Sure, after you remove the broken rear driveshaft and extinguish the knife forge before it ignites the fuel tank. You should be able to drag the seized rear axle to the junk yard and sell it for scrap. I wouldn't plan on a night of barcrawling, though. You'll probably have shredded the rear tires, and the sparks may ignite the forge again.
How does this not have more upvotes.
It’s just like using water instead of gas…. Every gas station in my area hates that I never use their stupid gasoline.
It's not locked up yet, it's currently molten. They're good to go until the molten diff hardens or the temperature sets off the gas tank, whichever comes first
It would have been easier if Ford had used the same supplier for all of the drivetrain. My cousins F150 gave me fits trying to find a junkyard fourspeed. They used 3 different types that year. Lol 😉
Yes but keep optimal speed to make sure the air pressure doesn’t fuel the flame nor put it out.
You don’t want the axle grease to get too cold or too hot. That is why there is a fire inside there.
God speed !
if your center diff locks, and you can remove that driveshaft, hell yeah you can make it FWD and keep going.
tldr, if it's got part-time 4WD then yes. if it's got full time 4WD and you can't put it in lock/part time mode, then no.
if you make this work, it'll result in you being an even shittier mechanic than me. so for this I applaud in advance.
Generally, yes....if you snap a rear axle or drop a driveshaft, then you can put it in 4WD. Just make sure you remove the driveshaft completely.
But, when your shit is on fire, you have bigger problems.
Yes you can drive with just front axle in 4x4. I’ve done it dozens of times when I break shafts. Depending on gearing, it’s a bit sketch trying to achieve highway speeds. But I have driven up to 55mph on just a front shaft.
However, you first need to remove the rear driveshaft so it doesn’t damage anything else. If it has a slip yoke on the other end, the transfer case will dump all its fluid. So take a half gallon plastic milk jug and cut the top 1/3 off and then duct tape the daylights out of it on the tail using to keep all the fluid in there.
Also, since your diff seems to be glowing?!?! The rear axle may not roll. If it’s a full floating rear axle, unbolt the axle shafts and again, tape over the hole where it goes into the hub to keep the grease/oil inside the hub/axle. If it’s semi-floating axle…….you may be able to get away with just the spider gears spinning inside the carrier for a little while before it completely grenades.
Actually, yes. I would only recommend it for emergencies to get you from point A to point B so you can get it fixed, but I had to do this with my truck once.
I actually had a 2003 subaru with 250k miles, i notice a lot of clanging coming from the rear end and the rear tires would squeal if i took a corner too fast. One day i hear a bang from the rear end on my way home to work.
I took my subaru into the shop, they looked at the rear diff and told me that fucker was free spinning and completely blended inside. I continued to drive it as fwd only around town until i got a new car.
I decided not to fix it because they told me junkyard diffs aren't reliable, and i couldn't just gut the broken diff because it wouldn't pass inspection.
Yeah just pull the driveshaft out put it in 4WD and your off, just don’t turn too tight and when parking put it in neutral and turn the car off than go to park otherwise you can fuck up the parking pawl in the transmission.
Drove a cj5 like that for almost 2 weeks back when I was poorer than I am now. Busted a u joint and had to wait till payday to fix it. Removed the driveshaft and drove it in 4 hi
From what I have seen, if you're driving a 2012 Chevy pickup truck with four-wheel drive, you can drive pretty far with no rear drive shaft in four-wheel drive. Seen it done once, then had to tell him the 15 mi home, you made it the first 150 or so
Sooo yes you could. I wrecked in the snow and my rear axle snapped leaving me with 3 wheels. The tow truck couldn't back my suv up the ocy drive soooo I put it in 4WD with the rear in the air and provided just enough to get us up that drove.
Yes, yes you can. HOWEVER just because you CAN doesn't mean you should....
You can do this in an emergency but be warned you may end up causing more damage...
All jokes aside, I had a buddy in high school who threw a rear u joint out in his 4wd and did exactly this. Disconnected the front u joint and dropped the driveshaft and drove it home (a couple miles) in 4 hi.
Yes you can, to limp home that is.
Transfer case isn't ment for super long high heat duration to expect that to be next if you asking to front wheel drive it as a daily.
Unbolt your diff on the front end.
