Driving without CV Axle Nut?

[Figmo]

My opinion: safe and not safe

Will run fine down the road without the nut. However, without the nut there is a chance under articulation that the shaft could slip partly out. Not enough to disengage - but possibly enough to weaken it since the full length of the splines will not be engaged.

So I wouldn't take it rock crawling without a nut installed.

Sponsored

 

[Fordified1]

So much misinformation here... I've literally put 5K miles down without any CV axles, or axle nut. on older GM designs, they would come apart if the NUT was not there to hold things together. If there was gonna be a problem, the stress from the 41" tires would have found an issue...most Fords unit bearings are designed and built in a way that they are safe to drive without the NUT in place.

Only if you remove the axle.

 

[Brian_B]

My opinion: safe and not safe

Will run fine down the road without the nut. However, without the nut there is a chance under articulation that the shaft could slip partly out. Not enough to disengage - but possibly enough to weaken it since the full length of the splines will not be engaged.

So I wouldn't take it rock crawling without a nut installed.

I’m no mechanical engineer but this was kinda what I thought - probably fine if you baby it but hit a deep enough pot hole and could have issues

 

[the poacher]

So much misinformation here... I've literally put 5K miles down without any CV axles, or axle nut. on older GM designs, they would come apart if the NUT was not there to hold things together. If there was gonna be a problem, the stress from the 41" tires would have found an issue...most Fords unit bearings are designed and built in a way that they are safe to drive without the NUT in place.

Not sure about misinformation, as the OP wanted to drive his with the CV axle in place, just without his nut. Unlike your situation where you pulled the CV axle out, thereby allowing you to drive it.

 

[jimd1]

Dumb question but I was at a buddies shop today today putting on my lift and the axle shaft tread on my driver side got damaged. Can’t get the nut back on.

I realize I am likely going to need to replace if I can’t get it rethreaded, but am I safe to nurse this back to my house without that nut attached?

my badlands axle thread and nut was stipped from factory found it when i had a level kit installed, ford wouldnt warranty it either because another shop replaced the axle shaft.

Sponsored