Hope I give enough info here...and that I've put this in the right section

The lower control arm mount on the passenger side of my diff broke when I was on the highway. Scary ****.

Found what I thought was a good deal, a new complete dana30 - 75 bucks. Has a brand new cv shaft on the passenger side. I get it installed, only to find out the pinion nut on the yolk is barely on and it flops around...and that the drivers side hub was completely screwed to the point my wheel was moving 2-3 inches. So a bad purchase overall.

I've done as much research as I can, and I want to know if I'm making a stupid decision here. I desperately need this back on the road while I fix and re-gear or replace my original dana.

To prevent the gears in the current diff from spinning for the time being, can I remove the axle shafts and just reinstall the stubs? Will it be safe? I know you definitely cannot leave these out, you will destroy the hubs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

 

Yes, run the hubs with just the stub shafts in them. Torqued to the correct vales, you'll be fine. That's how 2WD XJs work

 

Thanks salad, I will find some specs to make sure I torque it properly.

 

Yes it's fine. I have done it before. Stuff something in the axle tube openings, like a small rag or something, to keep debris out.

 

Yes I had to do that as I had a hard time with the U joints and couldn't get my diff out to change the seals lol

 

rugged ridge sells heavy duty weld on control arm mounts cheap.

 

My thoughts exactly - but I've ordered some from IRO. Along with a couple other things, I like to make our ridiculous tax/customs fees worth while.

 

did this with mine for a couple days after blowing both unjoints in the front and unhooked the drive line.

 

Those aren't that bad I've found, it's brokerage through criminals like FedEx and UPS that's the problem. Especially UPS!

Anything I've had shipped up from USPS turned over to Canada Post and there was no brokerage.