Originally Posted by andrewwynn

You can run the xdrive with the FRONT driveshaft off but likely NOT the back. You will have no way to stop the spinning of the output shaft. I suppose you can maybe go into neutral. I had a similar problem when I changed the transfer case and wanted to do some testing part way through assembly.

TC doesn't need the precision of transmission I actually filled that before installing into the car.

I remember at one point realizing it would be a problem trying to go from R to P if I can't hit the brakes.

You could possibly go to N and very quickly to P or just turn off the engine when done working through the gears.