driving w/no front drive shaft?

[Truck]

I'm getting a little vibration from the front. I'm thinking it might be from the front drive shaft. I have to drive to Florida tomorrow. Is it okay to drive this with no shaft being as it has the NP249 (Full time 4WD) transfer case?

Truck

[korisu56]

I would say yes. Texcj7 has a power wagon with fulltime 4wd and ran without the front driveshaft for a few weeks. Didn't do any harm.

[02tj]

wont hurt it at all.

[Truck]

Thanks, I didn't figure it would but I'm not to familiar with the 249...

Truck

[H2_RECOVERY]

Om doesn't that transfer case have a viscous clutch in it? If it does it will burn it up!! Let me check my alldata! OK i CHECKED AND IT DOES HAVE THE CLUTCH. Here is what I found

This is a permanent all wheel drive or permanently engaged all wheel drive. All wheels are powered at all times. Vehicles with full-time all wheel drive are equipped with center differential which lets all wheels travel different distances while turning. This type of all wheel drive can be used both on and off road. In slippery conditions, center differential can be locked whether manually or automatically, depending on vehicle.

ok I could not find if it would damage it but I am not sure if I would go that distance on it.

[02tj]

The pump is run off the rear output, and will be fine.

[H2_RECOVERY]

The pump was not my concern. the viscous clutch is like a center diff in the transfer case. and the power will tend to flow where there is the least amount of resistance. I told Truck to drive it around first with the shaft off locally and if she feels like it is slipping to put the shaft back in. I know from working at Gm and the astro and safari vans with awd if one shaft is off the vehicle will not move. even on the old bravada. They all use the same t case the 249.

[Truck]

I drove it around to fill up with gas after I took shaft off and it drove but RPMs were higher then they should have been and speedo read about 1.5 - 2 times what it should. Although, I didn't get the vibration I was getting, so it is definately something in the front driveline. In any case I put it back in and we will see how it goes.

Thanks Mike.

Truck

[H2_RECOVERY]

No problem Truck. Glad to help out. :)

[NovaKnowledgeNow]

So you're having trouble with your front drive shaft too?.... hey...if you're not using it, how about loaning it to me!? lol. actually, truck if you could do me a favor and snap a picture of what your shifter cables look like when they conect to the transfer case, that would be awesome. I haven't been able to get mine lined up yet...

[02tj]

mine hasnt had a frt drive shaft in it for months now! no prob....... an I have a new V/C in mine!

[H2_RECOVERY]

Yeah with a new one you might not notice it as much.

[NovaKnowledgeNow]

I don't have the front driveshaft in mine, and it's driving horribly bad. It's extreamly rough, and I need to figure out why the shifter isn't matching up with the display console...

[NovaKnowledgeNow]

Ok.... I think I finally go my front drive shaft filed down to fit back in there... What kind of lubricant do I put on it? axle grease? is there a such thing as "drive shaft lubricant"? Is it okay just to wedge it in there with nothing on it and go from there?

[H2_RECOVERY]

You should not have to wedge it in. if you do the shaft is too long and will blow apart the transfer case. it should collapse down and pop right in and slide out a little. this will be if it is the correct length.

[NovaKnowledgeNow]

I had to file my drive shaft down.... I thought I posted photos of what happened to my drive shaft....

This is what happens when your tcase explodes at 70 mph on I-95 and then your driveshaft slides out and slides on the ground...
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5580/dsc07620cf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/634/dsc07621lv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

As you can see, it no longer could slide back in the front axle.

I ended up having to file it down so it would slide back in.

I've got it in now and bolted into place... now to try and adjust the shift linkage...


Hey Rick, question. Did you notice your engine not slowing your jeep down as much? When mine came out, I noticed it seemed like it was much more difficult to come to a complete stop at low-low speeds(5 mph).