Front axle question...

[Mrsoundman813]

I have an 03 ranger 4wd. The seals blew on my front axle and in turn blew the axle. This will obviously be some serious labor for me to replace. For now would I be able to pull the cv axles and the front driveshaft and just roll on the front hubs? Would this work as a temporary fix or no? I don't think the cv axles offer any structural support, but wanted to check first.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mrsoundman813]

Anyone????

 

[Big Jim M]

Nope! Your axle turns all the time. So you would be running with a dry axle spinning.
Just grit your teeth and get to it!
Big Jim

Correction. The front wheels spin the axle. So at first thought I was incorrect.

If you can get the thing to actually do what you want it should work.

 

[pjtoledo]

NO again!

the front wheel bearings need pre-load, and lots of it to work correctly.
the CV spline stub & nut supply the pre-load, without it the bearings separate and fail, very quickly.

a possible work around would be to remove both axle shafts, disassemble the outer CVs and reinstall just the outer housing/stub'/nut to hold the bearing together. that of course would destroy the CVs.
the center nut would still need proper torque, about 250 lb-ft.
the big axle housing is held on by just 3 bolts and the driveshaft.