I am have issuses with the front end, I have the carrier, and shafts pulled at the moment. Is it okay to drive like this, or am I gonna fuck up the unit bearings

front unit bearings are sealed units
you'll be fine - it'll be just like a 2WD JK front axle but with a hollow pumpkin in the middle of the tube.

might want to pull the front shaft too tho, in case theres enough drag in the t-case to go ahead and spin the front pinion, there's no lube going to it.

Can I jump in here?

Venom, how could the front shaft turn if he's in 2wd? Doesn't the front shaft spin in a JK because there are no locking hubs and the axle shafts, turn the ring gear that turns the pinion that turns the driveshaft?

Forgive me if that's a stupid question. I'm still learning.

In theory, yes thats what turns the shaft when the front wheels are turned by being pushed down the road.

I'm not sure how much drag there is on the t-case output end when its in 2 wheel drive, I'm not sure how it disengages the front shaft, if the gears are still turning on the shaft, if there's enough drag just from them spinning to get the front shaft spinning with no resistance on it or if its a complete enough disconnection that it wont move at all.

I'm just thinking its easy enough to pull the shaft to make sure - especially if he's gonna be driving like this for awhile.

The shaft will be fine, when my locker blew up I pulled the carrier and axle shafts and hung the drive shaft with a bungy cord up and out of the way still hooked to the transfer case. The shaft will not spin in 2wd from the transfer case side.

front drive shaft is also pulled., I just don't wanna fuck anything up further. Should I stuff rags in the axle tubes just to be safe?

Thanks for the help guys.

Not worth the risk, it only takes ten minutes and then there is no worry. Should be ok, the bungee cord thing would concern me though if it will be like that for a while, I've not had good luck with bungee's though.

the unit bearings still need the outer stub shaft to make sure they stay together. I made the mistake of driving without them in and I ruined my bearings.

can you elaborate a little, I am a newb on this axle internal stuff.

you have the short side of the axle shaft that goes into the unit bearing at each wheel with the axle nut. that needs to stay in the unit bearing on each side. or the unit bearing can come apart while driving down the road.

how so?
the 2wd's use the same unit bearing and dont have any axle shafts?

if your unit bearing let go, it must have been because it was shot!

i have the drivers/ passengerside shafts, front drive shaft, and front carrier pulled. Is there a stub shaft or something else?

No it is not like the TJ unit bearings you do not need to have the stub shaft in. They are sealed unit they do not come apart like the TJ unit bearing do.


Don
BMJA President
http://www.bmja.org/home.php

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X2.

so it sounds like there should be no issues driving it like it is, should I stuff some rags down the axle tubes?

You will have no issues, and possibly a bit better mpg's. I drove with an empty front housing for about 2 months while waiting to scrounge together the money for the PR. No oil or components insider it, so didn't bother with rags or anything.

You don't need the front stub shafts. I just got done driving mine without anything in there for 3 months. And you didn't have to pull the front drive shaft but like has been said its easy to do and one less thing to go wrong.

X2, did the same thing for 6 weeks last spring, no issues.

Speaking of unit bearings. Does anyone have a spare they would sell me. I need one asap.

mine must've been shot, I didn't loose the wheel but the shimmy was still enough to warrant further inspection.

I also run 37" tires don't know if the extra weight played a part.

It was suggested by my service guy to keep the stub shaft in.

I need an old warn out unit bearing if anyone has one.

Can be junk.

Has anyone checked to see if Timken has their new bomb proof unit bearing assemblies out yet?

We know they are doing unit bearing now!

RK

I have a Timken unit bearing for the JK that I bought about a year ago.
It is the exact same bearing as OEM, complete with the "ILJIN" markings from the overseas manufacturer.
I was disappointed because that means they have ball bearings inside, rather than tapered roller bearings as Timken usually makes.

The reason I bought the Timken assembly is it was cheaper than from the dealer, and has a lifetime warranty.