My Front shaft U joints are toast, going to pull it and have it rebuilt.

Couple of questions:

1. Does it hurt the truck in any way to be driven around with the front shaft removed? Do I need to plug the hole in the Tcase?

2. What is the procedure for removing the shaft, and reinstalling it? Do you need to mark the locations and ensure they are the same when you reinstall it?

It looks to me like 4 bolts on the Tcase flange and 2 bolts on the diff Yoke....wondering if its as simple as that?

Thanks for any advice.

 

1.) No, and probably (if any fluid leaks from the hole), but I think there is still a flange installed on the front side of the t-case so you shouldn't have an open hole.

2.) Just pull the bolts and slide it out, i usually don't mark the locations but I guess you could do that if you like.

3.) Just pull the bolts out, and slide the shaft out. I don't remember if dodge uses 12 point bolts but if it is 12 point, use a 12 point sockets.

 

be careful dont let the truck roll while working on it you dont want to get hurt. do block the tires good, so it wont move. i just dont want to read that you got hurt.

 

Yes, the removal is very straight-forward - first, mark the location of the shaft at the t-case flange and at the differential. Remove the 4 bolts that hold the front U-joint into the differential and the remove the 4 bolts at the T-case flange. Driving around without the front driveshaft installed is just fine.

 

Without a front driveshaft you will get better mpg actually. But you don't have 4x4 so that's a big minus

 

If his t-case and such are working properly, removing the front driveshaft will reduce weight a bit, but, that is the only advantage it has. You won't notice any improvement in MPG.

 

merc drove around for a couple weeks without a front ds and he said he got 1-2 more miles

 

No I had no axles in the front diff thats what I was talking about. Just like a part time kit, nothing turning but the stub shafts.

Op mark the mating surface to the DS at the xcase end and then the u-joint to the u-joint pinion yoke on the diff, then take the diff end off first, tape the u-joint caps on so they don't fall off, next let the shaft hang. This will put the bolts to the top on the xcase end making it easier to remove them from the xcase flange, just turn it for each bolt , 5/8ths swivel socket and a long extension for those ones.

 

Oh oops my bad, I misunderstood p

 

Which diff are we talking about? There have been a few times I did different things with the 44 and it had a locker in it so yes taking the front shaft out then did make a difference.