I broke my front driver side axle shaft and have both sides removed and need to drive 700 miles. Is this something I can do or do I have to fix this first? No axle shafts in and socks stuck in the end of the axle tubes. Any help?

 

Seems to me you'd sling all your gear oil out ,but I dunno for sure.

 

i don't know man, 700 miles is a long way to be driving with sock being the only thing keep you from loosing your gear oil

 

Put the sock in your pants and try to find an interested female tow truck driver.

 

Not only that, but if the stub shafts aren't installed in the wheel bearings, the unit bearing will come apart on the road because there will be nothing holding it together. You're gonna cost yourself alot mor $ if you drive it like that.

 

Yeah, you will need the stub installed or it will come apart. I broke my drivers side, remove the axle from the housing, stuffed a rag in it and drove 100 miles home, and another 100 miles or so around town before I replaced it. When I removed the rag, it had some oil on it, but not too bad. 700 miles is a long way.

Remember, you do have the seal inside which won't let the oil just drain, but some may slig out. Other than the oil leakage issue, there should be no other problems.

 

that was true with the TJ but not so anymore with the JK. you can drive around without the stubs and your bearings will be fine.

 

Good info! I've been driving without the inner shaft on the driver side for 2 weeks waiting for a new axle to come in. The stub shaft is still in place, but I really don't want to drive it very long like that. I've probably got 200 miles on it sence it broke. Not the best situation, but When I ordered Superior axles from Quadratec, they were back ordered with no ship date in sight. I called Northridge and David had Alloy USA axles in stock and got them out the same day. I should have them tommorrow. Is there any special tools needed for the install, such as a hub puller, also what size is the nut that holds the stub shaft in? Sorry to hijack.

 

I don't have any gear oil in right now. I drained it all out to look at the gears and lockers. The gears shouldn't rotate if I'm not in 4 wheel drive right.

 

If nothing's connected to the wheels and you don't hit the lever into 4H (or if you really try 4L), the only thing you would need to worry about is rust.