Driving without front driveshaft-okay?

[IndyXJ]

Just wondered if it hurts anything to drive without the front driveshaft on the street. I think it's okay, but wondered about you guy's consensus. After the replacement of several front parts for maintenace/age purposes, I still have the high pitch ringing, which is intermittent of course. Due to laziness, I haven't removed the front DS yet, but will tonight or tomorrow and see if that is the culprit. If so, just gonna remove it and if I wheel, just put it back in until a permanent fix is available, either a new shaft or rebuilding this one at a shop.

[Fred]

won't hurt a thing, alot of peolple drive eith out it and just have 2WD, probably no one here, but people do it.

[gmbtj]

You might even pick up a few extra MPG's. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/brows.gif

[mawardjr]

As long as it isn't a full-time t-case like the 249, you'll be okay.

[IndyXJ]

Why would the 249 matter? I know it's an always on 4wd system, but just curious. On the 231, since I have and SYE, I know I can remove the rear ds without fluid loss, unlike a nonmodded TC.
At any rate, removed it. Took a blunt hammer blow to free the diff end, but it than came out fine. Went for a drive, noise still there. Rear DS is a brand new High Angle Driveline shaft from July. It's not a "squeak", but when it' happens, a high pitch. Call me crazy, I think my rock rails might be vibrating at various times. Oh well. I'll take out the rear and try again tomorrow, cuz after that, I'm at the end of my mech ability if it's the TC, Tranny, diffs!

[BillM]

No possibility it could be the front DS. Mine did that and I had the joints in the double carden changed.

[Suzjeep]

The stock front drive shafts make that lovely sound because you can't grease them. Whenever everything locks up in there, it will make that sound. Worse when it is cold/damp. Mine right now sounds like Santa's sleigh. The kids sing, "Just here that driveshaft dingling...ring ding dingalin do!! Come on it's lovely weather for a driveshaft together with you!!" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Um........because of my mud fettish I'm on number 3!!

[BillM]

dang Suz. I took mine to a drive shaft shop and they pulled the shaft, installed new ujoints in the carden and even made the ball joint greasable. All this cost me about $100-120. And the ujoints are greasable so i can just do it to it when needed.

[Suzjeep]

[ QUOTE ]
dang Suz. I took mine to a drive shaft shop and they pulled the shaft, installed new ujoints in the carden and even made the ball joint greasable. All this cost me about $100-120. And the ujoints are greasable so i can just do it to it when needed.

[/ QUOTE ]
Holy Crap........the guy here wanted a buttload of money ($550) to do it!! I really need another shop!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Paul E]

Or learn to do it yourself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[BillM]

Heck Suz ship it to me with some money and I will get it done and ship it back....would STILL be cheaper.

[mikea]

[ QUOTE ]
As long as it isn't a full-time t-case like the 249, you'll be okay.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's been a while since I had my 95 grand with the 249. doesn't it have a hi lock range? If so you should be able to run w/o the front shaft in hi lock.

I had a 79 ramcharger with the full time 203 case and ran it all the time with the front shaft out and in hi lock range.

[Suzjeep]

[ QUOTE ]
Heck Suz ship it to me with some money and I will get it done and ship it back....would STILL be cheaper.

[/ QUOTE ]
That would be awesome. Ask him how much he would charge to fix a stock DS with regreasable "zirts", etc.

[Suzjeep]

[ QUOTE ]
Or learn to do it yourself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, when they were working on replacing the wheel cylinder on my rear brakes, I changed the u-joint in my rear driveshaft in my suit from work!! LOL The new guy at the shop was freaking out and asked the owner, "Uh...that lady is out there in a pink suit with grease all over her hands!! Is that okay?" hehehe The guy just said, "Oh ****, she's always like that!!" LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gifFigured it was easier changing it up in the air than on my back on the ground!!

[Dave Taylor]

I spent 4 days last week driving the opposite setup....

I was awaiting my new rear double cardan CV Driveshaft to come in after my Ford 8.8 swap; so I didn't have any rear axle propulsion.

I drove in front-wheel drive mode; and I can tell you that it is quite scary doing so on the highway or around town with an auto-locker in there. Every steering movement, every gear change, ever acceleration; and the locker tried to grab and jerk the wheel one way or another....

Glad to be back to rear-wheel drive again on the highway. The Detroit Locked rear has been quite suprising; very well mannered and about as un-noticeable as my old Powertrax was... I think the folks who post war-stories about the poor driving characteristics of detroit lockers don't know what they are talking about....or are used to driving a honda instead.

[Marlon_JBT]

[ QUOTE ]
I spent 4 days last week driving the opposite setup....

I was awaiting my new rear double cardan CV Driveshaft to come in after my Ford 8.8 swap; so I didn't have any rear axle propulsion.

I drove in front-wheel drive mode; and I can tell you that it is quite scary doing so on the highway or around town with an auto-locker in there. Every steering movement, every gear change, ever acceleration; and the locker tried to grab and jerk the wheel one way or another....

Glad to be back to rear-wheel drive again on the highway. The Detroit Locked rear has been quite suprising; very well mannered and about as un-noticeable as my old Powertrax was... I think the folks who post war-stories about the poor driving characteristics of detroit lockers don't know what they are talking about....or are used to driving a honda instead.

[/ QUOTE ]

hehe, front wheel drive Jeep. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hee.gif

[gmbtj]

Im guessing it was in four wheel hi.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[scrambled]

I agree with ya Dave the Detroit is awesome.

I ran my CG with the Full time case without a front driveshaft. Just make sure you are parked on level ground because with it removed it will roll even in park. Man those 5.2L's will burn the tires up in Two wheel drive!

[BillM]

Sorry so long on the reply Suz. I will call and see what new joints on each end and zerks in the double carden will cost ya.

[Don]

[ QUOTE ]
No possibility it could be the front DS. Mine did that and I had the joints in the double carden changed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bill.... I am confused /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif.... nothing new, I know /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif How did you know that you had a problem with the front driveshaft and carden, versus a problem with u-joints on the axle shafts? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[BillM]

I jacked it up in the front and grabbed the DS and twisted it. I could hear the joints squeal with out even getting the tires to move. They were just a lil dry. Went through too much water since I bought it. Plus I had just helped a friend diagnose his problem. Had this terrible squeal in front. We took is front shaft out and could not even move the carden joint around. He had the same driveshaft shop replace the balljoint type center unit in the carden and both the ujoints in the carden. And all is good. When you start getting that squeal from a joint just raise it up and start turning the wheels you will hear the sound and then you just follow your ear. You wil know if it is the outer shaft joints or the DS.

[BillM]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Heck Suz ship it to me with some money and I will get it done and ship it back....would STILL be cheaper.

[/ QUOTE ]
That would be awesome. Ask him how much he would charge to fix a stock DS with regreasable "zirts", etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I called today Suz and he said to replace all 4 unjoints on the front DS with ones that have zerks in them (flush mount), it will be $65 plus tax. How's that grab ya?