2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission A Question

[Dodoro]

I am wondering if when i remove the rear driveshaft for a u-joint R&R could I drive in front wheel drive ????

A friend's Ford did. cool:



It would only be used for 1 or 2 days. My front driveshaft was rebuilt this past spring, but now is the time for the rear.



Thanks guys

Dave

 

[monkeyman]

I was at work once and dropped my drive shaft. Drove home with front in 4WH. Had no problem, but it felt strange!
Rick

 

[Dodoro]

Thanks Monkeyman. I needed to hear from someone else that has already tried it.



I thought it would work, but then i started to over think the drivetrain process and I became doubtful.



I'll pull it out in the morning to have the new joints installed.

Dave

 

[JKreiss]

I did it once back in high school in my old power ram, but that was just to get it home off the trail. I wouldn't reccomend it but it all depends on how far and how it'll be driven. Let us know how it turns out for future reference.

 

[Missouri Mule]

It doesn't sound like good idea to me! In an emergency yes but to drive it for a couple of days, no!

 

[Skydiver]

Dodoro, with you being concerned enough to get valuable tips from others means you are THINKING. You can do it. Just be safe while turning.



When I was 25 years old I purchased a 1972 beater F-250 4x4 with a hopped up high compression 428. It had slick rear tires. I found out how good 38" slicks would hook up on new asphalt. I was driving off road a mile from home. When I got off the muddy trai and back on the new asphalt I did a power brake in 2nd gear. Made tons of blue smoke from the rear tires. Felt real good. Felt so good I just had to do it one more time. The now warmed up slicks did not spin nearly as good as my first burn out . All of a sudden I heard a loud snap. I Broke the left rear axel. I also found out the previous owner had welded the ring gear. I drove it home in 4x4.

 

[AClayton]

I've had similar experiences with that of Skydiver in my high school and college days with the overwhelming urge to raise He!!. Of course,they were all the 3/4 ton Chevy's with solid axles. Our newer Rams certainly have the beef with our 1 ton running gear and transfer cases but it does seem the older trucks of the 70's held up better during mistreatment.



I once blew my driveshaft in 10th grade in my old 74 Blazer and didn't have a lot of money... . so I ran on my front axle for about 4 mosOf course being young and STUPID,I was able to do the serious front wheel drive burnouts and that alone was enough for me to slowly get the truck running in rear wheel drive again.



Anyway,to get back to your question... . the answer is NO for our Rams because they have slip yokes instead of bolt-on yokes like the older trucks did. What that means is:If you pull out the driveshaft,transfer case fluid will drain out and ruin your unit.





Alan

 

[Skydiver]

Yea,,,AClayton You are right. I forgot about the leaking fluid.

As long as you always go up hill in reverse it would work. LOL

 

[Dodoro]

AClayton i didn't even think about the output yoke. And thanks to everybody else for their input.



I guess I'll just bite the bullet and put it in myself.



Man I hate changing U-joints.

 

[MarkMiller]

Do yourself a favor and buy a balljoint/u-joint press. Not too terribly expensive and makes life MUCH easier. I have a snap on BJP and it is great but I use it all the time, it was about twice as much as an OTC or Astro Pneumatic. Make sure that it has the correct adapters to fit your ball joints. Lots of heavy truck parts shops carry or will order the tool for you. Or you can order it yourself online through someplace like tooltopia.com . I like the snap on kit because I could stand there and ask the snap on guy if it came with the adapters for my application and to change u joints. I also broke two units and just met up with the snap on guy and got a new one under warranty.

Since you own a ram you will be doing ball joints sooner or later. I can also change u joints in minutes.

BTW, clean out the cap bores in the yoke and put a little anti-seize in there. The next change will go really easy.