Has anyone here driven without the rear driveshaft installed by engaging 4WD and using the front axle? Does it cause any damage to the drive line? I have a bent rear output shaft and would like to use the vehicle until I'm able to swap the shaft out. It's an NP231 and has the rear seal that keeps the fluid from leaking. thanks for any advice.

 

I have done it to get home in deperate situations but i would not recommend doing it all the time i am sure its not good for your front end or transfer case on hard surfaces.

 

You can't use 4 hi on dry pavement with the np231.

 

My advice:

Call a roll back truck to come and pick it up at the location this all happened. Have them transport it to your location for your repair or to your favorite repair shop for their repair.

There is such a thing as making a bad situation worse.

Around here, drive shafts in salvage jeeps go for a song. You should only be down for 1/2 day or a full day at most.

 

X2

 

If the output shaft is bent chances are the bushing and possibly the housing are already trashed anyway. I guess what your attempting to do is remove the rear driveshaft and drive it in 4 hi? If you decide to give it a shot let us know what happens for future reference.

 

i have done it and had to drive from NM to AZ like it. I have done it 3 times actually (stupid rocks)

its fine.

you cant use 4hi on dry pavement with both shafts. with one shaft it is fine

 

the only thing that sucks is you get torque steer around turns.... you pretty much have to coast a sharp turn

 

I've done it before for short distances and had no bad effects from it aside from the fact you will leak a LOT of transmission fluid out the back of the transfer case. I did at least.

 

Last trip out, my buddie blew his spiders in his 35
rear shaft spun, but the wheels dident turn of course.
drove it out of the trail, and down the road for like 5 miles to his trailer
it seemed to be OK in a emergency situation

 

that is because your transfer case has a seal on the output 95+ they have a different seal system that does not require the output shaft to be installed.

good point made

 

Great info, thanks gents.

I bought the car used a couple weeks ago and finally figured out where the vibrations were coming from. I'm hoping to buy some time to pick up a new tc output shaft, pull the case, and take it apart. What seems strange is that there are no signs of whatever screwed up the shaft alignment.....no knicks, dents, or kinks in the case or the bowed rear drive shaft.

First time doing work of this magnitude.

 

Drove mine for a week or two in fwd. np231 and it made my front end whine really bad. drove fine but use caution. do not recomend it but if its a need to do basis then itll be fine.