Thanks for your help Don. I know I have done nothing to this truck for it
to do this. I did buy the truck brand new with a whopping 5 miles on it.
It's got about 70k on now. Like I said, I know that I haven't driven it in
a way to cause this, although there was a period for maybe a year or so that
my parents used this truck. Now, I know my dad is smart enough how to drive
it, and since my mom was the one who used it the most, I'm not sure if she
even knew how to put in 4x4. The thing that I'm really not sure of is the
fact that I has 3 teenage siblings that had access to this truck. One was
my brother who wouldn't surprise me if he spend a little time ragging on it
if he got a hold of it, but my parents know this too so I'm not sure if he
had much of a chance. Now, on the other hand, I have twin sisters who
probably drove it fairly often, and though I'm not too worried about them, I
do know how teenage boys can be if there chicky has a nice rice, and I don't
want to brag, but this a damn nice truck. So if they let some dude drive
it, there is no telling what my baby went through. Anyway, I found the
metal shavings by taking out the fill plug and sticking the ol finger in.
It's that bad. Now, I've had my share of tinkering around on things(I'm
originally from and grew up in SW Kansas) and I've been tempted to open her
up and take a look, but I've never seen the inside of a transfer case and I
didn't want to cross a point of no return, since this is my only mode of
transportation. I'm just kinda looking for a worse case scenario on what
parts might cost me. I think I said earlier, I got an estimate to get it
rebuilt for 350 labor. They didn't mention what parts would/could run. I
know I could take it out and take it in myself, maybe saving a little bit of
labor. I've seen some online places selling rebuilt ones for $750 I believe
and give me $350 back for mine. That looks like maybe the way to go really,
unless parts for mine aren't going to run much. I still need to call some
salvage yards and price a used one, that should be cheaper yet(you'd think)
Anyway, thanks for you help and anything else you can help with is greatly
appreciated.
Nate
"Don" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:kSu8b.27745$n94.2968@fed1read04...
> Ok! First OUCH!!! Sorry to hear that. The metal shavings don't sound
good.
> No pun intended - seriously - usually this doesn't happen unless you are
> inclinded to run it in 4wd on dry pavement - don't laugh - an awful lot of
> soccer moms (not that I'm saying you are - don't get upset ) run 4wd's in
> full 4wd drive mode when they take their little precious's to their soccer
> practice if it happens to sprinkle.
> I went back to check your old messages - a '97 shouldn't be
self-destructing
> on you. Did you take it to a Jiffy lube or equal and they changed your
lube
> to something they shouldn't have? Did you run it for extended periods (or
> (again - so offense here to the fairer sex) you wife/significant
> other/partner/etc (see even us old fats have learned all the new PC terms)
> for an extended time when they shouldn't have?)
> They will all make noise and vibration, etc when in 4wd on dry cause
> somewhere there has to be something slipping - usually the tires do it.
> Hell, my Ford does it when in 2WD if I crank the wheels too far on dry
> pavement. But it usually ain't gonna do damage unless engaged for an
> extended period. Have you changed the tires to some monster ones that
won't
> slip? I also assume a '97 ain't got a whole buncha miles on it - I forot
to
> ask you that before.
> Do you do a lot of driving in semi-slippery conditions - partial snow/ice?
> I wouldn't worry about opening up the front d - unless you changed it for
a
> limited slip.
> The problem sounds like it is in the T-case. You didn't say how you saw
the
> metal shavings in the T-case. You may want to go ahead and take the
plunge
> and open 'er up - there aren't that many parts - and you will get some
first
> hand experience.
> Sorry I've rambled on so long Nate, I've been trying to figure out what
the
> H could have caused it - I'm not really a Dodge man - but I've never known
> anyone to have them come apart like this.
> If you open it up or have more info that might shed some light on it, let
us
> know. I'm sure even if this dumb old fart ain't got the answer, someone
in
> here might be able to help you.
> Good luck, Nate - sorry I don't have an answer.
> Papa (and perhaps senile) Don
>
>
> "N8Dogg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:xPa8b.420597$Ho3.66975@sccrnsc03...
> > I'm sure it was the same noise, and I'm sure it wasn't a good one. I
also
> > know that it is definitely the transfer case. I'm not sure quite yet
what
> > exactly it is, but I've checked everything on the truck related to the 4
> > wheel drive except opening up the front diff and the transfer case.
