Just wondering - can I cut a halfshaft?

[strykr14]

Scenario:

I have access to a junker that I want to pull the engine out of but keep it rolling - I do not want to have to disconnect all the suspension parts then have to reconnect later - the suspension parts are pretty rusty. So, can I cut the halfshafts off with a cutting wheel? Will that jack up anything inside? Not worried about the halfshafts, they would get replaced.

Doing that, then unbolting it from the subframe would allow me to roll the car out.

 

[hawkeye18]

Don't see why not. I'd attack the joints, they're a lot weaker than the shaft itself. But I might be wrong - I've never tried to destroy a halfshaft before.

 

[Ishodu]

The shaft will cut like butter with a cutting wheel and a grinder, if your not worried about using them go for it I can't see any thing bad about it.

 

[strykr14]

The shaft will cut like butter with a cutting wheel and a grinder, if your not worried about using them go for it I can't see any thing bad about it.

Not worried about them, I have new ones. I'll probably cut off the boot and take a look at cutting them at the joint. I was more worried about jacking up some internal engine part.

 

[hawkeye18]

As long as you make sure not to remove both the CV axles at the same time (put a dowel or something in one of the holes before you remove the other one) but if you're leaving the stubs from both of them in there then it ain't an issue. I'd cut inboard to head off any clearance issues when removing the engine.

 

[SHO_DOODmorrris]

yeah i used a plasma cutter on my parts car and it went through liek butter (go figure eh, its a plasma cutter) but yeah it should work fine with a zipdisk of some sort

 

[strykr14]

As long as you make sure not to remove both the CV axles at the same time (put a dowel or something in one of the holes before you remove the other one) but if you're leaving the stubs from both of them in there then it ain't an issue. I'd cut inboard to head off any clearance issues when removing the engine.

I had heard that somewhere - why is that again?

 

[Ishodu]

There is no need to leave anything in the axle holes in the diff with the SHO nothing will fall out of place. The only reason you would leave something in there is to keep dirt out.

 

[38SHO]

he speaks the truth, I remove my axles all the time, no problems..... some cars are like that, most aren't though

the joints will kick your ass, they are probably stronger, the inner part is much bigger, and then you have big pieces of steel that roll around in there kind of....

just cut off the metal part

but in all honesty, if your going to be removing the engine, the CV axles really are the least of your worries, it is not hard at all to take them out, take off wheel, take out pinch bolt, take off axle nut, pry down on control arm so it pops out of the knuckle, move knuckle assembly out of way, take out axle....... it can be done in a matter of minutes

however, depnding on how far you have to roll it, the wheel bearings may not like not having the cv axle through them and could fall apart...... well on some cars/trucks they DO... I've never tried on a taurus so I don't know how it would take it....

plus u have an extra set of axles then if you don't destroy them

 

[AREA 91]

Don't see why not. I'd attack the joints, they're a lot weaker than the shaft itself. But I might be wrong - I've never tried to destroy a halfshaft before.

I rev up to 5200 rpm with slicks and dump the clutch. Works every time .

 

[TopGunnYFZ]

I rev up to 5200 rpm with slicks and dump the clutch. Works every time .

Indeed it does, it also works without slicks

 

[SHO_DOODmorrris]

I rev up to 5200 rpm with slicks and dump the clutch. Works every time .

quoted for being full of win:thankyou:

 

[93rev2sev]

Just pull the engine and let the boots rip. The axle will separate.