Rolling a vehicle without center section

[jenkins71]

Hey guys, I'm going to pull the center section out of my 71 Charger and rebuild it. While its out, I'll need to be able to roll the car 4ft forward and 4ft backwards. I was wondering--is it possible to leave the axles in the car after pulling the center section, and if so can I still roll the vehicle that way?
Thanks!

 

[mmissile]

Done it many times, with no ill effects.

 

[Basket case]

I don't know if the axles would be damaged without the center, you could put a floor jack under the center and move the car that way.

 

[ODZKing]

I assume you mean pulling off the drive-shaft, yeah did it here as well. Pushed the car on and off a trailer several times.
Or are you referring to the gears/pinion/carrier etc?

 

[YY1]

I made a short section of PVC with couplings on each end.

I ran a screw through the center, perpendicular to the axle shafts.

Keeps the axles centered and protected.

 

[Dako]

I wouldn't be worried about the axles...I would be focused on the axle seals as they are commonly re-used if not leaking (unless you plan to replace them regardless). With the center section out there is no support on the inner end of the axle shafts. The leveraged weight of the car will force the inner axle ends down within the housing. This 'could' distort the axle seal causing a leak once re-assembled. Is this leveraged weight of the car put on the axle shafts enough to distort the seals?...I don't know. But it is likely the only damage that will 'possibly' be incurred.

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

I personally would not do it as it can't be very good for the axle bearings or seals. I love YY1s idea of a pvc pipe to keep the axles centred - brilliant - I'll be using that idea shortly.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

I made a short section of PVC with couplings on each end.

I ran a screw through the center, perpendicular to the axle shafts.

Keeps the axles centered and protected.

I've done it this way and simply used a floor jack too like Basket Case mentioned. Both achieved the same results.

- - - Updated - - -

But on my PVC pipe I used a through bolt with a nylock nut on the other end.

 

[jenkins71]

I made a short section of PVC with couplings on each end.

I ran a screw through the center, perpendicular to the axle shafts.

Keeps the axles centered and protected.

Hey man, could you elaborate? I would love to do this, and I'm sure others would like to know as well.

What size PVC pipe? And what length? And hat is the purpose of the screw in the middle? Thanks man!

 

[383man]

On the stock tapered type axle bearings its not a good idea. They normally butt against the axle button so the axles butt to each other through the button in the carrier and then with the end play set it keeps the bearings from spreading apart any and causing damage to them. If you just pop the axles back in on the stock type axle bearings it could damage them and would be tuff on the axle seals. Ron

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

Hey man, could you elaborate? I would love to do this, and I'm sure others would like to know as well.

What size PVC pipe? And what length? And what is the purpose of the screw in the middle? Thanks man!

Just big enough for the axles to slide into. The screw it to keep the pipe centered between axles and prevent it moving enough to allow an axle to slip out.

 

[bm02tj]

If you need to move car use the PVC idea with a spacer block in centre to spread axles same as the diff does

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I've used old radiator hose instead of pvc also