My cv axles are going bad on my 88 yota truck. I need to know if I can drive it or not. One friends says that the axles will lock up my front end. Another says that nothing will happen unless I have the 4WD locked in but if I keep it in the free position I can drive it all I want. What's the verdict? I have about a 600 mile trip that I really need to make but don't wanna do it if it's not safe.

 

As lond as you keep it out of 4wd nothing in the front end is turning, so you will be fine driving it like it is.

 

Okay that's what I thought too but the doubt was there so I figured I'd ask. I appreciate it man.

 

make sure the CV's aren't turning though, if your hub gears jam up they can still lock the cv to turn even though its in free position!

 

Put it in 2wd and unlock the hubs- then the CVs won't be spinning and you can drive til hell freezes over.

I wonder if CVs would even bind without any load on them... I think it would be somewhat unlikely.

 

Yeah, wha'ts been said, test it to make sure they aren't spinning when your hubs aren't locked, then drive all day, I actually drove with a bad ring and pinion - busted it in Colorado, and a busted CV from Colorado to Florida back in 2001 because I was military and moving, can't really get out of that, but made it no problems

 

Those things are pretty bullet proof even if you want to run it in 4wd for some light wheeling. I've seen some of the beater Yotas up in Idaho where I'm from wheel for a few years with the boot not only ripped but totally gone. I drove my 82 Honda Accord around in highschool for a year with it going clack clack clack every time I turned because the boot was totally gone and I kept driving it. I'd get em fixed when you can but don't sweat driving it.

 

Yeah they'll go the distance. You must have heard fwd cars with that cv joing rattle. They just keep on driving until the internals give up a ball or 2 and then it just won't pull the car anymore. Your truck will be fine in rwd or maybe even a little 4wd but I do recommend avoiding dirt roads and mud since your outer boots are probably torn wide open.