disconnect rear wheel drive

[foundy]

is it poss to remove the propshaft on my 1997 rav4 and use only front wheel drive
or the other way round
i don't really want the extra fuel consumption and i feel that the car would be quieter.
please advise
thanks david

[Dewey1384]

The rear drive should only operate when the front tires spin (break traction), causing an engagement of the rear drive train, other wise they are just being passively taken along for the ride. The loss of fuel economy comes from carrying around the extra drive train parts, transfer gearing, and the rear differential. I doubt seriously if you would see any improvement in the fuel economy and you could potentially damage the remaining drive train by placing undo stress where it wasn't designed to tolerate. Best of Luck!

[foundy]

hey thanks for the very well informed reply
i was just about to try removing the drive shaft to rear wheels
but what you said makes sense and maybe it would be better if i left it the way it is.
the only question i have to add to this is if the system is supposed to kick in when front wheels spin then y is it classified as full time four wheel drive??
surely all four are engaged at the same time.
so lets try and establish what the real situation is here.
i really appreciate all comments on this thread.
cheers
david

[ibnxe]

Hate to say it, but if you were to dissconnect the drive shaft to the real wheels, the output flange to the rear wheels will spin and you will go nowhere.
In the transaxle, there is a differential that splits the torque between the front wheels and a second differential that splits torque between the front and rear axles. The torque will take the path of least resistance.

[aldeo]

Hi David,
Although I have never tried this before, but I believe if you have a 5 speed tranny and you remove the rear drive shaft and you engage the 4 wheel drive button on the dash, you can still move the vehicle. Roy

[ibnxe]

If your Rav is anything like my wifes previous, first generation 1996 Rav4, try jacking up one side of the car and spin the raised front wheel. If the raised rear wheel turns in the opposite direction, my previous post is correct, and disconnecting the prop shaft will result in no drive to the front wheels.

Please perform this test with care and be sure to block the wheels that are still on the ground, as this test has to be done with the emergency brake released.

[LifeTech]

I agree with above post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will not move.....


Boy what people will do to save 3 cents on fuel these days!

Yu would be better off just removing the engine and drive train altogether(reduce the weight) and drive your RAV like a Flinstone's car.

And, yu will have a huge trunk under your hood too!! Just imagine.

Get back to me if yu need help in doing this mod.

LT