it seems that a lot of people are pullin their axles in exchange for the off road capabilities of the welded rear differential. question is, what happens if you engage the rear drive train with one of the axles off? will this cause any damage other than a little excessive wear? also, is the rear axle you pull arbitrary or is there one that's better than the other?

 

just curious.

i have done this and it didnt do any damage. its pretty much just 3 wheel drive. you should be fine with it to go wheelin if ur lazy and dont want to put it on

yep, no problems, though I will say I hate it in the snowy streets. I drove my brat the last 3 days, and with only the left rear axle, you have to adjust to the way it handles on the icy/snowy streets... got stuck trying to get into my flat driveway....

 

(I didn't want to jack the brat up on a icy driveway with snow on top just to get the axle in... since my wagon is still engine-less)

 

we got 13.5" over the last 2 days.

i think it would only be 2 wheel drive.

i bet its realy funny when the outside wheel is powering you around a corner.

i think it would only be 2 wheel drive.

yeah considering the front is an open diff.

As long as both wheels common to the differential are on the ground they both get power. Until one starts to slip then ALL the power goes to the free wheel.

As long as both wheels common to the differential are on the ground they both get power. Until one starts to slip then ALL the power goes to the free wheel.

Thanks for the lesson open diffs

i bet its realy funny when the outside wheel is powering you around a corner.

 

I only had the left rear axle in, so when I made a right turn, the rear wanted to slide out every time...

left turns were okay though....

 

and had to be slow on the go pedal too, or it pulled to the right instantly....

 

if I don't get my wagon done soon, it's back to LSD for the winter.....

I've got my diff welded and I've never put my axle in yet

 

The only things I have noticed is you will drift to the side missing the axle in a hard climb.

 

And my diff hanger is more twisted than it used to be

 

I ended up reinforcing the diff hanger..........

 

My .02

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer

01 Forester

back in the day when i bought the 81 hatch from JZigi, it had only one rear axle.... (yes.. that was it.. no fronts!) and that was a fun drive home! it would peel out its right rear.... if i gave it any gas other than granny driving!

 

but it made it!

back in the day when i bought the 81 hatch from JZigi, it had only one rear axle.... (yes.. that was it.. no fronts!) and that was a fun drive home! it would peel out its right rear.... if i gave it any gas other than granny driving! but it made it!

COOL! how did you keep the front wheels from falling off?

 

yeah i didn't know if it would be too much stress on the weld.

would you all say the right axle is the advantageous one to take out? probably better to have more control for left hand turns than to pull donuts in front of oncoming traffic.

 

AND TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SNOW, lucky bastards...

oyu bastards and your stupid snow..............................i envy you