Wondering if it is possible to drive without a front drive shaft. 2003 Liberty 5spd with the NV231 transfer case. Jeep is in Kansas city after blowing and having the transfer case replaced. Shop is quoting $600 for just a drive shaft (drive shaft damaged with transfer case) which seems high. Looking to drive from Kansas city to Michigan if that would be doable?
Driving without front drive shaft
- Thread starter zbeyer
- Start date
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We removed the front drive shaft of our 2007 Jeep Liberty in August 2023 because the bearing was bad at the transfer case end of the shaft. So we've been driving it for about 13 months with no problem. I want to replace it now since winter is coming and we'll likely need 4WD.
jeepop
Full Access Member
Yes done it too - get your rebuild parts from these guys: https://www.driveshaftparts.com/
I have an 04 auto parts KJ and not noticed a shaft length different front or rear with our 05 6spd.
I haven't checked but there have been a few posts on here about different length props, just thought it was worth keeping to avoid any problems later.
Yeah I'll defenently hang onto the old shaft to measure lenght or rebuild if its salvagable. Local driveline place needs it anyway to measure for a new part.
Also thanks everyone for the input! Flying down in a few days to grab the jeep.
Also thanks everyone for the input! Flying down in a few days to grab the jeep.
Length isn't the difference, IIRC. The joint at TC is. I have PNs if you need them.
Do yourself a favor. Only use Spicer parts, Dorman is also good, if at all possible. The cheaper joints are absolute garbage. Both that I rebuilt 2 years ago have already gone bad.
Wonder when it changed. I have dabbled with 03-05 amongst np231, 241, and 242. That joint at the tcase has been the same. Which is also the same as found on one end of the Jeep WJ shaft.
I got the my CV joint rebuild kit off eBay from an outfit selling side-by-side and atv parts. Seems the joint is widely used outside Jeeps.
joshgoble
Setting on 37x13.5x 17
I have an extra front drive shaft I'll sell you $100 if a front drive shaft is the same length as the 3.7 with an automatic.
I've wondered about driving without the front diff. How does that work when the CV joints connect to that central diff? (I was actually surprised when I learned that in 2WD the front wheels are actually turning the front diff and the front drive shaft back to the transfer case. Since I removed the front drive shaft, I haven't proven this, but I seem to be getting a lot better gas mileage.)
jeepop
Full Access Member
driveshaftparts.com search here and you will see their parts are good. Based on old threads, that is who I used based the second time because I don't want to do it a 3rd time.
I removed the CV shafts also.
Did you gut out the diff or bag it up?
Removed the whole diff housing assembly and CVs.
This is the way.
DO NOT try to drive the car without the outer stubs in the bearing. Ie, the part that actually gets the axle nut.
It's been a while since I had the KJ front shaft out, but I know several folks who tried to drive without the center part in the unit bearing (in XJs and ZJs) with disastrous results. Those bearings are not made for side loading.
Yes, those are different vehicles. Hub bearings are still not built for that kind of load.
I cross checked the 2wd and 4wd unit bearings and determined them to be the same. I drove for a good 6 months without stubs in them.
Not all unit bearings are put together the same - so what's being said of XJ and ZJ is probably true.
Not all unit bearings are put together the same - so what's being said of XJ and ZJ is probably true.
