Hi,
I'm want to convert my 2008 CX-9 from AWD to FWD. The hanger bearings for the drive shaft went bad, so I just took the whole shaft out. It's running fine, but now the rear differential is leaking around the CV axle, so it needs CV axle seals. Instead of pouring more money into an AWD system I don't use, can any mechanics answer the following questions?

1. Can I just take the CV axles off and leave the outer housing and spline to keep the bearing together? In other words, I would be taking the CV boot off and pulling the joint out, cleaning all the grease out just leaving the housing where the rollers rest in the spline where the wheel nut attaches.
2. If I do take the axles out, that means the differential will be sitting idle and drained of fluid. The drive shaft isn't connected and the CV axles won't be connected. Will an idle differential throw a traction control fault?
3. Can I unplug the differential and remove it from the car? Will that throw a traction control fault? If so, will traction control still work on the front two wheels if needed?

Thanks for any help you are able to offer!

 

There is no feedback from the rear diff, apart from a temp sensor.

Gutting the outer joints is a good idea. Without the cv splines the bearings will collapse.

 

Can I simply unbolt and remove driveshaft and it will just be 2wd? My carrier bearings are shot