Driving with rear shaft removed

I removed my rear shaft to do some work on the carrier bearing and left the truck in 4hi

When I went to move the truck forward the truck just starts and dies...I tried several times


Any idea what’s going on?

 

It ain't got no gas in it.

 

Parking brake.

 

Parking break released? I know it most likely is but I gotta ask

 

Standard?
At?
The rear diff might be locked?

 

No idea but reminds me of a buddy of mine in high school in the 80s who broke his rear drive shaft in his K5 Blazer while off-roading. He didn't want to tell his dad what he'd done so he removed the rear drive shaft and drove it around that week in 4wd; after school he searched for a similar year K5. The next weekend he went and procured himself another rear drive shaft. I know, it's a terrible story and a horrible thing to have done but back then we laughed about it and what the poor fellow who lost his must have been thinking when he went to drive off only to find his drive shaft missing.

 

The fuck? You mean he just stole some guy's drive shaft? Instead of going to a junkyard and buying one for $50? What a douche...

 

It should start and drive fine. Driven mine 8hrs without it. There ain't no sensors checking to see if it's there.

 

Yep, totally uncool but one of those stupid things high school students do. This was back in the mid '80s so that Blazer was probably only two years old so parts were still expensive. He was one of those dudes that would have rather spent his money on party supplies.

 

Yup +1 not one single issue over an entire weekend with my rear shaft out driving around town in 4hi.

 

Hm it’s a automatic

I put it back in 2wd and it was fine


Also I’m completely stuck doing the u joints


1 u joint I cannot get out and another one I think I screwed up install

 

A ball joint press is a life saver for u joints if you have one

 

That’s what I’m using. One of the caps is seized and then I started pressing one new one in and somethings messed up.


Also I put the truck In 2hi then back to 4wd and everything is FINE now

 

Clean the parts of the yoke and shaft where the u-joints get pressed in. Edit to add-clean of rust/dirt/shit/etc. A bit of oil or run a dab of grease around helps smooth things out as you press the cup as well.

Also make sure the needle bearings are up against the side of the cup when pressing in. Sometimes a dab of grease in the cups will help hold the needles in place. If one was out of place and you forced the cup in, you might have to buy a new u-joint.

 

Yeah I think I may need a new u joint


The problem I’m having is the inside of the u-joint hits the inside of the drive shaft before the cap comes all the way out....so the u joint is kinda just “stuck” in there

 

So you're still trying to remove?

Once you press the old one out as far as you can, just put a big set of vise grips on the exposed cup and wiggle it out. I've used a little heat and oil to help, but it's not always required.

*note. I consider U-joints disposable, so whenever I pull them out I replace them.

 

I finally got them removed!! Old cap was stuck but I was able to get it...I was replacing all 3

Here why my new spicer wouldn’t go in properly

 

Been there, done that. It may not be kosher, but clean it out really well, repack the needles with new grease and borrow a roller from your old u-joint if there's one that's in good shape.
It's not the best solution but I did it years ago and it worked. OR you could buck up for another new one.

Your mileage may vary......