Stupid question but couldn't find anything searching. Is there any reason why I can't run a 4wd without the front axles in and the front drive shaft removed? It would essentially be just like a 2wd xj correct?

 

I don't know anything

 

Part-Time will spin both output shafts at the same speed, and if you remove a driveshaft (or axle shafts) then the other driveshaft will still spin. Full-Time (NP242) uses a differential and the front/rear outputs spin according to resistance levels, so if you pull a driveshaft (or axle shafts) then it will have much less resistance and all of the power will go to that.

 

Long story short my front end needs a rebuild and I can't afford it right now but it's my daily so I figure if I take out the front drive shaft and both front axles nothing will be turning the diff. I'm just worried about the hubs falling off but everything I've read says 2wd has same hubs as a 4wd minus the axle going through the middle. So if the hubs will be fine without the axles in I can still drive it till I'm ready to rebuild. Oh by the way it's a 94 4.0 auto with a np231 non abs, 3 inch lift with 32's.

 

You can do that but you must keep the outer axle stub shaft installed in the hub -- the load on the nut keeps the bearing together, and the hubs will fall apart without it.

Why are you wanting to run in 4WD? If you just stay in 2WD then the front driveshaft will be disconnected at the transfercase, and without the axle shafts it won't spin at all.

 

That what I was wondering, if it needed the axle to hold it together. I don't want to run with 4wd engaged, I just said 4wd for identification purposes.

 

I have a set of..I don't even know what they're called..But they are the dummy splines that go thru the front hubs off of a 2WD XJ.I could sell them to you but have no idea what they are even worth.

 

Thanks but I'm just gonna pull the u joints out of the front axles and run the ends only.

 

And don't forget to torque them to spec!

Torquing the stubs develops the proper preload in the bearing, which prevents it from falling apart and also from abnormal wear/premature failure.

 

Just run it in 2WD

 

Just drive it in 2wd.

 

Any time the vehicle is in motion the front axle shafts and drive line will rotate. Only in the case with locking/unlocking hubs will the shafts not move while the vehicle is in motion.

 

He is looking to remove the axle shafts. Without those the diff won't turn, without that the driveshaft won't turn.

 

Yup. OP just made the mistake of calling them axles instead for axle shafts.

 

In that case the stub shafts should be installed to keep the unit bearings from blowing apart and the diff should be drained. The axle tubes should be sealed some how to keep junk from getting into the diff. But it might just be easier to swap in a junkyard axle if there is nothing special about the one he has.