Cv axle question

[TD84]

I have a 2009 dodge ram. Does anyone know if you can remove the cv axles and drive with out them?

 

[CO-Ram]

Good question — short answer: No, not safely.


In a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, if you remove the CV axles, you should not drive it without them for several reasons:

1. Hub Bearings:
   • The CV axle nut holds tension on the front wheel hub bearings. Without the axle shaft in place (and the nut torqued down), the bearings can come apart or fail very quickly while driving.
2. 4WD System:
   • Even if you stay in 2WD (rear-wheel drive), the front hubs and front differential are still physically connected unless you modify it.
   • Some 2009 Rams have a system called "axle disconnect", but even then, it's risky to rely on that because the hubs are still unsupported without the axle stub.
3. Safety Risk:
   • Without the CV axles, you risk the hub disintegrating, your wheel falling off, and loss of control.

---

Options if you must move it:​

• Install a dummy axle or cut-off/stub shaft to keep the hubs compressed.
• Some people cut the CV axle, keeping only the outer stub to hold the bearing together.
• Or just install new/cheap CV axles if the originals are broken.

---

Summary:
Never drive without something holding the hub bearing together.
Best option: fix or stub the axle before moving the truck.

 

[62Blazer]

I believe in this application the axle nut, that goes on the CV, applies the preload to the wheel bearings. Meaning if you remove the CV axle and nut the wheel hub/bearings will come apart. I am not 100% sure as not all wheel hub assemblies require preload from the axle nut. Had a friend with a Jeep that had this style of wheel hubs on the front and he was not properly torquing them. On the old style setups (like 1970's era 4wd trucks) you the nut preload would be just finger tight. On the "newer" hubs you are talking 150-200 lb-ft of torque. He was just tightening them up loosely like the old style and the bearings would fail within a few hundred miles.
With that said, I have a 2014 front wheel drive car. It uses the exact same wheel hubs front and rear. They obviously do not require any preload because there are no CV shafts on the rear wheels to do this.

 

[Wild one]

Yes you can remove the CV's and drive it,the 4X4's and 2X4's use the exact same front hub on the 4th Gens.
My 4X4 hasn't had any of the 4X4 parts ahead of the transfer case for 10 years,and the front tires are still under it.

 

[Wild one]

Good question — short answer: No, not safely.


In a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, if you remove the CV axles, you should not drive it without them for several reasons:

1. Hub Bearings:
   • The CV axle nut holds tension on the front wheel hub bearings. Without the axle shaft in place (and the nut torqued down), the bearings can come apart or fail very quickly while driving.
2. 4WD System:
   • Even if you stay in 2WD (rear-wheel drive), the front hubs and front differential are still physically connected unless you modify it.
   • Some 2009 Rams have a system called "axle disconnect", but even then, it's risky to rely on that because the hubs are still unsupported without the axle stub.
3. Safety Risk:
   • Without the CV axles, you risk the hub disintegrating, your wheel falling off, and loss of control.

---

Options if you must move it:​

• Install a dummy axle or cut-off/stub shaft to keep the hubs compressed.
• Some people cut the CV axle, keeping only the outer stub to hold the bearing together.
• Or just install new/cheap CV axles if the originals are broken.

---

Summary:
Never drive without something holding the hub bearing together.
Best option: fix or stub the axle before moving the truck.

Not sure where you found that load of BS but it's wrong.The front hubs on a 2X4 and 4X4 are exactly the same on a 4th Gen

 

[Wild one]

I have a 2009 dodge ram. Does anyone know if you can remove the cv axles and drive with out them?

Yes you can. Been doing it for 10 years on my 4X4.The front hubs are the same between a 2X4 and 4X4,and the 2X4's don't have no stub shaft holding the hub together

 

[Quick_Shifter]

Yes you can. Been doing it for 10 years on my 4X4.The front hubs are the same between a 2X4 and 4X4,and the 2X4's don't have no stub shaft holding the hub together

But the AI on my phones search engine says it’s dangerous, LOL
Hubs are bolted in form the back Kids the axle not is not holding anything together other than holding the CV axle in place when turning

 

[CO-Ram]

I was actually looking to do the same thing on my 2016, and that’s exactly what the guy at 4Wheel Parts told me as well.
I was not trying to give incorrect information.

 

[olyelr]

But the AI on my phones search engine says it’s dangerous, LOL
Hubs are bolted in form the back Kids the axle not is not holding anything together other than holding the CV axle in place when turning

Well yea, that is true, but dont some hub bearings require the axle nut to be torqued to keep them from premature failure? This is apparently not the case with 4th gens according to the poster above.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

Well yea, that is true, but dont some hub bearings require the axle nut to be torqued to keep them from premature failure? This is apparently not the case with 4th gens according to the poster above.

Most hub bearings need to be torqued for the proper pre load. Most hubs that bolt from the back to not require any pre load. Rams have 3 rear bolts that get torqued to 120 ft lbs. but the hub is manufactured as a unit not serviceable bearings

 

[olyelr]

Most hub bearings need to be torqued for the proper pre load. Most hubs that bolt from the back to not require any pre load. Rams have 3 rear bolts that get torqued to 120 ft lbs. but the hub is manufactured as a unit not serviceable bearings

Yea ive replaced many over the last couple decades haaaa. Just wasnt sure if the preload on the axle nut played a part in how the bearing holds up.

 

[Wild one]

Yea ive replaced many over the last couple decades haaaa. Just wasnt sure if the preload on the axle nut played a part in how the bearing holds up.

View attachment 565703

If you look up part numbers the 2X4's and 4X4's use the same front hubs. Alot of times comparing part numbers is your best option

 

[olyelr]

If you look up part numbers the 2X4's and 4X4's use the same front hubs. Alot of times comparing part numbers is your best option

Gotchya…well that alone tells me theres no need for the famous “preload” on the bearing. Unless…the 2x4’s have some type of bolt/washers/nuts that get installed to simulate it ?

 

[62Blazer]

Yes you can remove the CV's and drive it,the 4X4's and 2X4's use the exact same front hub on the 4th Gens.
My 4X4 hasn't had any of the 4X4 parts ahead of the transfer case for 10 years,and the front tires are still under it.

Thanks for the verification. Yes, if the 2wd and 4wd trucks use the same front wheel bearing hub assembly than obviously do not need the CV axles installed. As previously stated there are some vehicles out there that do require the CV axles to be installed, but in this case and my car I stated above, you do not need the CV axles.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

Yea ive replaced many over the last couple decades haaaa. Just wasnt sure if the preload on the axle nut played a part in how the bearing holds up.

View attachment 565703

I’m only a decade and a half old

 

[olyelr]

I’m only a decade and a half old

A young buck !

 

[TD84]

Thank you all for your time and answers. One other thing I was wondering; if the cv's are removed will that open up the suspension in the front more? Give more travel?

 

[olyelr]

Thank you all for your time and answers. One other thing I was wondering; if the cv's are removed will that open up the suspension in the front more? Give more travel?

Not if you dont do anything other than remove the shafts.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

A young buck !

Child Prodigy LOL

 

[Quick_Shifter]

Thank you all for your time and answers. One other thing I was wondering; if the cv's are removed will that open up the suspension in the front more? Give more travel?

You’ll want to make certain that when you pull the shafts the the intermediate shaft on the front left doesn’t come out with the axle. As far as suspension travel it would essentially be worthless on a 2 wheel drive truck. Extended travel/flex is used for traction to get the tires on the ground to overcome an obstacle.