Front differential problem, disconnect axle to 4x2?

on an 02 Taco Ext Cab 4x4, 2" lift with 1" wheel spacers, 32" tires

Front diff binding and lurching in 4x4 and 4x2 also. disconnected front drive shaft, still bad ratcheting motion. Debating whether to pull axels to get back on road til more time and $ arrives for complete diff repair/replace. Full repair gonna cost bigly . Concerned to remove axle/ outer retaining nut as l think that just leaves press fit holding wheel in place( plus bolted rotor in caliper). Even thought of running a heavy bolt/ washer/ nut through splined hole to draw tight together in place of axle. Anyone ever make a 4x4 to 4x2? Just looking for safe driver til resources come together.
Thanks!

 

axle holds the bearing together. You wold have to have 2 outer cv joints to put back in it to drive.

 

hey thx, makes sense. loosened outer cv boot but doesn't appear knuckle will separate w/o ruining it.( shafts aren't worn out either) .think like a solid 3/4" bolt slipped through and torqued could hold together? l have Plexiglas blanks cut to install on inside to keep water/ dirt out of bearing also. thx!

 

It may take a washer on the back side to catch the edge of the bearing.
Disclaimer: do this at your own risk. In no way I'm I suggesting you do this.

 

Agreed, gotta be 100% no risk. I have access to full machine shop at work, may get a friend to turn a threaded stub shaft to get solid job. pretty easy job for a full timer. Or just bite the bullet for the diff rebuild. thanks again for your input.

 

Can you buy 2 super cheap CV axles from auto zone and cut them apart? Gotta be cheaper than trying to make a blank even with free machine time.

 

maybe, super cheap is still $100+ per pair vs free machine time. gonna explore options.. I'll let u know what happens.. thx!