AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal

jtswkd · #1 05-03-2008, 01:37 PM

So I am tired of paying so much to fill up my tank, and i was wondering if anyone with the AWD system had considered just unbolting the front driveshaft off of the transfer case and front diff. I figure this would reduce load on the engine and in turn increase my MPG. I already drive 65 mph on the highway just to squeeze every mile out of my gas.

But i am worried is might hurt something in the front diff or transfer case, but i am not sure. Any Ideas? Would i have a problem with lining the driveshaft back up when i put it back in for winter?

I don't post a lot, but i am on here almost every day.

graythang · #2 05-03-2008, 02:55 PM

I would check with the dealer service dept. I'm kind of glad I didn't get the AWD. I wanted it but it wasn't available in early 07. Now I guess it was a good thing. With 4WD you can turn it on/off but AWD is nice since it works as a limited slip in the front so you can turn normal on dry pavement. Anybody else with AWD notice that your mileage is lower than non AWD?

superdak05 · #3 05-03-2008, 03:00 PM

not a good idea. when we had our dyno day, there was a guy with an a.w.d. jeep that pulled his shaft to see what the difference was. once back on the dyno the truck threw so many codes and shut down. hooked the driveshaft back up and problems went away. dont know if dodge has a way to by-pass the alarms or not, why. i aver about 21 miles to the gallon. that seems far for my dak

Jr. Mechanic · #4 05-03-2008, 03:42 PM

Dont. It wont free up any hp or mpg. The only thing it will do is give the truck horrible death wobble, potentially lethal at highway speeds.

jtswkd · #5 05-03-2008, 05:48 PM

Good to know. Thanks! I really like the awd just because it helps out in slick weather that doesn't need the 4wd, which we get occaisonally in Missouri. But i do wish i had a part time transfer caseas my front diff has already given out on me once (4 weeks in the shop ans 3grand in parts and car rental, thanks warranty).

I guess i'll just keep driving slow and get the electric fan and TB.

Right now I get about 18-19.5 on the highway doing 65, but i want to get more. I am in the Air Force and they pay me for mileage I drive when I move (in a month). I just wanted to see if icould get a little more change back for my driving. The rate they pay ALMOST pays for gas the way prices are.

EDIT: I wanted to add for grey that that wen you select the 4wd on the dial, it locks the axles. The diff only slips when in AWD mode and for anything you really need 4wd for you'll have to switch anyways in my experiance.

Antjmar · #6 05-03-2008, 10:11 PM

I have an AWD truck and a friend of mine told me to put manual hubson the front axlesoI could gett better gas mileage. Didnt really want to do it at the time (still dont)so I didnt ask him about it.I dont even know if its possible... but worth looking into I guess.

sawfish · #7 05-06-2008, 04:19 PM

If it was feasible to remove the front drive shaft, the gas savings would be nil (under 1 mpg). Same story with adding manual front hubs. Mileage on the AWD trucks is generally within 1 mpg, or less of the non-AWD trucks. Any greater difference can usually be traced to driving habits, different gear ratios, etc..

Racinartist · #8 05-07-2008, 10:22 AM

I talked to the service manager at my dealership yesterday about seeing if there is any way to disengage the AWD on my 08 TRX. Like possibly over-riding/disengaging it via the PCM. He said he doubts it but told me that the next time I have the truck in there for anything that he will have his techs look into it and let me know. He said he's not sure but there may be a way to over-ride the computer to disengage it for servicing, and if that's the case, it may be possible to leave it that way w/o the computer throwing all kinds of codes. It will probably be a while until I get it to them, but if anything comes out of it I'll let you guys know. Right now, with gas at $3.50 a gallon, that extra 1MPG would even be helpful.

ericemery · #9 05-07-2008, 03:56 PM

an extra 20 miles a tank?

seems like a lot of work for 1 mpg.

Electric fan and Tb sound like a better idea, more power and better economy.

on a side note. I averaged around 22 this fill up... I am guessing its a better blend of gas and the new plugs.

If you guys havent got around to swapping out the plugs yet, I would say do it. I was getting 19.5-20 befor the plugs, so for the 10 bucks I'd say its worth it.

Racinartist · #10 05-07-2008, 04:26 PM

Eric, I STILL don't get how you guys are getting so much freaking MPG out of these pigs. I've been saying that ever since I signed up here and it still makes no sense to me. I could maybe see it with a 2WD V6 with a 6 speed and driving like an old lady. My 05 was a QC 4x4 (not AWD) and had the 4.7 with 6 spd and 3.55 gears. Even at that and when I tried to stay out of it, I was getting mid 13 to low 14MPG city and 17 or so highway. And I had an AirRaid CAI and 3923 plugs installed too.

As far as getting 20 extra miles out of a tank of gas, when it costs $3.50 a gallon you're saving over $4 bucks a tank at 14 MPG. Over the course of a year, your potential savings could be several hundred dollars depending on how often you have to fill up, with no cost whatsoever, if they were able to just disengage the AWD. To me that would be worth it.

And when talking aftermarket, I haven't heard of ANYthing yet about these new 4.7s. No TBI, no CAI, etc. The intake and plenum are totally different than the previous style. That's why I sold my AirRaid, it wouldn't fit this engine. Hell, I haven't even heard anything yet about what plugs may work better in this new engine similar to the way the 3923s did in the 05-07.