Removing 4x4 Parts

[noJeepshere]

I have a dilemma guys,

My 1999 Yukon is perfect in every way, except for the front end. The front output on the t-case has a bad bearing and is leaking despite the fact that I replaced the seal last week. Also, the driver side output on the front diff is leaking and the bearing is very bad (1/8th inch of side-to-side play in it). Also bad but not related to my question are the bushings in the whole front end, they are dry-rotted and creak like mad.

My dilemma is this: I have no money at the moment to throw at this IFS front end, nor do I want to, since I am going to do a SAS next fall. I would love to go 4 wheeling this summer but won't be heartbroken if I don't. I want to pull parts from the front end so that I don't end up throwing a CV shaft on the interstate, since I do about 20 miles of 70mph each way for work. If I pull the CV's apart, it shouldn't affect my wheel bearings? And to go one step further, could I also pull the front driveshaft as well and basically totally isolate the front diff altogether?

Like I said, I don't want to put any more money into parts I'm going to get rid of. I don't really care if I ruin the CV's, they're old and creak sometimes anyway.

What have you to say?

 

[Gzes]

Yea pull the front drive shaft. Lot of people run no front drive shaft for a supposed mpg incrase so your good

 

[noJeepshere]

Yea pull the front drive shaft. Lot of people run no front drive shaft for a supposed mpg incrase so your good

I figured that was ok, but how about the CV's? That's where my real issue is.

 

[SunlitComet]

you would have to pull the cv shaft end apart so that all is left is the shaft that goes thru wheel. DO NOT PUT WEIGHT ON WHEELS WITH THE SHAFT LOOSE OR MISSING.

 

[noJeepshere]

you would have to pull the cv shaft end apart so that all is left is the shaft that goes thru wheel. DO NOT PUT WEIGHT ON WHEELS WITH THE SHAFT LOOSE OR MISSING.

What I wanted to hear. I know the stub that goes through the hub needs to stay for the bearing tension, I just wondered if anything bad would happen to the rest of it if I took the CV's out.

 

[SunlitComet]

output shafts may pop put while driving.

 

[noJeepshere]

Even if I pull the driveshaft too?

 

[SunlitComet]

bumpy roads kinda thing if bad enough. iirc they are not exactly c-clip to the front axle if the front driveshaft is removed perhaps you can strap down to the axle some how.

you know ifs is not bad like people say it is . is is more then capable for weather induced snow, mud and even most trails. unless you plan on climbing steep large rocks or maybe jumping sand dunes ifs would work just great. plenty of better replacement parts and and lifting kits too.

 

[noJeepshere]

bumpy roads kinda thing if bad enough. iirc they are not exactly c-clip to the front axle if the front driveshaft is removed perhaps you can strap down to the axle some how.

you know ifs is not bad like people say it is . is is more then capable for weather induced snow, mud and even most trails. unless you plan on climbing steep large rocks or maybe jumping sand dunes ifs would work just great. plenty of better replacement parts and and lifting kits too.

I ran a heavy bungee strap from flange to flange to hold them in.

I know IFS isn't as bad as many say it is, this front end is pretty much all original at 200k miles, and is just wearing out is all. It's always done what I have asked of it and it hasn't failed me nor has it blown up. But I want to make it a much better off-roader with more flex and travel than IFS can deliver, while also sporting a selectable locker up front as well. For what I want to turn this thing into, a SAS makes more sense than fiddling with weaker IFS parts.