Can I drive my 4x4 without a rear axle?

I need to change the carrier bearing but don't think I can rely on someone else for a ride. Can I just put my Jshifter into 4x4 and drive using only the front wheels for traction? Is there a differential inside the transfer case or does it provide the same torque to the front and rear regardless of what's hooked up?

 

Don't take my word for gospel, but I have heard of people doing this when they've had trail failures and it drives just fine. You still need your rear differential installed but you don't need the rear driveshaft. So essentially it becomes a front wheel drive vehicle. There is no differential in the transfer case, the front and rear output shafts turn the same no matter what. I wouldn't do it for too long, but there are stories of people driving home from trips in FWD because of rear driveshaft failures.

 

Yes you can, remove the whole rear drvshft and put the transfer in 4hi, you'll be driving on the front tires.

 

Woot woot!!

 

Mark your rear driveline before taking it off. If not you'll be chasing vibrations

 

but remember there is a speed limit I believe it is 50 mph.

 

oh? why 50? i wont be testing this, im just curious

well, either way, its only to and from work for 1 day since I work at a machine shop, and there's only 1 1/2 mile stretch of 50mph road. the rest is all 25-40.

 

not too sure about that, there is a card on my visor that state it but that is in 4x4. don't know it this apply to just the front only

 

The speed limit in 4x4 is a recommendation as there is always gona be some driveline bindage and so they want you to keep speeds down. With rear axle removed that shouldnt be a problem. Our beater chev is front wheel drive only after we blew the rear end actually.

 

That's the max speed you can shift into 4WD at, not the max speed capable in 4WD.

 

Thanks, peeps. That's what I was figuring since my truck seemed to bind only when I was making sharp turns. That there was constant torque to each diff and the transfer case was essentially locked.

 

No prob, and remember without that rear driveshaft it won't bind. It'll be just like a FWD car.

 

Isn't that going to cause the front dif to bind driving on dry pavement? B/c there is a difference between pavement and a dirt trail.

 

Nope, it is just like when you only have the rear diff engaged because he'll be removing his rear driveshaft. The front diff is just an open normal diff, the binding is caused when there is a speed difference between the front and rear wheels from difference in radius while turning.

 

1 more question if you guys don't mind. My toyota tech buddy hasn't worked for toyota for several years, but seems to recall that the yoke/flange isn't bolted to the transmission.

Will the yoke/flange at the x-fer case output fall out and leak gear oil with the driveshaft removed? or is the yoke/flange held into the x-fer case by some lock/retainer?

 

the transfer case has a fixed yoke (i.e. no slip yoke like some of the Heeps). Pull the drive shaft and you'll see.

 

sweet. thank you muchly, sir!