2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front Diff - can drive w/o axel shafts?

[Joe Mc]

Can the truck be driven with the front axel shafts removed? I'm trying to narrow down a rotating mass situation and have ruled everything else out.



Appears the bearing assy holds axel in place and hub nut holds axel to bearing assy. This "appears" to tell me the axels do not have to be in place to drive.



Think I have a bent shaft and need to be able to get them out . . . then get to machine shop for inspection / truing up if possible.



Thanks

 

[JJanetka]

The axle shafts do not have to be in to drive, but you'll have gear oil pouring out of the axle tubes unless you drain the front diff.

 

[JJanetka]

You'll also want to plug the axle tube ends so you don't end up with any crud in the front rear.

 

[Joe Mc]

I though it looked like they weren't needed. Cool Thanks.

 

[champspa]

check the concentricity at home with v-blocks and a indicator set the machined surfaces on the block and use the indicator to check run out.

 

[CumminsPower98]

Be careful. The bearing/hub assemblies are a press fit but in the end the axle stub shafts do hold them together so I wouldn't drive much if I were you and don't take any corners hard or you could loosen things up or worse fall apart.

 

[Nate]

No you can't drive without the axle shafts!



The outer shaft holds the unit bearing together. If you drive it without that, your wheels will fall off when the unit bearing splits apart.

 

[Dieselram]

WHAT NATE SAID. . YOU CAN NOT DRIVE WITHOUT THE AXLES SHAFTS IN. IN ANY TRUCK THAT HAS A UNIT BEARING FRONT END. Please Do no. when that bearing separates I feel sorry for you and anyone around you.

 

[CumminsPower98]

The only way to safely accomplish what you want to do would be to separate the outer stub shafts from the inners and then reinstall the stubs to hold the bearings together. Even if you did get away with driving a short distance with no axles the bearings would likely loosen up and cause damage so don't even try it.

 

[Bob4x4]

:-laf

That is correct. if you drive with out the axles in place the only thing to keep the wheel on will be the brake caliper. Kroeker did not realize this and spent the night camping out due to that scenario a couple years back.



Bob

 

[WDixon27]

my 2wd c&c has the same knuckles and hubs as the 4wd, it has splined stubs to hold the bearing together, best case running without axles would probably trash the bearings at $200-350 a piece, and worse kill you, running the outer part of the axle to keep the bearings tight should work, i agree with checking the axles with v blocks and a dial indicator

 

[Joe Mc]

check the concentricity at home with v-blocks and a indicator set the machined surfaces on the block and use the indicator to check run out.

Did this on old rotors last year and one side was 0. 008" and the other 0. 001".



New rotors and bearing assyemblies two weekends ago - still have issue - it's not balance as I have speed balanced tires and installed centramatics. Wheels are true, inspected on wheel machine. Last year new track bar, drag link joints and steering joints new also. Upper & lower ball joint right side new last summer. Left side fine. Going for alignment - again tomorrow.



Thanks



So it appears that the best thing to do is yank both shafts and get them to a machine shop to have evaluated. Thanks again.

 

[WVanHemert]

What you can do as some have described is cut two blocks with a V in it so the shaft won't move but can be rotated, turned.

Place the shaft in the two V blocks one at each end, and then using a dial indicator placed against the length of the shaft, turn the shaft 1 complete revelution, watching for needle movement and measure the run out, start at the center of the shaft and then check it at the quarters but that will give you run out on the shaft.

It won't check for balance however.

 

[GOT-Torque]

Hope you have better luck than me removing your hubs, I'm still trying to get those darn things off.



I went ahead and ordered news ones today @ $218 each so I can get violent with the originals (140k on them). My hubs and knuckles decided to merge together into one piece of iron.

 

[Joe Mc]

Hope you have better luck than me removing your hubs, I'm still trying to get those darn things off.



I went ahead and ordered news ones today @ $218 each so I can get violent with the originals (140k on them). My hubs and knuckles decided to merge together into one piece of iron.

SWEET! Not. Bummer.



Mine came right off with the tried and true power steering press out method. Guess I got lucky?