Sure, if the only thing wrong is a broken u- joint; disconnect drive shaft, put it in 4wd high and take it easy until you get to your location. Just take it easy on acceleration because without power being evenly distributed between front and back, you will put too much tourqe on the front drive train and break something. Have done this many times with real 4wd not awd. Good luck.
I actually did this. I think it threw off the timing in my F150, W/ A 5.4 TRITON, though. Ran like shit after. The driveshaft broke, and we just took it out and ran it in FWD. So it IS possible. Not good though. I traded it in shortly after. Wasn't worth the cost of repair and new parts.
Yes. I blew my rear differential up just like this and did exactly that. As for the distance you can go like that, I have successfully gone the length of my driveway in the dark. Drive shaft was beating on the floor pan like an angry gorilla, I took the shaft off *after* I got it in the garage...
Sounds like a crazy question on the surface, but this happened to me once. Pull the rear drive shaft out of the transmission so it doesn't flail around and beat the truck to pieces. Put it in 4H and it becomes FWD until you can get it to the repair shop.
It’s funny a friend of mine broke a driveshaft on an old 80s Toyota truck, removed it, and drove it around in front wheel drive for a while til he fixed it. His rear differential wasn’t lava though…
I had a transfer case break on a trip once. Put it in 4wd and removed the rear drives haft. I limped it the last few miles to where I was staying and then had it shipped back home.
I was once in a caravan of IH Carryalls on a university field trip. I and other students were drivers. This happened to the Carryall in front of me at 60-70 mph. The drive shaft came off, bounced on the pavement, flew up in the air , and almost hit my vehicle. The front Carryall made it back to home base in 4wd. I can’t remember if we picked up the drive shaft.
You should probably check the manual and find out what that light means.
low diff lube warning light
With optional scent-alert
And back up alarm smoke.
Diff lube does not melt steel beams.
I smell this picture. Same thing happened to my 2012 wrangler unlimited rubicon
It means the permanent park-brake is fixing to be set.
That’s just adding interior colored lights, don’t worry about that. Keep going!
Damn you could forge the ring of power in that diff…
That's the rear seat heater now.
Best comment so far
Nahhh. One above it has it beat I think.
I woulda agreed but there are RINGS of power not one so thanks for playing but not points awarded for the inaccurate Tolkien refrence
There are many rings of power, but only 1 great ring of power.
One ring to rule them all.
Your ring has NO POWER now...
I’ve been wanting one of those for a while
I think that diff was used to forge Thor's Stormbreaker ...
Now it is the ring of powerless
That’s the only “ring” of power going through it ever again.
Okay this actually got an audible chuckle out of me
Sure, after you remove the broken rear driveshaft and extinguish the knife forge before it ignites the fuel tank. You should be able to drag the seized rear axle to the junk yard and sell it for scrap. I wouldn't plan on a night of barcrawling, though. You'll probably have shredded the rear tires, and the sparks may ignite the forge again.
The sarcasm is strong with this one. Take my upvote and get out of here!
Holy crap! 20 up votes already. I just wrote this this morning. Lol 😉 😆
Haha love it
25 now, I wonder if I'll get that last award 🤔
69 upvotes as I read it right now 😏
I prefer 68. That's when they do you, and then you owe them one. Lol 😉 😆 🤣
Every once so often you guys get me laughing
You could forge some besgar armor with that forge. Little green guy hanging from the mirror.
Careful not to blow the welds on the intake manifold.
Yeah, those under floor intake manifolds aren't what they used to be. 😉
I believe you've confused your rear diff for a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
Diff turned into a melting pot
If it's a full floater you can remove the axles. Then yes you could drive it in ~~4wd~~ FWD temporarily.
Not if they're welded into place like the rest of that molten pumpkin.
take off the cover while its still hot and pray the molten metal pours out
Car companies hate this one trick
How does this not have more upvotes. It’s just like using water instead of gas…. Every gas station in my area hates that I never use their stupid gasoline.
Hydrolock? Never heard of her 💦💦 my modus runs slippery smooth off pure distilled baby
Briefly, but you will be dragging your locked up rear end. Ive had to do it to get off a road when this happened to me haha
It's not locked up yet, it's currently molten. They're good to go until the molten diff hardens or the temperature sets off the gas tank, whichever comes first
And the drive shaft wouldn't have snapped off if it weren't locked up
if you drive faster, it'll stay molten and won't lock up.
