Hi all- I'm nick and I'm pretty new to the forum. I have a '96 blazer with just over 200k on an AWD, and about 20k ago I lost the transfer case. Instead of replacing it, we decided to pull out the driveshaft between the transfer case and the front diff, haven't had much of a problem with it since, besides the fact that now when I put the truck in park it never completely locks and will slowly roll when parked on a grade.
Anyhow, I'm about to replace the ball joints, and I figured that while I have the front end apart I should check to see if I can part out any of the front wheel drive system that I'm not using. I heard rumors that the axle's retain the wheel bearings, but I figured I should check with some people who actually have blazers first. Thanks all- you may be hearing from me periodically over the next few days as I have an endless list of work and a shop available.

 

Why not fix it properly? You will never have park if you do not fix the problem.

What happened to the transfer case to make you say that you "lost" it?

 

It may have been your front differential not the transfer case thats the issue. If you had a failed awd transfer case you probably wouldnt be able to move at all. If I recall you will also damage the transfer case if it is still good by running it RWD only.

 

Typically, when the clutch in the earlier AWD transfer case goes bad, it locks up causing issues while turning, but not really during any other time. This is likely why the front driveshaft was removed.

 

sorry, I should have been more thorough- It started when I felt a clicking in the drivetrain when I turned and quickly progressed to slipping. Pressed for time I took it to a few shops and all three told me it was my transfer case so I never checked it myself. They all told me that it was full of metal shavings, and they were asking for $3k for a new transfer case. I loved the AWD, but I really have no need for it. I would prefer a RWD for the simplicity and mpg.

 

If the transfer case was slipping, removing the front driveshaft should have only made it worse...

Guess you would rather tear out everything than fix it.

To answer your questions, the wheel bearings should be fine without the axle shaft going through them. I had initially thought there was something to the way things were bolted together, but after seeing a LOT of these bearings over the years, it is now apparent that they are very similar to the 2wd design which has no front driveshaft.

Now that leaves you to what to do with the transfer case to make sure you have park and that it will not just slip on you some day. The easiest and (IMO) best option here is to swap out the transfer case for a NP231 version and just leave it in 2wd mode. This would ensure that park works properly and that you have constant power to the rear axle when you want it.

You could fix your truck all together by swapping the transfer case and the front axle for the regular 4wd version. Or you could put a new clutch in your transfer case, reinstall the front driveshaft and be back to a functioning AWD system.

 

one of the mechanics i work with said not to drive without the axles shafts. They hold the hubs together.

 

I cannot believe that to be true. That is what I was told quite a while ago as well, but after seeing these hubs apart, there is nothing about the axle that holds anything together. Hub itself (what the wheel mounts to and what has the splines inside) is one solid piece of metal. It goes all the way through and is what the axle mounts into. As such, when you tighten down on the axle nut, you are not really holding anything, but the axle to the hub together. And since there is nothing mechanical holding most front axle shafts into the differential, how could it hold the anything at the wheel.

 

how complicated is it to only swap the transfer case to the np231?

 

Should only be a matter of unbolting the current transfer case and bolting up the NP231. You will want to get the front and rear drive shafts out of the donor truck (provided that it is a 4dr).