ on the project. This will work just fine on Chevy IFS trucks, and is often used as a "trail fix" or temporary fix when other stuff breaks, but I've never heard anyone mention it for our X's.