Test Drive with Rear Driveshaft Removed?
#1
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wheatley Ontario, Canada.
Posts: 295
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Test Drive with Rear Driveshaft Removed?
Looking for some advise here. Can I do a quick test drive with my rear drive shaft removed? (4x4) I would only be able to remove the rear section.(2 piece drive shaft) Otherwise oil would leak out the t case. I would just do a quick run up the highway and make sure the turns are very wide so I don't bind the front axle. I am getting some highway vibrations (40mph +) in the steering wheel & gas pedal. Doesn't feel like tires? U joints,drive shaft center bearing, front hub wheel bearings, cv shafts all check ok. Drive shaft was balanced years back.I was hoping to rule out or rule in the rear axle and drive shaft.
Any thoughts on this.
Thanks
Any thoughts on this.
Thanks
#3
#4
.... yes it does. When the front is locked to the rear the outermost front wheel will have a very large difference in speed in relation to the inner most back wheel.
Since they're locked and have to turn at the same speed the front wheel won't physically be allowed to make as many rotations as it needs, but it still being "pushed" by the back of the truck. Not to mention it wants to go in a different direction than the rear wheels which are pointed straight.
These forces acting against each other cause the front drive train to bind up.
With no output to the rear it's just front wheel drive truck.
#5
#6
I don't think I'd drive over 35 mph with the rear driveshaft removed... all that power & torque are going to go somewhere... and I am fairly sure that the front axles aren't designed to handle that kind of operation.
I guess it's worth a shot... what are you trying to accomplish though? If you are trying to eliminate the drvieshaft as what needs to be balanced, you can bring it to a balance shop and have them test it out without any risk to you or your truck.
The front end will always bind when turning with too much traction... that is just a characteristic of 4wd.
There are a million and a half things that can cause vibration...
I guess it's worth a shot... what are you trying to accomplish though? If you are trying to eliminate the drvieshaft as what needs to be balanced, you can bring it to a balance shop and have them test it out without any risk to you or your truck.
The front end will always bind when turning with too much traction... that is just a characteristic of 4wd.
There are a million and a half things that can cause vibration...
#7
I don't think I'd drive over 35 mph with the rear driveshaft removed... all that power & torque are going to go somewhere... and I am fairly sure that the front axles aren't designed to handle that kind of operation.
I guess it's worth a shot... what are you trying to accomplish though? If you are trying to eliminate the drvieshaft as what needs to be balanced, you can bring it to a balance shop and have them test it out without any risk to you or your truck.
The front end will always bind when turning with too much traction... that is just a characteristic of 4wd.
There are a million and a half things that can cause vibration...
I guess it's worth a shot... what are you trying to accomplish though? If you are trying to eliminate the drvieshaft as what needs to be balanced, you can bring it to a balance shop and have them test it out without any risk to you or your truck.
The front end will always bind when turning with too much traction... that is just a characteristic of 4wd.
There are a million and a half things that can cause vibration...
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#8
#9
Front wheel drive cars are designed as front wheel drive cars. A 4x4 will move with the driveshaft removed, BUT I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT AT 40PLUS MPH!!!!!! I would only limp it home in an emergency IE broken u-joint.
#10
Unless you have a locker up front, you will have the exact same thing as a front wheel drive car when the rear shaft is removed. The reason for binding was expained above by GRNDPNDR, the front and rear both pulling means that when you turn their becomes a difference in tire trael between the two which would be the same result as having two different gear ratio's. With only one end pulling there will be zero binding. I have done this many times with my jeeps when trying to eliminate vibrations and there was no binding at any speed, or at any rate of turning.