If I was to be out in the middle of nowhere and I snapped an axle shaft in the front dana 30 is it possible to limp it home? Can it be driven with a broken shaft? I understand that it may cause more damage but I'm just curious if it can be safely done in an emergency situation. Thanks

 

What most guys do is take everything apart and eliminate the inner shaft.

You need an outer stub in to hold the unit bearing assembly together, or risk losing the whole wheel assembly. I carry a 2WD outer stub axle in spare parts when i wheel for this event.

 

x2. YOU MUST HAVE THE OUTER IN THE AXLE. that is no joke.

 

Ok, is it necessary to remove the inner, or is it removed just to keep from messing up anything else? I want to know if in an emergency with no tools (I always carry tools and spare parts) if I could drive on it as is with a broken shaft.

 

odds are you break a u-joint before a shaft anyways. i personally have never seen a D30 shaft break. its always been the u-joint.

 

Take out the inner. Like stated above it is usually the u-joint so the two shafts will be banging around each other and you take a big chance of bending the ears on the shaft and then it's useless. Put some duct tape over the end of the tube to keep garbage out so you don't ruin the gears and locker if you have one and to keep the gear dope in.

 

i drove home on a broken shaft. i broke a u joint and it took out both my inner and outer shafts. i didnt have the right tools to pull the inner so i wheeled 5 miles out of the woods and drove 45 miles home. the drive home was real loud but no other damge was done except what had already happened. i do not recommend doing this though