Bad Idea dropping rear wheel and converting 4x4 to front wheel?

So It sound like me Deferential is about to explode and parts around here are scarce. So I am looking at some limp by options. Also I am a little hesitant to fork out thousands because im on a time line to have something that drives.

Can i drop the rear axel and run just front wheel drive with it in "4x4" mode? Is there going to be any long term problems or will this make it more difficult in the long term to replace the Deferential? I'm hoping this will buy me time to order in a used deferential and possible do the work my self.

 

It depends on what's messed up in the diff.

Yes, you can completely remove the rear driveshaft and drive in 4x4/front wheel drive temporarily without causing an issue, but if there are broken gear teeth in your diff or bad bearings, etc, you'll still have issues with those.

You could also remove the drive shaft, then pull your rear axles at the hub enough to remove the third, then reattach the rear hubs to the housing, but then you're driving around with a wide open axle housing. Not ideal either.

 

I'm asuming you mean remove the rear driveshaft?

That's not going to help you if the rear diff is toast as it's all still going to be turning with the rear wheels.

 

That wouldn't work for a number of reasons, but what you could do is pull the 3rd, pull the carrier, unbolt the ring gear, and then reassemble.

 

You cannot do this. The third member actually supports the axle shafts. These are not full float axles.