Since i'm lincoln locked in the rear i would like to know if it is ok/safe to pull a shaft and cut a spare so only the flange is left for a cap. This will give me one wheel drive but is it too much for a occasional daily driver? Vehicle is a 77 k5 with 35" tires. Thanks!
CK5
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Running one shaft on 14bolt ff
- Thread starter 5trucks
- Start date
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
You gotta make sure you are getting oil out to the bearings. I think someone on here has done it before for short periods like just long enough to get home. You will also have torque steer.
I would personally advise against it especially if your only concern is tire wear.
Dik
I tried something like that in my heep after losing the rear drive shaft. I had a lincoln locked front so I just engaged one hub to drive it home. The torque steer was pretty violent (but again that was in the front). I wouldn't drive it that way above 30 mph and then only for very short distances.
Yep, you will have some crazy torque steer. Either deal with the spooled rear end or get a locker.
Pulling a rear axle on a 14ff means no more lube to the hub bearings. I would avoid doing it unless you broke an axle and had to move the truck a short distance.
wayne
3/4 ton status
I think this is wrong. They will still get oil as long as it is capped.
As for driving, I know it can be done. I have seen it with a broken shaft and there were no ill effects as far as driving goes.
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
Once you pull the cap and the oil in the hub drains out how does more get down there when there is no shaft in the housing?
Dik
BILTIT
1/2 ton status
I agree, once there is oil in the hub it will stay there and lube the bearings. Not something to be recommended and i would only do it for short trips but to each their own. If you look closley the fill hole is slightly higher than the axle housing, so it will migrate to the hub eventually.
My take on it anyways.
My take on it anyways.
wayne
3/4 ton status
He would basically have a open rear so why would he have torque steer?
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
But you have to pull the cap to remove the "broken" shaft. Once this is done there is no more oil in the hub. How does it refill when there is no shaft for the oil to run down.
Dik
BILTIT
1/2 ton status
I dont think the oil runs down the shaft. It runs underneath the shaft in the housing. Yes the shaft would probably help move it along but it will fill the hubs just by fluid migration. I am no expert so i could be wrong.
wayne
3/4 ton status
The same way it does when you pull a shaft out and pull the rear drums. They are oil bath set ups and the oil flows from the pumpkin out to the bearings. Normally if you pull a shaft out and do it with the side that the shaft is being pulled from then you don't lose much oil. As long as there is a cap on the end the bearings will get oil.
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
Because open rears do not work that way. In this case the same wheel drives no matter what you are doing, turning left, turning right, leaving a red light, it is all the same tire.
This will cause severe torque steer and the vehicle will want to turn away from the driving tire.
Open difs do split some power to both wheels just not like a locker or a LS plus they can change which tire is driving and coasting. In the instance spoken of in this thread it will not change.
Dik
Yep, pretty unreasonable to drive.
Not to mention that you will severely increase tire wear because the one driven tire will wear much faster than the others and the fronts will wear faster because they will constantly have to steer to keep the truck going straight down the road.
Running a locker and one shaft is much different than an open diff. As long as the tires don't break traction an open diff will supply equal power to both wheels.
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
I know mine does because I overfill it but I am pretty sure the axle plays a part in migrating lube to the hubs.
Dik
BILTIT
1/2 ton status
Agree that the shaft plays a part, all but small. I dont lube my bearings when i do work on the hubs, it does not take long for them to get lube from the pumpkin.
Cowboy_80
1/2 ton status
I vote you pull the rear drive shaft and drive in 4 hi.
What would that help? If the rear is welded it will still eat up tires.
