Lost Drive Shaft
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Vancouver
Lost Drive Shaft
Hi..A buddy lost the rear driveshaft on his 94 4x4 and the truck is stranded at the side of the road. Would any damage be done if we put it in 4wd and drive it with the front wheels only to get it home?
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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not at all my buddy did that with his 98 f 150 just make sure that the rear drive shaft is completely disconected. and just make sure he doesnt drive it around like that just home and thats it. (sorry about sounding like a dad)
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Plymouth, MI
Absolutely not a problem. Did that in a '91 Bronco. I just disconnected the rear driveshaft. Just be careful and don't turn the wheels sharply....fords are known for destroying the universal joints in the front axel shafts. Normal turns are ok.....and just take it easy on the gas. Good luck.
Sam
Sam
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From: SE of Bennett Colorado
Originally Posted by 77 Bronco
...fords are known for destroying the universal joints in the front axel shafts.
Sam
Sam
Is there any preventative action to take with this issue? (Besides never using 4x4).
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From: Plymouth, MI
Well, I wasn't talking about the driveshaft that goes from the transfer case to the front axel. I am talking about the front axel joints between the ball joints at the ends of the axel. But the front driveshaft can be an issue too as I am sure it is not designed to pull the entire truck. Thats why I say go slow...take it easy. As for the front axel shaft u-joints breaking.....it is known that if you turn the wheel to a sharp angle and mash the accelerator that they will snap or atleast to damage...if stock. I don't know if they fixed this in later years.
Sam
Sam
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From: Baltimore
You didn't say what model truck your friend has. If the rear drive shaft is a splined/slip joint at the transfer case and you pull the drive shaft, you need to plug the end of the transfer case..
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Senior User
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From: Vancouver
Thanks for the responses, and yes F150xlt it had a splined/slip joint at the transfer case, we were a bit concerned about losing fluid so just to be safe we crapped out and put it on a flat bed....$50 tow charge..what the heck!
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From: on da beach
I had my stepson drive a BII home after a rear driveshaft problem years ago- the drive was less than a half of a mile. no problem.
I would do it if I had to too.
One day I saw an older fourunner with the rear driveshaft hanging down.
If the driver had some sense and sometools, he could have limpped home and took care of the deal.
In Hawai'i A LOT of people try to do roadside repairs, kind of dumb because here we are no more than a couple of miles from home or a friends house.
I am sure the fourunner owner was a few miles from home too.
There are a lot of people who drive trucks here(any make) that don't know a thing about them. You should see all the people driving F150s, just because the trucks are "in".
I bet we could get them cheap in a couple of years
.
HaPpY NeW YEar
I would do it if I had to too.
One day I saw an older fourunner with the rear driveshaft hanging down.
If the driver had some sense and sometools, he could have limpped home and took care of the deal.
In Hawai'i A LOT of people try to do roadside repairs, kind of dumb because here we are no more than a couple of miles from home or a friends house.
I am sure the fourunner owner was a few miles from home too.
There are a lot of people who drive trucks here(any make) that don't know a thing about them. You should see all the people driving F150s, just because the trucks are "in".
I bet we could get them cheap in a couple of years
.HaPpY NeW YEar
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Baltimore
Originally Posted by skeneguy
$50 tow charge..what the heck!
I think you made the right decision. If you couldn't cap the tail shaft off, fluid would have come out and who knows what the roadway behind you would have looked like.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Central PA
I bought a heavy duty tow dolly can haul 1 ton truck .I only had to use 2 time and was paid for and dont take much room. It gets used 5-6 times a year mostly freinds I don't charge a thing. Good luck on fix.