>> If your front and rear gear ratios are not the same you cannot drive it
>> in 4x4 on anything but soft sand/thick gravel or snow/ice without
>> severely thrashing your truck.
>
> Even IF the ratios are exactly the same, you ought not drive in 4WD on
> anything other than dirt or gravel.
Well, whatever happened to good ol' dirt? When God made the world, he
covered it with dirt and some places it has a layer of grass on top of that.
Both of those are completely safe to wind up your transfer case on. Just
based on the fact that a person would go to the computer and ask where a
surface might be that's got less traction than asphalt, I fear for the
republic.
With that said, though, I think these transfer case alarmists are just
repeating a bunch of heresay. I wouldn't take any of them at their word
unless they'd personally busted about 10 transfer cases. I'm completely
serious. I've never managed to break one.
Dan S. - 25 Jun 2007 04:19 GMT
Joe brought next idea :
>>> If your front and rear gear ratios are not the same you cannot drive it in
>>> 4x4 on anything but soft sand/thick gravel or snow/ice without severely
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> surface might be that's got less traction than asphalt, I fear for the
> republic.
I didn't ask what surface to attempt to drive it on. I asked if there
was a safe way to *test* it. That statment doesn't necesitate driving.
I also asked if certain things I mentioned were normal and no one,
including your wise self, who obviously failed to read the post,
answered that part.
> With that said, though, I think these transfer case alarmists are just
> repeating a bunch of heresay. I wouldn't take any of them at their word
> unless they'd personally busted about 10 transfer cases. I'm completely
> serious. I've never managed to break one.

Signature
Yours,
Dan S.
The first step to claiming victory over an addiction is to admit that
you believe in addictions.
Jeff Strickland - 25 Jun 2007 04:38 GMT
> Joe brought next idea :
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> asked if certain things I mentioned were normal and no one, including your
> wise self, who obviously failed to read the post, answered that part.
You also didn't tell us what surface you were driving on.
If you were not driving on dirt, then the noise is normal. Maybe not
"normal" per se, but understandable. If you drive on dirt or gravel, and IF
your mechanic is not a complete idiot, then driving on dirt is a good test.
Dan S. - 25 Jun 2007 18:40 GMT
Jeff Strickland wrote :
> You also didn't tell us what surface you were driving on.
>
> If you were not driving on dirt, then the noise is normal. Maybe not "normal"
> per se, but understandable. If you drive on dirt or gravel, and IF your
> mechanic is not a complete idiot, then driving on dirt is a good test.
It was indeed on the street. This is my first 4wd vehicle. I was
wondering if maybe it had something to do with the locking hubs or
something. I certainly can't afford front axles or a transfer case.

Signature
Yours,
Dan S.
Probably not a fan of your team either.
Jeff Strickland - 26 Jun 2007 00:40 GMT
> Jeff Strickland wrote :
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> wondering if maybe it had something to do with the locking hubs or
> something. I certainly can't afford front axles or a transfer case.
Then the noise and sensations in the steering wheel were normal. Go out to
the dirt and test it again.
Dan S. - 26 Jun 2007 04:48 GMT
Jeff Strickland was thinking very hard :
> Then the noise and sensations in the steering wheel were normal. Go out to
> the dirt and test it again.
If I do, somehow, blow the transfer case, either hitting a dry patch in
the snow or whatever, do the rear wheels still work? Maybe a stupid
question to anyone who has peered into one, but I've haven't had the
opportunity.

Signature
Yours,
Dan S.
Probably not a fan of your team either.
Jeff Strickland - 28 Jun 2007 01:53 GMT
> Jeff Strickland was thinking very hard :
>>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> question to anyone who has peered into one, but I've haven't had the
> opportunity.
It takes a long time to damage the transfer case. If your habit is to select
4WD and hit the highway in bad weather, then you are going to damage the
tcase. If you habit is to hit the highway in bad weather, then select 4WD on
an as-needed basis, then you are not going to damage the tcase over an
instance or two of dry land.
You do not sound very sure of yourself in this matter, I'd encourage you to
have a mechanically inclined friend over for some beers, and ask him to help
you determine if the gears are the same on the front and rear.
You have to draw a mark on the tire, and draw another mark on the drive
shaft. Then turn the drive shaft and count how many times it goes around for
the tire to go once. You should have 3.07, 3.73, or some number like that.
The 3.07 gears will make the driveshaft turn just a bit more than 3 full
turns, the 3.73s will make it turn almost 3 3/4 turns.
Jason - 27 Jun 2007 08:31 GMT
> With that said, though, I think these transfer case alarmists are just
> repeating a bunch of heresay. I wouldn't take any of them at their word
> unless they'd personally busted about 10 transfer cases. I'm completely
> serious. I've never managed to break one.
then prepare to be blown away.... this is ONE of 3 cases of the same model
(dana 20, EB version) that busted when i *thought* my front and rear hd the
same gears, silly me. http://picasaweb.google.com/WunTunEarlyBKO/Carnage
i also tore in half the NP208 that was in my 85 F250 but it wasnt near as
cool since its a magnesium cased unit.
make DARN sure you dont use 4x4 on high traction surfaces! and if you must
then make sure you have the same ratios!
also, are you running auto hubs? or manual hubs? if autos then they are
notorious for making weird/undesirable noises!
wet grass is your best test pad =)
-cutts-