Truck without front drive shaft and hubs

[jimm1009]

I took my front driveshaft off yesterday due to the non-airshift transfercase, removed the front drive hubs, removed the left forward axle shaft, and temporarily installed front drive hub on rear.
Drove it about a mile down the paved road and back for a test.
What a difference in handling! I sure would like to be able to afford the axle disconnect kit and the locking front hubs!
The steering wheel was about 30% easier to turn while moving and the turning radius "seemed" sharper too. Did not have a paved area big enough to do a full test though.
Well back to putting the axle shaft in and the drive hubs back on for now.

Can I leave my front driveshaft off or is this a bad thing to do with the old style transfer case installed (non air-shift)?
Jim
jimm1009@yahoo.com

 

[FSBruva]

By "Front drive hubs" do you mean the splined drive flanges? I would imagine that removing a hub would make driving pretty difficult/slow?

Matt

 

[m-35tom]

you may notice some improved steering with locking hubs. you would have to leave the driveshaft out to improve fuel consumption, but i doubt you could measure the savings. no problem for the transfer but a pita if you wanted front drive.
FSB, "removing a hub would make driving pretty difficult/slow?" why??

 

[Recovry4x4]

No problem with it like that Jim.

 

[steelsoldiers]

Re: RE: Truck without front drive shaft and hubs

FSB, "removing a hub would make driving pretty difficult/slow?" why??

I think Matt was being very literal in that removing the hub would make it impossible to mount the wheel and make for very slow going.

 

[jimm1009]

Driving without a hub would be very sloooowwwww indeed since the wheel would not have stayed with the truck either.

Sorry, I meant to say "drive hub" or "drive flange".
It sure does feel better steering around tight turns without the front end turning and the forward rear axle disconnected.

I put all the stuff back as Uncle Sam had it except for the front drive shaft.
I don't have any "loose stuff" to drive it in right now and three of the nuts for
the driveshaft attachment bolts are no longer hex shaped.
I will be installing all new nuts when I go back with it.
Easy to find in the aviation industry where I reside.

Jim