I have recently noticed some vibration in the front of the truck (2003 4x4 quad cab) I was informed that the half shafts were in need of replacement. The passenger was a little worse than the driver side so I figured I would do it first.. Wasn't too terrible of a process... Now for the fun!! When I got the new one it was really loose on the stub shaft end.. O I pulled it bak off and noticed that the splines on the stub shaft were wore down to almost nothing... I have checked for one at the local stores and they tell me that this item is a dealer only item?? So I guess my ? is, can I run my truck without the half shaft and not worry about the stub shaft coming out?? Is the stub shaft indeed a dealer item only?? How hard is it to remove and replace the stub shaft?? Sorry for all the ?'s... Any help is always GOOD HELP... THANKS

 

Yes you can run with no half shafts installed. But DO NOT shift to 4x4. It will grind. Rock Auto has the shafts for like 22 bucks each. The stub shafts should just pop out. They are held in with circular clips.

 

U can run with out the CV axle. They're a bitch to get off. Got to use leverage. I use a bar between the diff and axle and press with my foot , hard, it will pop off the stub stays in. You pretty mush have to disassemble the whole diff to get the stubs out. Anyhow. Getting em back in is a whole another animal. Its a fight.

 

You can get stubs at rockauto. Matter of fact I have a pair if you want them (free) perfect condition. PM me and we can figure out how to get em to you maybe C.O.D. I just rebuilt my diff so I got extra parts.I have an 04 1500 BTW. To get them out u gotta take the carrier out of the diff , then you can hit he end of the longer one with a hammer forcing it though to the smaller one hit it again to push out the shorter one then use a bar or a punch and that hammer to push the longer one back through the way it came. There will be reaistance till the clear the clip.

 

Scratch that. I miss spoke. You don't have to pull the carrier out but u do have to remove tgw large pin that holds the internal gears in. Its held in by a roll pin that can only come out one way. You have to knock it out with a hammer and punch. Then the center pin should pull right out. Leaving the center clear to force the stubs out. Or I'm sure you could jus pull the straight out if you can figure how to get some thing attached to it. The first way is better I'm sure.