Can I run with the rear drive-line removed?

[MillerR]

I found that my carrier bearing is toast. Thought I could just pull the rear dive-line and run front wheel drive, but when I pulled the front half off the transfer case, a little fluid came out of the end of the yolk. Can I run like this (short term) of course, or will I be losing fluid out the back of the transfer case? Thank you for your expertise...

 

[Mingoglia]

If the driveline has a slip yoke, and not a CV the fluid is "held" in there with the slip yoke. It's common in the Jeeping community, which is my frame of reference to just toss a rag in the hole to drive short distances in front wheel drive. The only thing of concern is that you don't run it dry. So for a "short" distance, you should be all right. Definitely use this "recommendation" at your own risk.

On edit: I just realized you mentioned your carrier bearing. I assume here you're talking about your rear diff carrier bearing? If that's the case, removing the driveshaft won't do anything as that will still spin when the vehicle is moving. You could remove the rear axle shafts because the axle is a full float, and the wheel rides on a hub, and not the axle shaft. This could be done for short distances with the "rag method" in the end of the axle tube as the rear axle has fluid all the way to the hubs. I've done this before myself. Emphasis on short distances though....

 

[MillerR]

Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology. What I mean by carrier bearing is the bearing with a rubber housing that mounts between the two pieces of the rear drive-shaft and "carries" the union of those two pieces. Is that not the correct term? Yes, the front piece that connects to the transfer case has a slip-yolk which has a rubber seal around it, so I gather that holds the fluid in. By short term in my first post, I meant a couple days until I could get a repair or replacement, so I guess that's not a good option in this case. Any opinions on pros and cons of switching to a single piece rear drive-line? Thank you again...

 

[Tuesdak]

Spray paint can caps appear to fit the rear driveshaft transfer case seal and some duct tape will keep both dust out and oil in. Risk is high for this to leak and ruin the transfer case via lack of oil and that is the only concern with doing this.

 

[MarkEkberg]

JDoremire beat me to it.

Just seal up the hole and as long as your not driving 100's of miles you should be fine.

 

[Bob4x4]

One of the guys in our chase team in Baja lost his rear driveshaft.I grabbed a nitryl glove and some duct tape to get it up and running.We stopped and checked the transfer case fluid periodicly it made it just fine from central Baja to LA with out issues-some of the Miles per north of 100mph

 

[Billy]

Very interesting