I have 4 wheel drive and my front left cv joint is going. It is making alot of noise. can i take out the front half shaft and keep driving

No i dont believe you can. This has been debated in different threads before, but the wheel bearing could potentially come apart. Without the end of the half shaft going through it with the nut on the other end is what holds the bearing together.

No i dont believe you can. This has been debated in different threads before, but the wheel bearing could potentially come apart. Without the end of the half shaft going through it with the nut on the other end is what holds the bearing together.

What he said.

you could saw off the shaft as close to the hub as possible with like a sawzall and keep drivin thats what somw guys do to their trucks for the summer to help gas mileage with old cv shafts anyways they dont saw new ones everyyear

You don't need to saw it off you can dissemble the joint and just reinstall the stub shaft.

You don't need to saw it off you can dissemble the joint and just reinstall the stub shaft.

Like this:

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o124/Jacqson/IMG_1011.jpg

This is a pic from a 1500, But I'm sure you get the idea. If you take the boot off of the outer end you will see a snap ring under all the grease. Remove the snap ring and the internals of the joint will come out leaving you with what's shown in the picture.

Thanks guys. I friend of mine brought me a new half shaft from oriellys. Took forever getting the old one off but the new one went right on. Thanks guys

GMT 900 Hubs are Gen III Captured Hubs that are self retaining used on both 2wd and 4wd.

Short answer = NO.

Long answer = Maybe

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337555&highlight=bearing+bolt

Actually you could have, but what would have been easier was to remove the entire axel. The same bearing is used in the 2wd and 4X4. The bearing is a sealed unit, the joint and nut don't have any bearing on holding it together. If its going to come apart, its going to come apart. The axel nut and bearing just contain the damage.

Actually you could have, but what would have been easier was to remove the entire axel. The same bearing is used in the 2wd and 4X4. The bearing is a sealed unit, the joint and nut don't have any bearing on holding it together. If its going to come apart, its going to come apart. The axel nut and bearing just contain the damage.

X-2

Actually you could have, but what would have been easier was to remove the entire axel. The same bearing is used in the 2wd and 4X4. The bearing is a sealed unit, the joint and nut don't have any bearing on holding it together. If its going to come apart, its going to come apart. The axel nut and bearing just contain the damage.

X-2
You two are gonna get someone killed.......Only Generation III hubs and generation II 2wd (splineless) are self-retained. Running any other version without the shaft (or a stub) installed will result in bearing seperation, and possible loss of vehicular control. Did either of you read these??????????????????


I have picked up a large number of GM's in this situation. If you drive without the shaft end and nut on those hubs, you will burn it out! In seven years I have picked up around 60 or so guys that think they can pull the front diff for the summer to get better fuel economy. Without the shaft end and nut putting a load on the bearings, you will be looking at a funny looking front end within 10-15 miles. Been there, seen that many times!

Find two shafts that are bad indside the CV and pull them apart, jam the shaft through the hub, tighten the nut. You now have a 4WD converted to a 2WD without the expensive lesson others learned by my expensive tow bill.
from here http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316090&highlight=2wd+front+bearing

I thought i was right just didnt know that .01 percent my brother thought the same thing a day later i was going to get his ass it took us 45 minutes to find his front wheel it took off another direction. :badidea::badidea:

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Hmm

You two are gonna get someone killed.......Only Generation III hubs and generation II 2wd (splineless) are self-retained. Running any other version without the shaft (or a stub) installed will result in bearing seperation, and possible loss of vehicular control. Did either of you read these??????????????????

from here http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316090&highlight=2wd+front+bearing


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Interesting info there...... I guess I stand corrected...... makes me glad I have a SFA and manual locking hubs...... and good ol re packable wheel bearings..... :D

I can tell you that it does not work :mad: here is a picture of what happens.... (attached)

Bearing let loose 5 miles after removing the axle shaft....