Can I pull the half axles in my 2001 XJ or would it damage the hub and bearings driving without the axles?

 

Do you mean the axle shafts?

Do not drive without the axle shafts

 

That's what I thought. Thanks.

 

If you leave the stub shafts in, yes.

If you take the stub shafts out too, then you can drive till the wheels come off.

 

Tightening the nuts preloads the hub bearings. They get "squeezed" by the nut and stub (2wd and 4wd). Without the stubs, the bearings will fail as they loosen up. You have a 4000 pound vehicle working against them. Those nuts get torqued to 175 lb-ft., btw. TIGHT.

Another issue driving without the axle shafts are the spider gears that were being supported by them can take a walk. You will be pulling the cover to put it back together. And if either get caught in the ring and pinion, not good.

 

I believe if you keep the differential shaft in place the side gears will remain where they are.

I would imagine in this Rube setup up you'd want to drain the gear lube tho. Then not engage the 4WD (like you'd want to anyway).

 

I Googled, and you may be right. They sit closer than i remember. Come to think of it, i believe what i was remembering was someone rotating the diff with the pin pulled, after pulling the axle shafts.

 

So why do you want/need to do this anyway?