can i drive without a front axle installed?
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
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From: indiana
can i drive without a front axle installed?
basically i have a 1994 1500 4wd and i broke my front driver side axle. i can not find a replacement any place local. i was wandering if i can remove the axle completely and drive like this until i found one. i just dont know if it would put the front differential in a bind. i know i could not put it in 4wd. but i do alot of driving on the interstate. thanks
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: K-ville, TX
a little work is all...
the best thing to do so you dont damage any other front axle components is take out the other axle shaft and plug off the shaft openings with something so they will not be contaminated.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
so... are you wanting to disassemble the axle u-joint and keep the outer stub shaft, and bolt the bearing assy and stub shaft back into the knuckle.
i think it will work. as said above, plug the axle tube.
i wouldn't do it w/o disassembling the u-joint, otherwise the broken end of the axle is banging around inside the tube.
the passenger side is already a 2 piece axle
so as long as its disconnected at the CAD, and its in 2wd, then nothing at all in the diff is turning.
i think it will work. as said above, plug the axle tube.
i wouldn't do it w/o disassembling the u-joint, otherwise the broken end of the axle is banging around inside the tube.
the passenger side is already a 2 piece axle
so as long as its disconnected at the CAD, and its in 2wd, then nothing at all in the diff is turning.
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18
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From: indiana
so... are you wanting to disassemble the axle u-joint and keep the outer stub shaft, and bolt the bearing assy and stub shaft back into the knuckle.
i think it will work. as said above, plug the axle tube.
i wouldn't do it w/o disassembling the u-joint, otherwise the broken end of the axle is banging around inside the tube.
the passenger side is already a 2 piece axle so as long as its disconnected at the CAD, and its in 2wd, then nothing at all in the diff is turning.
i think it will work. as said above, plug the axle tube.
i wouldn't do it w/o disassembling the u-joint, otherwise the broken end of the axle is banging around inside the tube.
the passenger side is already a 2 piece axle
so as long as its disconnected at the CAD, and its in 2wd, then nothing at all in the diff is turning.
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,032
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From: Elk Rapids, MI
Yes, it can be done, but make sure the outer stub shaft is re-installed with the hub bearing nut at proper torque spec (175 ft. lbs. I am pretty sure), otherwise you wont get very far and your hub bearing will FAIL, which could resulting in some very bad situations.
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: indiana
i actually just left the nut on and pulled the stub axle out with the bearing assembly, removed the inner axle, cleaned up the shrapnel that was left on the stub axle, stuffed a rag in the axle tube and put it back together. since then i just got back from a 20 mile test drive and as you guys have stated everything went great with no problems. i posted an ad on craigslist a couple of hours ago and i had someone that has the axle for $50 and only lives about 20 miles from me contact me. im going to pick it up tomorrow. once again thanks for the help