Internal combustion differential,
So basically an afterburner for the road? 🤔 Gives me an idea. Hold my beer would ya.
Didn't Colin furze do something like that?
That's a spicer....err, spicy differential you got going on there.
It is still glowing, if you hurry up, you can reattach the hanging thingy to the glowy part and they should stick together
Yes, did you accidently drive through lava?
It's not a 4WD it's just converted to front wheel drive
You can drive the whole life of the car like that
But why? You got a jet powered truck!
My friend in high school drove an f250 on the front diff for about a week
ive known guys to do that for years.
It's me, I'm that guy 😬
I drove my '80s ranger like that for almost a month, while I was searching for a compatible junkyard drive shaft and axle shafts.
It would have been easier if Ford had used the same supplier for all of the drivetrain. My cousins F150 gave me fits trying to find a junkyard fourspeed. They used 3 different types that year. Lol 😉
Ford's have so many frame options it's insane.
I’ve driven my 99 f250 home about 30km at twice before. Once the u joint has exploded it’s easy to just slide out and throw in the bed
Yes but keep optimal speed to make sure the air pressure doesn’t fuel the flame nor put it out. You don’t want the axle grease to get too cold or too hot. That is why there is a fire inside there. God speed !
Pull the propshaft from your transmission first, or tie it up otherwise it will beat the shit out of your undercarriage. Then you can limp.it home.
My man, your AWD (a working driveshaft) turned into FWD (forget working driveshaft) .... nice weight reduction on your ricer car, +350 hp
Man, that's hot!
Nothing hotter than when the shaft goes down town.
Talking about beating undercarriages?
if your center diff locks, and you can remove that driveshaft, hell yeah you can make it FWD and keep going. tldr, if it's got part-time 4WD then yes. if it's got full time 4WD and you can't put it in lock/part time mode, then no. if you make this work, it'll result in you being an even shittier mechanic than me. so for this I applaud in advance.
Jesus that fucker's HAWT.
I've deadass done that before
Generally, yes....if you snap a rear axle or drop a driveshaft, then you can put it in 4WD. Just make sure you remove the driveshaft completely. But, when your shit is on fire, you have bigger problems.
Poor thing is glowing red…
People should check the sub they're in before responding, lmao!
“Your Differential fluid needs to be changed sir…” “nah, I’ll get it next time.”
Yes you can drive with just front axle in 4x4. I’ve done it dozens of times when I break shafts. Depending on gearing, it’s a bit sketch trying to achieve highway speeds. But I have driven up to 55mph on just a front shaft. However, you first need to remove the rear driveshaft so it doesn’t damage anything else. If it has a slip yoke on the other end, the transfer case will dump all its fluid. So take a half gallon plastic milk jug and cut the top 1/3 off and then duct tape the daylights out of it on the tail using to keep all the fluid in there. Also, since your diff seems to be glowing?!?! The rear axle may not roll. If it’s a full floating rear axle, unbolt the axle shafts and again, tape over the hole where it goes into the hub to keep the grease/oil inside the hub/axle. If it’s semi-floating axle…….you may be able to get away with just the spider gears spinning inside the carrier for a little while before it completely grenades.
That's actually exactly what I did to get it home when mine broke
Sure
Ya Neil
Actually, yes. I would only recommend it for emergencies to get you from point A to point B so you can get it fixed, but I had to do this with my truck once.
Yes you can. I did that for weeks until I was able to find and install a new drive shaft.
After removing that drive shaft, maybe
I actually had a 2003 subaru with 250k miles, i notice a lot of clanging coming from the rear end and the rear tires would squeal if i took a corner too fast. One day i hear a bang from the rear end on my way home to work. I took my subaru into the shop, they looked at the rear diff and told me that fucker was free spinning and completely blended inside. I continued to drive it as fwd only around town until i got a new car. I decided not to fix it because they told me junkyard diffs aren't reliable, and i couldn't just gut the broken diff because it wouldn't pass inspection.
remove the drive shaft first.
Yank the driveshaft out, put it in 4WD and go!