> Another
> > thing that kinda gave it away is when I checked the fluid in the t case,
> > it's totally full of metal shavings. Now, if that's not a bad sign, I
> don't
> > know what is. I'm not sure what exactly it needs, but unless the parts
> are
> > going to be next to nothing, I can pick up a remanufactured one for not
a
> > lot more then what the labor is going to cost me to get mine fixed, and
> > considering it's probably going to be 2 or 3 moths before I can get it
> > fixed, it's probably only going to get worse.
> >
> > Nate
> >
> >
> > "Don" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:doa8b.25081$n94.7507@fed1read04...
> > > OK - Good reason...
> > >
> > > I assume then, that it was making the same noise last year??? Can
you
> > > share what went wrong with the transfer case - they are usually (at
> least
> > > from my experience) pretty reliable (at least in the part time 4wd
> mode).
> > > Are you sure it was making the same noise in slippery conditions -
such
> as
> > > snow. Not trying to insult you here - so don't get ****ed or
anything.
> I
> > > just know that I've gotten quite a few 4wd stuck in snow (usually with
a
> > > snow mobile trailer attached) in places that sane people would not
have
> > > gone. Gotten some pretty odd noises but mostly odd smells. Don't
know
> to
> > > this day if it was the transfer case or the spinning tires - but that
> was
> > > about 100k miles ago and the damn things is still going strong. Hate
to
> > have
> > > you spend money on something that may not be broken is all. Let us
know
> > what
> > > it turns out to be.
> > >
> > > Good luck,
> > > Papa Don
> > >
> > > "N8Dogg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:ZFS7b.416200$uu5.75468@sccrnsc04...
> > > > Well, the only reason I was engaging it in the dry is because I knew
> the
> > > > last time I used it(last winter)
> > > > there was something wrong with it. I figured now would be a good
time
> > to
> > > > try and get it fixed (before winter hits again)
> > > > Turns out it's the Transfer case. I now get to decided if it's
better
> > to
> > > > fix it, or to just replace it. So far it looks
> > > > like I can get a reconditioned TC for about what it's gonna cost to
> get
> > it
> > > > fixed if not cheaper.
> > > >
> > > > N8
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Don" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > news:e1R7b.24731$n94.24337@fed1read04...
> > > > > Dude - why are you engaging it in the dry - at least it sounds
like
> > you
> > > > are.
> > > > > (if you aren't I apologize) The 4x4 is "part time" that means no
> > center
> > > > > differential. It is locked. On the dry you will have axle windup
> (at
> > > > least
> > > > > that is what us old timers called it) and popping is the least of
> your
> > > > > concern - broken gears or more likely shafts are what you should
> worry
> > > > > about. My grandpa had a saying: Drive where you are going in
> 2-wheel
> > > > drive.
> > > > > If you get stuck, put it in 4-wheel drive - and then go home cause
> you
> > > > drove
> > > > > somewhere you shouldn't have. (Grandpa wasn't real adventurous).
> But
> > > the
> > > > > theory holds. Put it in 4-wheel only if you are stuck or pretty
> > damned
> > > > sure
> > > > > you are gonna be. On a dry surface, yous askin for truble.
> > > > >
> > > > > "N8Dogg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > > I have a 1997 Dodge ram 1500. My truck is doing some weird
things
> > when
> > > I
> > > > > put
> > > > > > it in 4 wheel drive. First thing I noticed(this isn't my big
> > concern
> > > > > > because I've seen other trucks do this) was that when it's in 4
> and
> > > I'm
> > > > > > turning at a slow speed or a sharp turn, it's really jerky and
> kinda
> > > > makes
> > > > > a
> > > > > > popping noise. My big concern though is lately I hear a
grinding
> > > noise.
> > > > > > Seems like it's coming from the front of the truck. I can
"feel"
> it
> > > > too.
> > > > > > It seems to be really bad when I'm going slower, but when I'm
> > cruising
> > > > it
> > > > > > seems to get a lot better. I've checked my fluid in the
transfer
> > case
> > > > and
> > > > > > the diffs. The drive shafts look ok. Anyone have any
> suggestions?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks
> > > > > > Nathan
> > > > > > [email protected]
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
