2004 Jeep Liberty 4X4 problem

COMEAUONE

MEMBER
2004 JEEP LIBERTY
3.7L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
204,000 MILES

I have a 2004 Jeep Liberty & the 4x4 in the front end is gone.I thought it was the hubs but I got looking & its the 2 small shafts on either side of the suspension from the wheel assembly to the engine .I was wondering if these shafts can be removed & be driven safely in 2 wheel drive or are these essential to the drive train?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,752 POSTS

Please elaborate on "front end is gone". That is open to interpretation.

Normally replacing or repairing half shafts is not that complicated. Throwing them away is hardly the best repair. I don't know what kind of transfer case you have. If it uses a viscous clutch, it wants to pull the front and rear together as long as both offer equal resistance. In other words, with nothing to turn in the front, the front drive shaft will spin freely so no power will go to the rear drive shaft.

There were some Jeep models that used a solidly-locked transfer case that insists on turning the front and rear drive shafts together, regardless if one is removed. That design will turn just the rear drive shaft by itself if anything in front is removed.

Exactly what kind of problem are you having?