Driving Jeep without rear drive shaft

**Davetha** · 01-25-2009, 02:36 AM

I wreaked a u-joint on my rear drive shaft, and instead of replacing it, I've decided to get ride of my T-case drop, and get a SYE and CV drive shaft...

Now here is my question...

Is it ok to drive my Jeep without the rear drive shaft on, and put my Jeep in 4wd? I just need to drive to work and back, and possibly a pick up a few things etc..

Let me know. If its fine to drive lightly like that for a couple of days let me know. I can get a new u-joint and spend a couple of hours installing it tomorrow if I absolutely need to.

RogueSpear2023 · 01-25-2009, 02:56 AM

From what I have read its ok, but I have never done it. I know a few people that have drove long distances that way after they broke something on the trail, I would say you should be ok as long as you are easy on it.

**Davetha** · 01-25-2009, 02:58 AM

Yeah, I'm planning on only driving on the feeder roads. It would be only 150 miles at most, probably a lot less.

izanuff · 01-25-2009, 03:14 AM

You'll be fine

alecmcmahon · 01-25-2009, 04:05 AM

question regarding this ,

what about if you have a front locker ( aussie )

busted a u-joint on my front DS while on the trail yesterday and just pulled the drive shaft to get home, but what about pulling the rear if you have a lunch box locker in the front?

same applies? just take extreme care?

dz1087 · 01-25-2009, 08:33 AM

Well, you'll only have one drive wheel, so certain turns might be more 'fun' than others. It should still work for a little while. I've run w/o the rear for weeks at a time, just gotta get used to the Jeep pulling weird.

mrbillbrown · 01-25-2009, 08:39 AM

Search "drive in FWD". I got alot of great responses. I just did it for a few days. It drove a little squirelly in turns. I slowed down and was just more cautious to my rig. Everything seems ok. No I'll effects I know of. Do the search it was only a week ago at most. Lot of info there

BYuen · 01-25-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alecmcmahon

question regarding this ,

what about if you have a front locker ( aussie )

busted a u-joint on my front DS while on the trail yesterday and just pulled the drive shaft to get home, but what about pulling the rear if you have a lunch box locker in the front?

same applies? just take extreme care?

I've done it a few times. All times when I broke my rear ds... lol. Driving in front wheel drive with an Aussie is quite tricky and I really hate it. Just take it slow, shift softly and slowly, and hang on! lol It will jerk all over the place and can be quite scary at times since some of the jerking does occasionally send you in the direction towards oncoming traffic

I would think driving in front wheel drive without an auto locker would be almost unnoticeable.

For the OP, it is perfectly fine to drive with the rear drive shaft out. It would be the same as using 4hi on the road (when conditions warrant) except it would be better since the front and rear diffs won't be locked together thus causing no drivetrain binding at all.

troy.j · 01-25-2009, 10:06 AM

Done this with and with out the locker in a CJ5. With out the locker the jeep handled like normal. With the lockright is pulled at lower speeds with sharper turns (IE 90 deg or more), but went down the road fine with only minor pulling from time to time.

davecam · 01-25-2009, 02:13 PM

I have driven without the rear for a few days. works fine. I would be easy on the throttle and try no to go over 55. I found it most difficult when driving on wet roads. I ended up getting a spare driveshaft installed while the aftermarket was being repaired.

alecmcmahon · 01-25-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYuen

I've done it a few times. All times when I broke my rear ds... lol. Driving in front wheel drive with an Aussie is quite tricky and I really hate it. Just take it slow, shift softly and slowly, and hang on! lol It will jerk all over the place and can be quite scary at times since some of the jerking does occasionally send you in the direction towards oncoming traffic

I would think driving in front wheel drive without an auto locker would be almost unnoticeable.

For the OP, it is perfectly fine to drive with the rear drive shaft out. It would be the same as using 4hi on the road (when conditions warrant) except it would be better since the front and rear diffs won't be locked together thus causing no drivetrain binding at all.

thanks for the tip, hasnt happened yet, but im sure it'll happen someday, and the 150 mile trip home down the interstate will be a blast!

BYuen · 01-25-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alecmcmahon

thanks for the tip, hasnt happened yet, but im sure it'll happen someday, and the 150 mile trip home down the interstate will be a blast!

No prob. The interstate won't be too much of a problem b/c you'll constantly be on the throttle and there are no big turns. It's the stoplights, traffic, and curvy roads that will really getya when the locker locks and unlocks

mrbillbrown · 01-25-2009, 06:57 PM

He's right. Interstate and long straightaways I didn't even notice FWD. Turning sharply while giving some throttle caused the front end to kinda want to skip or bind or something. Just make wide easy turns or get some speed and coast thru the turn. That seemed easiest on the front end to me. HTH

**Davetha** · 01-26-2009, 01:06 AM

Ok quick question. I've been trying to look for the answer, but my diff fluid was Yellow 2 days ago in my front diff... since I'm using it now, the diff fluid already is starting to turn gray... it barely has a yellow tinge to it..

Should I be worried about this? I've only driven around 40 miles.

troy.j · 01-26-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davetha

Ok quick question. I've been trying to look for the answer, but my diff fluid was Yellow 2 days ago in my front diff... since I'm using it now, the diff fluid already is starting to turn gray... it barely has a yellow tinge to it..

Should I be worried about this? I've only driven around 40 miles.

as long as you dont have metal shavings i would say its normal