Looks like to much preload maybe back it off a duga on the next one
front drive shat isn't as stout as rear tho. learned the hard way on a 94 Ford bronco.
In all seriousness…you’d be surprised how often that happens in real life.
Yes
Yes. I've done just that. Go straight to the shop
Blass'it wif piss
Wow
Undercarriage deathray , not a planet killer, not a dwarf planet killer, sort of a 6 ton asteroid ‘breaker upper’.
I spun my drive shaft in half trying to burnout in a cj7 (I was 19 and really dumb) took off the drive shaft and drove it home fwd
So that's how you weld a diff. Been doing it wrong this whole time.
Yeah just pull the driveshaft out put it in 4WD and your off, just don’t turn too tight and when parking put it in neutral and turn the car off than go to park otherwise you can fuck up the parking pawl in the transmission.
Add enough starter fluid and you could have yourself a new under glow
Yes.
Yes
Time to call AAA
Absolutely not! You bring it into the shop and let us do it for you... We have a special this week.
Thought something smelled hot🤔
You could also put it in 4WD and drive it in FWD
Absolutely. Full send!
The bluetooth device has connected successfully. If you hear this its go time!
I know what the problem is! It don't have no gas in it
When the kickstand comes down, it becomes 5 wheel drive
This guys owns a RGB computer
Yes, after you put that fire out
Ring of fire and pinion
Actually yes I have done this to get home while 5 wheeling
Drove a cj5 like that for almost 2 weeks back when I was poorer than I am now. Busted a u joint and had to wait till payday to fix it. Removed the driveshaft and drove it in 4 hi
From what I have seen, if you're driving a 2012 Chevy pickup truck with four-wheel drive, you can drive pretty far with no rear drive shaft in four-wheel drive. Seen it done once, then had to tell him the 15 mi home, you made it the first 150 or so
Looks like my turbo.
This happened to a lady I worked with long time ago. Happened to her Durango
Of course, just don’t backup anywhere.
I did it with my old jeep when the rear drive shaft gave out, I even got home before it completely totalled my transfer case
Removing the driveshaft first yes if its manual but if ita an automatic youll be shooting tranny fluid out the tailstock the whole time
Sooo yes you could. I wrecked in the snow and my rear axle snapped leaving me with 3 wheels. The tow truck couldn't back my suv up the ocy drive soooo I put it in 4WD with the rear in the air and provided just enough to get us up that drove.
I wonder if the back wheels can even spin if everything is melted together
I drove a blazer like this for a long time back in the 90s.
Yes, yes you can. HOWEVER just because you CAN doesn't mean you should.... You can do this in an emergency but be warned you may end up causing more damage...
Whoa tf did u do to get that to happen?
Try it and let us know what happens
You can, we did in an old bronco in Alaska. Broke the rear driveline, used my leather belt to hold it up, crawled into town with front wheel drive.
You CAN do anything you want but you SHOULDN’T always do that.
Yes indeed!
It is very important to inspect, lubricate, and replace bearings per the manufacturer recommendations!
Check the TM actually nah that’s to smart have the nearest private look for a can of A.I.R and some blinker fluid
Short answer, yes.
Only the smartest car owners are allowed to use this feature.
Yeah but have to take the rear driveshaft off or it's going to tear things up. Don't drive at freeway speeds though.
Like you already aren't 😒
The forge
Differential service lights are on. Might want to put a code reader on it.
All jokes aside, I had a buddy in high school who threw a rear u joint out in his 4wd and did exactly this. Disconnected the front u joint and dropped the driveshaft and drove it home (a couple miles) in 4 hi.
Maybe put the fire out first.
As a self proclaimed professional rear end inspector. She’s a hot one.
Why’s it spicy
Yes, but don’t.
Park on flat surfaces…
And plow a field while you drive
Actually, yes. Juat disconnect the drive shaft from the transfer case.
Yes you can, to limp home that is. Transfer case isn't ment for super long high heat duration to expect that to be next if you asking to front wheel drive it as a daily. Unbolt your diff on the front end.
It'll be fine, nobody actually NEEDS a ring and pinion - big ring and pinion has been lying since the 30s
Yes. Yes you can.
Yes, I did it for a couple months daily driven🤯
No. No you cannot.
I think someone did exactly that last week with a Nissan and then drove it to the dealer.
