Can the front wheel drive be disconneted safely

Tiny
HEPPERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 GMC SAFARI
  • 213,000 MILES
I have a 94 Safari with 213k miles, on its last leg. Need it to last a while longer. The cv joints are shot, wondering if both front axles and front drive line can be removed, and just run it as a rear wheel drive van?
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 AT 4:38 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
We only recommend the manufacturer's recommendations. Removing said parts could lead to serious problems.
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 AT 2:45 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
You need the cv joints to hold the front wheel bearings together. If you remove the front drive shaft, you can run it that way as a rear-whee-drive because unlike Chrysler and Ford systems, yours uses a transfer case, not a viscous coupling to one axle. That means both drive shafts are locked together and will always turn at the exact same speed, and if one is disconnected, the other one will still turn. That system is very hard on tire wear and it is critically important that all four tires have exactly the same circumference to prevent damage to the transfer case.

There should be no need to pull the half shafts apart since they'll just be going along for the ride, so to speak. It's the outer housings that have to be bolted solidly in place to prevent the wheel bearings from coming apart or becoming noisy.
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 AT 2:50 AM
Tiny
HEPPERSON
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Thank you for the information. I did read else where, that if disconnected in this fashion, that there was a potential problem with the van rolling away while in park? Any truth to this?
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 AT 5:09 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,870 POSTS
Nope. The rear axle is still linked mechanically to the transmission with its parking lock.
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 AT 5:23 AM

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