Hey guys, need to take my rear driveshaft to be checked/repaired. Can I drive my truck w/o it, it is a 4wd. I need my vehicle!

 

i wouldnt do it for long but it has been done...usually only for a few miles...

 

It would probably be safer and cheaper to just go rent a cheap car for a day.

 

Not a good Idea! I had a buddy that broke his rear end and we tried to get home (15 miles) on his front end, well we were going about 30 and his front end locked up! We went from 30-0 in a blink of an eye, I still have seat belt marks on my chest. I am not sure if it was the direct cause but it sure didn't help it any.

~HJ

 

You need to seal the output shaft on the transfer case as after you remove the driveshaft you will lose oil.
Why not just drive there carefully , pull out a wrench and drop it there and wait ?

 

i saw a guy drive a year in a tracker on only the front, but he was a drunk redneck...

 

I don't think it can lose oil. It uses flanges instead of going into the transfer case. Like a toyota or samuri. Could this be my chunk, or axle shaft???
I just think it would still vibrate because i have driven it w/o the rear ds in it. There was no vibe then. Logically, after replacing the u-j's, it has to be the ds. Am I wrong.

 

you cant lose oil on a 4x4 ranger.. it has flanges it bolts to off the T/C its not like a 2wd tailshaft...

 

I drove a mile or two with just the front driving when i had to pick up my driveshaft from the balancer. It worked, but i took it real easy and did not exceed 25mph. Tight turns did not work very well either.

 

would no recommend it at all

 

I know every vehicle is differant but I drove my toyota 20+ miles to the shop with the read driveshaft removed. Just put it in 4x4 and drove FWD under 40mph to the shop. No problems. He wouldn't inspect it w/o a rear driveshaft but thats another issue. It was also a manual.

 

I could have sworn that the owner's manual says it's OK to drive limited distances with the rear drive shaft removed. I think it was in context of flat towing a 4wd Ranger behind a camper (with the rear driveshaft removed) and Ford approving this for driving around the campsite or to the store on the front driveline alone.

Honestly, I don't see how this would be a bad idea. I mean, I might question the front axle's strength for doing smokey burnouts or turn-the-wheel-and-floor-it manuvers. The front end has to be strong enough to hold up to a stock truck up to GVW, so why can't an unloaded truck handle itself with only the front end?

Just throwing that out there...

 

On a similar note: One time we were out in my buddies k-20 chevy and blew the rear. We drove home about 10 miles in 4wd.