I just read a comment Adam made in the "I am king" thread about removing his front driveshaft for a road trip to improve mileage.

I'll be taking a couple of long road trips this summer and won't need 4WD, so I'm looking for thoughts from anyone with experience that indicates, one way or the other, if removing the shaft actually improves your mpg, and if it was enough to make it worthwhile.

TIA - EDR

 

do a search, no difference, discussed many times.

search for "locking hubs"

 

Thanks, but I did a search and couldn't find any real world specifics on just removing the front driveshaft.

Also, while I don't know the details of the "locking hubs" conversion, my understanding is that the conversion to free wheeling hubs eliminates the rotation of the front axle gearing.

Removing the front drive shaft won't have this same effect, and would have a much smaller, if any reduction in parasitic losses.

Anyone care to comment with actual experience?

 

I had mine of for months because I was lazy getting around to changing the u-joints and didn't notice a single bit of increase. Everything is still truning up front even with the driveshaft off. That was just my experience though,

 

I put 150,000 miles a year with Dynatrac and it does make a small differance, but I put the kit on cause of other reasons , not so much for mpg.

 

It didn't help him much on that trip. That tell you something?

I have not tried it but even with the lockout hubs the gain is just not enough for me. Pulling the driveshaft would entail me sliding off into mud or snow and laying in the mess to put it back on. I'll eat the possible .5-1 mpg gain for expediency.

 

Mine's off right now because of U-joint change. It's taking me some time to do it but I see no differance at all.

 

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen.

I guess I'll leave it in until I need to remove it for other reasons. Hopefully that won't be anytime soon!

 

I didn't notice a mileage difference when I put on the dynatrac kit and disconnected the hubs. In theory there should have been, but it would have taken a very careful mileage test to see it. So I can't imagine that simply removing the driveshaft will help at all as the front diff and axles still turn without it.

 

Likewise, I pulled mine out for some reason and then towed my 5er about 3200 miles and didn't notice any mpg improvement. I check mileage on every tank and this wasn't the first time I made that trip. Speed makes the biggest difference on mpg right after the height and shape of what you are towing.

 

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future." --Adolf Hitler, 1935

FWIW-that is not a quote from AH, just an urban legend.

 

I just heard it might help and thought I would try it since I was going on a 1000 mile round trip. I think it had no impact whatsoever. I am going to put it back on shortly and only took off without it because of the hot weather and all interstate trip ahead.

At 70, I was turning 2100 RPM and having the AC on didn't help. I can't handle watching the same car for hours on end so i usually end up going a little faster to get a change in scenery. I'd go slower but there is no chance I can handle getting passed by everyone.

The only upside to taking it off is that I could verify the universals feel good as new and I could grease them easier.

 

And lets not forget the weight of the towed object!!!!!

I'm in agreement with your assesment,,,,,

BTW,,,I have discovered if you sneak up on your Desired towing speed and try to keep the boost @ 7 lb. and less you can increase your fuel Mileage a bit,,,,


if you are in hills, traffic, etc. etc with a heavy payload,,, it is a bit tougher to save on fuel,,, JMHO