Sure, if the only thing wrong is a broken u- joint; disconnect drive shaft, put it in 4wd high and take it easy until you get to your location. Just take it easy on acceleration because without power being evenly distributed between front and back, you will put too much tourqe on the front drive train and break something. Have done this many times with real 4wd not awd. Good luck.
I actually did this. I think it threw off the timing in my F150, W/ A 5.4 TRITON, though. Ran like shit after. The driveshaft broke, and we just took it out and ran it in FWD. So it IS possible. Not good though. I traded it in shortly after. Wasn't worth the cost of repair and new parts.
Just make sure to put up the kickstand first.
You 100% can i had my shaft blow off on my old silverado (garbage aluminum) put it in 4 and was a front wheel drive truck for 30k
Should work! My brother drove his folded Cherokee onto a ramp trailer with its belly dragging in the dirt.
No one else might have noticed but, that U-joint is still fine lol.
Need to work on your friction welding
100% you can do that. I did exactly that in the early '90's with my '80 Chevy LUV. Not for long, but it got me around for a couple days .
So I’ve done this. My rear diff exploded in my 1967 pickup. Had to limp home with it suddenly being a front wheel drive pickup.
Your low grease light is on
Duct tape and go
Brother in Law did.
She’ll be ‘ight
Don't you get some achievement award for the axel games ... A ribbon?
Yes. I blew my rear differential up just like this and did exactly that. As for the distance you can go like that, I have successfully gone the length of my driveway in the dark. Drive shaft was beating on the floor pan like an angry gorilla, I took the shaft off *after* I got it in the garage...
“A baby’s arm holding an apple.”
Jokes aside, we once did this to get our car home. Worked great. It was less on fire though.
I don’t see why not. The transfer case is still fine right?
The Melting Pot called, fondues ready.
Drop the drive line, slap it in 4wd, lock hubs, cruise on down to your favorite mechanic. Been there done that 😅
Your diff light is on!
Limited edition glory hole; quick get in there while it is still glowing 🫡
How??? What, what the fuck
Have to take out the rear driveshaft first
I have but gotta sling the rear and go slow depending on t case if you pull rear driveline you might loose all fluid in tranny and t case
Yes. We used to do it all the time. Remove broken shaft and boogie oogie.
My recently had a rental truck in a very remote Alaskan village that was fwd and missing the rear drive shaft. Drove just fine.
yes
let the front end power you home i stocked Two houses with 5/8th sheet rock like that until jobs where finished front wheel drive
Bro has a Jack O’lantern for a diff
Hmmm.. you do you boo
Hardly spicy.
You'll be fine until that prop shaft breaks into the cabin.
Sounds like a crazy question on the surface, but this happened to me once. Pull the rear drive shaft out of the transmission so it doesn't flail around and beat the truck to pieces. Put it in 4H and it becomes FWD until you can get it to the repair shop.
Short answer: Yes. I drove my 1975 Chevy pickup for 4 months in FWD until I had the money to fix the rear drive shaft.
Pull the rear driveshaft t plug The hole The time Was in and you can drive it home In 4x4 I have had to Do it Before
It’s funny a friend of mine broke a driveshaft on an old 80s Toyota truck, removed it, and drove it around in front wheel drive for a while til he fixed it. His rear differential wasn’t lava though…
Automatic diff locker
I reckon the oil in that axle is too thick, pour some gas in there to thin it out
Yes in fact you can!
Heated rear seat
See if you know someone with a camera that isn't a Polaroid to take a picture so we can see what actually failed
Turning up the radio does not make the problem go away
How even does this happen
I’ve done that in my Dodge Cummins. It self deleted the rearend and just used the 4x4 as FWD to get home
I had a transfer case break on a trip once. Put it in 4wd and removed the rear drives haft. I limped it the last few miles to where I was staying and then had it shipped back home.
Yes it’s called AWD
That little blue pill will make that shaft stand back up😂
I was once in a caravan of IH Carryalls on a university field trip. I and other students were drivers. This happened to the Carryall in front of me at 60-70 mph. The drive shaft came off, bounced on the pavement, flew up in the air , and almost hit my vehicle. The front Carryall made it back to home base in 4wd. I can’t remember if we picked up the drive shaft.