so if i install a SYE into my jeep and i try to use my front DS for the rear but it doesn't work. will i actually be able to drive with just the front driveshaft while I'm in 4X4. just having fwd? i thought that i could until someone told me that i can't or tranny fluid will leak out..? anyone done this before or know if fluid will leak out of the transmission?

I would say this is a bad idea. When I grenaded the rear end on my 87 I put it in 4 wheel high just to limp home. Running it in 4 wheel all the time with no rear driveshaft will cause serious problems for you and is not recommended.

Why? Not trying to be a smart azz but I fail to see the reason
If its a 231 and your in 4 wheel part time you've removed the problem of both axles getting the same power. Your only powering 1 axle now.
If its a 242 putting it in 4wd full time it treats the axles like an open differential.
The chains are spinning all the time anyways.
Just wondering if I've missed something.

BTW this is assuming you've completed the sye. 231 or 242?

You'll be fine. I drove my Duramax for 4 days with no rear DS. Just seal up the tail of the TCase.

Doesn know what he's talking about

In a pre 97 x the fluid will leak out without a drive shaft. If you have an sye it won't, and on a 97+xj you can run without a rear driveshaft with a stock tcase without it leaking. The reason it will leak on a pre 97 without an sye is that the slip yoke was lubricated by the t case fluid. In 97 they switched to a greaseable slip yoke. With an sye on any year, the fluid won't leak.

i drove my 98 for 2 weeks w/o the rear ds ,nothing can leak out . when you remove your rear shaft if there is just a splined shaft sticking out it has a seal around it up in the tail housing.front wheel drive only makes it pull a little weird feeling when turning slow, other then that its fine. just shift it to to 4 hi & go.

I drove my ranger for months without a rear drive shaft.

oh okay thanks guys. thats what i thought. i wouldn't have no effect on fluid from the tranny. the guy who told me prob just wasn't familiar with 97+ cheros.

the t-case was changed over to the sealed output housing in 96...

i've run in "fwd- no rear d-shaft" a few times after snapping a joint on the rear d-shaft and it did just fine.. just me but i wouldn't do it for days on end but a day or 2 didn't hurt anything for me (mine was in a 96 XJ so it had the sealed tailshaft housing so no leakage issues) but if yours is a pre 96 i wouldn't do it

if its locked in the front its a definite no... cant steer at all

False

No matter what year your Xj is, if you have installed a slip yoke eliminator it will not leak fluid out of the transfer case with the rear drive line removed.

To answer your question - Yes, you can drive around in (4x4)FWD if after you install a sye a front shaft won't fit in the rear.

thankyou. lol yeah i plan on driving if i have to with the see already installed.

and my cheros a 98. not locked

Nope sure don't. Have fun ****ing up your Jeep though

Make sure you post pics when your t case explodes. Or wait I guess it's ok to drive in 4 high all the time. I'm assuming it's also recommended to go highway speeds in 4 high as well right?

Man this forum has really changed. Nothing but people bashing others. Sadly it wasn't always this way.