Should I take my front driveshaft out?

[garydan]

I just finished installing the 14-bolt with 4.10's. So that means I still have the stock front end with 3.08 gears in it.

Should I bother taking off the driveshaft or am I safe as long as I keep it out of 4wd? I have the auto-locking hubs which came on my 85' K5 Blazer. I've heard the auto-locking hubs can engage at times, which would be bad for me.

 

[chevysmithz71]

Thast a good question. I would remove it. Just in case. Seems like it should be removed.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Even if the hubs locked, the t-case is still in neutral so nothing would happen.

But its not a bad idea to remove the front driveshaft.

 

[abig84]

heckkk no leave that thing in there. you never know when you may need that front axle. knowing my luck id end up driving into a ditch. if your in really muddy conditions you can lock that front axle in without damage. i ran 273s up front and 373s out back for a offroad run. i just left it in 2wd till i got stuck or started to. just leave it out of 4x4 on the road.

i always feel naked without a front driveshaft

 

[chulisohombre]

i wouldnt leave it in.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Even if the hubs locked, the t-case is still in neutral so nothing would happen.

But its not a bad idea to remove the front driveshaft.

If the t-case is in neutral he won't be going anywhere even with BOTH driveshafts in and hubs locked, unless he's on an incline then tre truck might roll in either direction.

I would remove the shaft though just to eliminate any possibility of accidently knocking the shifter into 4wd.

 

[82355]

Just leave it in. You would have to have two hubs accidentally lock, and accidentally shift into four wheel drive . . . .

Martin

 

[4X4HIGH]

Just leave it in. You would have to have two hubs accidentally lock, and accidentally shift into four wheel drive . . . .

Martin

With auto hubs it only needs to accidently get put into 4wd and then the hubs WILL lock (assuming they still function properly).

 

[Desert Rat]

Take it out, it is a 10 minute job and you will have peace of mind.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

If the t-case is in neutral he won't be going anywhere even with BOTH driveshafts in and hubs locked, unless he's on an incline then tre truck might roll in either direction.

Oops, my bad

I would remove the shaft though just to eliminate any possibility of accidently knocking the shifter into 4wd.

And again, do this

 

[Slapperbar]

Take it out.

 

[Avery4jc]

I don't know why this is even a question. I did the exact same swap a couple years ago in the same order you're doing it in. I swapped out my rear 10b with my 14ff and had 4.10's and 3.08's. Then the next weekend I swapped my front end.
You're going to have to pull the shaft when you swap your new front end in so why not do it now?

 

[abig84]

You're going to have to pull the shaft when you swap your new front end in so why not do it now?

technically you only have to take off the front part, y ou can just tie it out of the way when you do the front axle swap

im surprised that so many people are saying take it out. ive had k5s and s10 4x4s for the past 11 years and have never accidentally put it 4x4. if your gonna do the swap in a few days or something and your bored leave it out. but like i said i feel naked without that front axle hooked up. if you get in a really low traction area you can still use your front axle without any damage to anything.

i remember when i was younger i had a beat up 83 s10, blew the rear end, swaped one in and it was different then the front. i drove that truck 2 years like that. and would use the 4x4 when i got stuck in the snow or in the mud, never had any problems other then dealing with 2wd till i got stuck

 

[Russell]

I had a truck with 4.56 gears out back, and 2.73 gears up front. I took that truck wheeling like that once, and while it made for some interesting hopping around, it made it :P

That said, I'd take the shaft out. Only reason why I left it in was cause boggers absolutely SUCK on snow / ice, and I couldn't get anywhere on the street with it without being in 4x4, despite the different axle ratios.