The 4wd in my 88' MightyMax has been out of commission for about a year now due to what has to be a bad pinion bearing. I ordered what I hope is all the needed bearings and seals to get it up and functional again. I had the idea of just dropping everything out as a unit and leaving the cv axles and front driveshaft in the truck and doing the repair as I get time. I would think I would be able to use zip ties and wire to keep those parts secured out of the way enough that I would be able to use the truck in the meantime. The hubs should remain unlocked I would think, and the front driveshaft slip yoke could be secured to the transfer case so it doesn't just slide out and dump all the oil out. I think the cv axles are held into the steering knuckles with a snap ring if I remember correctly. The service manual showed everything being removed including the steering knuckles, but I don't think I would have to do that, right?

I have read one of the older threads on here talking about using a starquest differential in the front ends of these trucks. I just happen to have an 86' TSI parts car that I could pull one from which would probably be quite a nice addition while I have everything apart, I would just have to swap the ring and pinion onto it so it would be the correct 4.222 ratio for my truck.

any flaws in my logic here? I think everything sorta checks out?