dropping front drive shaft for a road trip.

[bradmachine]

Am getting ready to move my m818 300 plus miles over the interstate....don't need 6 wheel drive....will it hurt the sprague unit to drop the drive shaft to the front axle and let it free wheel down the interstate.....also drive shaft to the rear axle....don't need it either....would reduce wear..??....any prioblems doing that....???????/

 

[jwaller]

it's far easier to just pull the axles in the rear and the covers in the front.

 

[bradmachine]

I would have to put covers on to prevent dust from entering and oil from leaking out.????? or is there an easier way.?. I don' t have the covers.

 

[Rattlehead]

You should cover them to prevent dirt from entering, but the bearings are grease only (unless seals are leaking).

 

[ken]

Mabye you could cap off the air to the valve on the top of the tranny? It engages the sprag when shifting from forward to reverse.

 

[rosco]

The M211 had spragues. I'm familiar with it & not the above. BUT - if they operate the same way...... The way the 211 worked is that the front axle only started driving, when the rear axles started going faster, then the front axle was going! Then & only then, did the spragues lock in. My opinion is, why bother. That whole front end was designed to take the same wear & tear, the rest of the truck can take, and you will notice no difference going down the road, nor will there be a measureable difference in fuel consumption! I went through all that stuff already, starting some 40 years ago! Made axle covers by cutting the axle shaft off the flanges, etc.

But if you have disposable time & it makes you happy - go for it!

Lee in Alaska

 

[bradmachine]

my reason for removing the front drive shaft was to save wear and tear and reduce the chance of a breakdown, like loosing a front driveshaft...this is the first trip for this truck. and by dropping the rear driveshaft I would reduce the wear back there since there is no power divider between the rear differentials....and one less drive shaft to have trouble with..???.....may just drive it the way it is.....???????...