Ok. So a couple U-Joints in my front driveshaft are ready to fail. I do not feel comfortable driving home from college on the highway with my u-joints making the sounds they are making. they also have a lot of slop in them too. All I have at school with me is an 8mm wrench and some rope. one of the bolts that hold the driveshaft to the yoke on the transfercase is stripped so I cant take it off until I get home. My question is, can I disconnect the axle side of the front driveshaft and tie some rope to the motor mount and then down to the front axle to hold it up for when I drive home. I figure the front output of the t-case is independent as long as I dont go out of 2wd. so If I hang the driveshaft to the frame or motor mount, the shaft wont spin, I can safely drive home, and I can actually get that bolt out when I go home.
I'm sure it will work as the TC should not be turning the front driveshaft in 2wd.
However, this is also really really really dangerous. You need to make 100% sure that driveshaft isn't moving at all even if you hit a bump.
If the rope fails, especially at speed, theres no telling the damages. Imagine going really fast and sticking a piece a metal straight into the road with no give. Could destroy your tc, cause the jeep to lose control, anything god forbid.
Take a few extra minutes..borrow a couple of tools and take the driveshaft all the way off. You have to take it off to repair so just do it now. Always go the safest route.
The problem is that I dont have any access to tools here. It is about a 40 mile drive till I can get home. and i am not connecting anything to the front axle. My intensions are to disconnect the shaft from the front of the axle to stop it from spinning. I have a bad feeling about driving home with it connected and a bad feeling about taking it halfway off. It is not possible to take it completely off while im not at home.
First the front shaft will spin from viscous drag in transfer case
I know this as I have manual hubs all four wheels
With all hubs unlocked in 2hi if I set park brake and climb under In gear rear is spinning under engine power and front spins too but with a gloved hand I can slow and stop the front shaft but realize enough spin to spin both front axles with hubs unlocked
So that much spin rope wears and front of front driveshaft drops to ground and pogo sticks into ground and destroys your transfercase
Unlike the 231 used in the YJ the 231 in the TJ has no needle bearing between rear output shaft and chain sprocket so the viscous Drag spins that sprocket which spins the chain and the front output sprocket which is solidly connected to the front output shaft/yoke
The YJ has needle bearings between the rear output shaft and the chain sprocket but they got rid of them when they dropped the CAD
I am also thinking the shaft is going to spin as well. Why not just duct tape the heck of out joint and yoke call it a day. nothing to drop from a tied up area. etc..
It can be done for short periods (I have done it), BUT, it shouldn't be done except for very short drives to check something out. Having the drive shaft tied up will overcome any spin from viscous drag, so the drive shaft will not turn which is a problem in itself.
The same reason that Jeeps are not to be tow dollied applies. When the rear t-case output shaft is turning, and the front one is locked in place, it (the t-case) does not get proper lubrication.
If your friends don't have any tools, just take it to a mechanic and have them take the front drive shaft off for you. How much could they possibly charge for removing 8 bolts?
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