Should I go RWD?

[smallwwb]

So after 220k of reliable service, my front cv axles are starting to die.

My rears, however, have hardly been used at all.

I have a S/R 5spd tranny and was thinking of trying RWD out for awhile as I really never use 4wd.

Do I just remove the front axles and leave it in 4wd?

Is there any benefit to doing this?

[95legwagon]

you should post the vehicle and its specs for anyone to make a determination....

 

 

sounds fun though! hehehehe

[idosubaru]

probably simpler to just repair the axles. regrease and reboot them. axles will often quiet up a lot, smooth out, and sometimes work perfectly after being horribly vibrating - once cleaned and regreased and rebooted properly. stuff some grease all up in there by hand, spreading it all around - if the issues go away or mitigate then rebooting will likely bring the axles back to tolerable usage. if they're original Subaru axles anyway - if they're aftermarket then they may be junk.

 

it would be good to know for sure what vehicle/trans.

 

but - rather than remove the axle entirely you disassemble the front axles and install just the outer CV joint into the hubs. the splined end of the CV joint passes through the hub to keep the bearings clean and happy. be cool if there was a way to disassemble that joint on the vehicle, but i dont' think i'd be trying that, the inner joints are not easy to separate.

 

then just lock the center diff (if it's FT4WD with center diff lock) or put it in 4WD (if it's PT4WD).

Edited December 24, 2011 by grossgary

[MilesFox]

pop one axle out and that will do. if you are good, you can pull the inner end off the trans, and pull the shaft out of the outer cv, then pick out the cage and balls.

 

or pull the axle, take off the outer end, reinstall the stub.(but this is the same work as replacing the whole axle.

 

I had a brat where the axle came separated on the outer end(not broken, just separated. I managed to get it out off the side of the road with a screwdriver for a drift punch and put about 1200 miles on it this way before replacing the axle

(as winter was coming!)

 

the nice thing is, if you go to rwd, you can always go back.

 

2 things to consider:

 

1. never do clutch drops. the pto gear in the trans wont like it.

 

2. never try to engage or disengage the 4wd while rolling, revving, or you will grind the pto gear. If in douby, shut down the engine and engege/disengage(if you accidentally hit the button)

 

if you want to do smoky burnouts, install donut wheels.

[smallwwb]

Thanks for all the tips.

The car: 1988 SPFI S/R PT4WD 5spd Wagon, White, 221k.

I found another older post that details the process of going RWD.

Front outer axle boots both torn/mostly gone, a little clicking but not too bad. Don't know if they are original, but I'd guess they are. Spent all it's life in SoCal then PNW so rubber was in good shape until I moved to the desert.

 

I have decided to find some junked axles, pull off the outer part needed to keep the wheels on, then pull my axles clean/reboot/regrease them. That way I can always put them back in if I want to.

I'll post results when it's done.

 

Off-topic BTW, I have done a few things to free up ponies/mpg:

Removed A/C system and Mechanical fan

Removed Power steering pump and looped lines

Removed leaky EGR vacuum lines and associated stuff and plugged holes

Removed Bumpers (Saved 70lbs there)

With 220k, oil leaks, dragging clutch, and old original Coil, the car is noticeably peppier, and I have gotten a best of 36mpg on a road trip loaded down with camping gear.

[87.5ea82txt]

Ok, I just crawled out from under my xt. Lol I removed the the pins and slid the cup from the stub shafts on the transmission side. Now to remove the axle shaft from the outer end, is there a clip on the inside of the outer cup that needs to be removed to get the shaft and bearings out? im trying to hurry up and get these out so I can take the gf out for her b-day.