My cv axle boot tore and I have been driving around like that. Long story short, I do not have the time to change it out right now but is it possible to remove it completely and drive still. Or does the axle shaft help hold the wheel bearing together?

 

It will take a decent amount of work to take the old one out and another 5 minutes to put a new one in before you put it all back together. No sense in not putting another in.

The bearing is pressed into the hub and the hub is bolted to the knuckle so I don't think it really matters if the actual shaft is present.

 

I was planning on cutting it out and pulling the halves out seperately

 

When I replaced the other side. I had to unbolt the upper arm and it was a few hours long by myself. However, I cut the old one out and removed it in 10 minutes.