will removal of rear axles make car immobile?
 

Will removal of rear axles make a car immobile? I have a 240D parts car that I might scavange the rear axles for my 85 wagon and I was wondering if it would make the 240 immobile. As in, will it make it a non roller? Its not quite ready to be put up on blocks and stripped, but getting real close.

The car will roll fine with no axles in place!

If it's auto, putting the transmission in Park will not secure the vehicle. You will need to engage the emergency brake or place chocks on the wheels.

This part is true of removing even one shaft...

Thats great news :) Thanks. It was a manual trans ad the trans has long been removed. I'll continue to use the parking brake.

I wonder if you will harm the rear wheel bearing if you load them w/o the axle?

I doubt it.
It's not like the car is going far.....

jim

If it was a double-row ball bearing, as typically found on FWD cars, it would be damaged without the side load. These are easily identified by having a huge bolt (eg 16-18 mm with 27-35 mm head) and huge torque (eg 295 N-m).

The MB in question has tapered roller bearings, which are held together by a nut, which is then clinched in place to prevent loosening as the assembly rotates. The little 8 mm bolt (13 mm head) which holds the stub axle in does nothing to secure the bearing.

Roll away sans shafts!