converting 4wheel drive to 2wheel drive

I have a 1993 Jimmy SLT 4x4 4.3 L ( W ) and i need to know if its possible to make it 2 wheel drive by removing just the front axles. The reason is that the flange that bolts the halfshaft to the axle is bent (passenger side)causing the cv joint to bind and there's a nasty vibration @ 80 km/h and up .. Not to mention that it goes through a ton of $FUEL$
i just need to know if the wheels will fall off without the axle bolting through the rotor

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

The axle shafts are splined into the wheel bearings / hub assemblies and have a 36mm nut retaining them. The wheel bearing / hub assembly itself is bolted to the knuckle and the axle goes through it. Shouldn't be a problem.

ahhh perfect THANK YOU !!! thats exactly what i wanted to hear :thumbsup:

*Update*
I got myself 1 of those Chiltons Vehicle library CDs and it says ..

"**Warning
DO NOT allow the vehicle's weight to load the front wheels or attempt to operate the vehicle when the drive axle(s) or hub nut(s) are removed. To do so may cause the front wheel bearing inner races to seperate resulting in damage to the front brake and suspension components and/or personal injury."

(Guess that's why it needs to be torqued to 180 ft lbs.)

So i have decided to cut the axles just after the splines with the sawsall so that the nut/bolt/splines will still hold the bearings together.

It's gettin warmer out so i will be doing this soon. (hopefully)
Yay! no more laying in a snowbank to work on my truck

*Update*
I got myself 1 of those Chiltons Vehicle library CDs and it says ..

"**Warning
DO NOT allow the vehicle's weight to load the front wheels or attempt to operate the vehicle when the drive axle(s) or hub nut(s) are removed. To do so may cause the front wheel bearing inner races to seperate resulting in damage to the front brake and suspension components and/or personal injury."

(Guess that's why it needs to be torqued to 180 ft lbs.)

So i have decided to cut the axles just after the splines with the sawsall so that the nut/bolt/splines will still hold the bearings together.

It's gettin warmer out so i will be doing this soon. (hopefully)
Yay! no more laying in a snowbank to work on my truck

from my favorite back yard mechanic, Red Green, if it don't fit, use the secret weapon, duct tape, keep your stick on the ice!!

duct tape? nawww i dont need to do any bodywork yet :wink: lol

Is it possible to just remove the front drive shaft that connects the transfer case to the transmission to make it 2wd? Is that safe?