Can I remove the broken front drive shaft and still drive without damaging anything

Tiny
BLEU7
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
  • 97,000 MILES
Is it safe to remove front drive shaft & CV joints in order to bypass the front differential which seems to be broken? I was driving normally then heard a noise like a flat tire as if I was driving on my wheel alone so I stopped checked and nothing was wrong, so I kept driving and it started making a noise which got way worse when I passed 20 MPH, it seems like my Front Differential is a goner, it is leaking oil and I've been told it must be replaced from a visual and road test inspection by two different mechanics.

I am wondering if I could refill the oil in the front differential and possibly change out the seal/gasket if that is the reason for the leaking? Or is all the noise at 20 mph a reaction to a broken front differential?

I've been told the least expensive fix is to remove my front drive shaft & front CV joints will that cause any issues to my vehicle aside from maing it a 2WD instead of 4WD

It was a switch from 2HI, Auto, 4HI, 4LO and when set to 2HI it runs fine but in all the other setting it makes the noise.
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 AT 1:07 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Yes you can do this if you use the CV joints from the axles to hold the front bearing in place and of course do not use the 4wd. Remove the CV joint from the axle then tighten into place to keep the axle bearing together. To get the outboard CV apart you will need to cut the boot off and see how it is retained. If the outboard is welded on you wont be able to remove it. The outboard are usually held on with a c-clip arrangement of some kind for servicing since they wear the most.

Attached below is an exploded view of the front differential to help you with repairing it later
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Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 AT 1:31 PM
Tiny
SONSOTHUNDER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I realize this is an older post but I felt I should inquire a little info from the experts response. How would the axle shafts still turn if they are removed. I assume when BLEU7 stated they would remove the C-V Joints, they were talking about removing the C-V Axles.
Thanks
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Friday, March 25th, 2016 AT 9:31 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The axle shafts hold the wheel bearings on. The hub that holds the wheel studs also holds the bearing.
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Friday, March 25th, 2016 AT 10:14 AM
Tiny
ALTO CARR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
What if you take the spindle end of the cv joint and mount it back to the spindle to keep pressure on the bearing
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Thursday, July 28th, 2016 AT 6:26 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
As long as the half of joint was disconnected from rest of axle, but a lot of work to go through for that.
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Friday, July 29th, 2016 AT 3:16 PM

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