HELP! Can I run without a CV axle?

[KentuckyRunner]

Broke a CV axle off inside the front diff. I had a spare axle with me on the trail, but didn't anticipate that it'd break inside the diff. I'm 2.5 hours from the house and I don't have the stuff to extract the broken axle with me. Can I take my broken axle apart, and my spare axle apart, and just use both those outer shafts bolted through my spindles to get me home? Don't want the good axle to be spinning the diff, so I figured I could just remove it and just run an outer stub shaft on each side. Tape off the holes into the diff to keep dirt out. Someone PLEASE tell me if I can or can't do this. Thanks!! 02 SR5.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

You should be able to take the broken DS axle apart, and secure the outer cup/shaft in the spindle with the axle nut to keep the wheel bearing happy on the D/S.

The CV on the P/S will not spin the diff once you put the 4Runner in 2WD. Once you put it in 2WD, the ADD system will disconnect that side from the diff at the stub shaft. Your 4WD is pretty much useless anyway, because if you leave it in 4WD, all the power will go to the side with the broken/disassembled axle, so nothing lost by shifting into 2WD (assuming you do not have a front locker).

Hopefully you can get a tug and/or limp off the trail in 2WD.

 

[KentuckyRunner]

You should be able to take the broken DS axle apart, and secure the outer cup/shaft in the spindle with the axle nut to keep the wheel bearing happy on the D/S.

The CV on the P/S will not spin the diff once you put the 4Runner in 2WD. Once you put it in 2WD, the ADD system will disconnect that side from the diff at the stub shaft. Your 4WD is pretty much useless anyway, because if you leave it in 4WD, all the power will go to the side with the broken/disassembled axle, so nothing lost by shifting into 2WD (assuming you do not have a front locker).

Hopefully you can get a tug and/or limp off the trail in 2WD.

It's the passenger side that's broke, that's why I figured I'd need to run only an outer cup in both sides to keep from spinning the diff. I was able to get it back to camp. Just cleaned out aNY loose broken shrapnel, slapped it back together, and headed for camp. Thanks for your input BFAD!