AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal
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AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/3/2008 10:37:42 AM
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jtswkd
Posts: 27
Joined: 6/30/2006
Status: offline
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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.
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/3/2008 11:55:01 AM
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graythang
Posts: 615
Joined: 7/29/2006
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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?
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Graythang II
Sleeps a necessary waste of time.
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/3/2008 12:00:02 PM
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superdak05
Posts: 2491
Joined: 3/12/2006
From: ct.
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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
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thats right, i did it so what, cry two tears in a bucket, @#$% it, lets take it to the stage
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/3/2008 12:42:34 PM
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Jr. Mechanic
Posts: 4012
Joined: 1/10/2007
From: Lima, Ohio
Status: offline
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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.
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~Garret
quote:
By batman13
Convicted cokeheads are allowed to drive more than me.
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/3/2008 2:48:28 PM
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jtswkd
Posts: 27
Joined: 6/30/2006
Status: offline
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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 i could 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.
< Message edited by jtswkd -- 5/3/2008 2:58:13 PM >
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/3/2008 7:11:04 PM
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Antjmar
Posts: 66
Joined: 3/18/2007
From: CT
Status: offline
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I have an AWD truck and a friend of mine told me to put manual hubs on the front axle so I 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.
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/6/2008 1:19:21 PM
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sawfish
Posts: 39
Joined: 9/14/2005
Status: offline
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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..
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/7/2008 7:22:54 AM
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Racinartist
Posts: 371
Joined: 11/23/2007
Status: offline
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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.
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/7/2008 12:56:42 PM
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ericemery
Posts: 3458
Joined: 1/30/2007
From: Michigan
Status: offline
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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.
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/7/2008 1:26:23 PM
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Racinartist
Posts: 371
Joined: 11/23/2007
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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.
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/7/2008 1:42:18 PM
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cramerica
Posts: 118
Joined: 8/20/2007
Status: offline
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You bought the wrong vehicle for gas mileage, friend. 19MPG is par for the course. There's alot more going on there than regular old 4WD. Proper maintence will be a lot more cost effective for gas consumption than ripping out your front drive shaft. Not to mention the warranty/saftey/accident lawsuit ramifications of driving around with a hacked up AWD driveline.
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'07 ST 2WD
3.7 / 6 Speed
Flowmaster 40
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/7/2008 2:44:51 PM
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lghtngblt02
Posts: 602
Joined: 1/4/2008
From: Mechanicsburg, Pa
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Racinartist
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.
You just sucked thats why  haha, I am agreeing with Eric, mines avg 18-22 depending on the area until I giver hell, then it gets avg 15-17. The trucks bone stock, with the multispeed overdrive auto with the 355s, I should try the 3923 plugs but I dont have the engine shake or misfiring, thank god. Its been solid so far
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07 Dodge Dakota Club Cab Laramie 4x4, 4.7L V8 Magnum
93 Dodge Dakota Club Cab LE 2x4, 3.9L V6 Magnum
00' Ford Focus LX Sedan, 2.0L SPI
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RE: AWD FRont Drive Shaft Removal - 5/7/2008 4:54:10 PM
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Altair
Posts: 4182
Joined: 3/10/2007
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Racinartist
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.
I drove my '05 club cab the exact opposite way you'd want to for good MPG's and I always got around 14 city and 18 or so highway. (4.7l 3923 plugs, cherry bomb vortex muffler w/ no resonators, 4x4, 3.55 gearing, auto). I don't see how you're not even getting what I am if you're keeping your foot out of it, really wierd...
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thats all highway with my wife in son in the car doing 65 MPH constant! I usually get 12-14 combined city/hwy depending how much highway driving I do. NO these arent the best for fuel economy! But the sticker said 15 city 20 MPG highway and Id be very happy with that!!! I am going to bring it in soon just to complain to dealer. I know they will tell me its a truck what do you expect but I'll try it anyway....
