yes you heard that right lol, i got a 1998 big bear 4x4 that i rebuilt and turns out guy some guy sold it with a unorginal frame (i think), all the engine mounts hook up except a bottom one but the front drive shaft is about half inch too short and some splines are showing(it still hooks up and stays in place but will strip quickly if I ride it like that).

So i was thinking of just taking out the front diff and axles, the shaft goes to a sub trans that powers the rear end and front end together, i just need to find a way to remove the u joint so it wouldnt ding around and hit stuff when driving.

thoughts? or does it sound like i got the right idea

 

Anyway you can find a longer axle? Or have a machine shop make you one? I'd keep the 4wd..

 

ive already dropped so much money into it, im not spending another dollar


maybe i could drill the diff mount holes closer to the engine but theyre already close to the edge about 3/8th of a inch away

 

You take out the UJ spiders and leave the front half yoke in the diff and the back half yoke in the transfer box. This is a very common mod on old Big Bears (and Kawasaki KLFs) where a new shaft would cost more than the bike is worth.

 

Wouldn't it just make more sense to take out the whole front diff and sell it? I don't really need to keep it in there if I unhook the 4x4 shaft

 

Brain farts oops yeah I need to use the axles out of the diff to get the wheels on(to sit on the splined end) DUH lol.