Bad Transfer Case and Rear Differential?

[ExcursionMJ]

Well guys, I have been putting off the inevitable. I believe the rear differential and transfer case on my 04 AWD Mountaineer are both bad. I have a bad whine in the back end that has been confirmed(by a couple good shops) to be bad bearings in the rear differential. The main problem I have is how can I verify for sure that the transfer case is bad with the rear differential being bad as well?

I'm willing to get the rear differential rebuilt and buy a new transfer case because I believe in the Mountaineers and Explorers more than most. I just want to verify that I need both. I don't want to be driving it around anymore without fixing all the issues it has. I just don't want to waste money buying a transfer case if just the rear differential is bad, but I don't know how to separate the two and make sure both are bad. The front differential just had the fluid replaced, and everything looked good according to the mechanic, so no issues there.

Also just to let everyone know, I changed the differential fluid in the rear differential too and added the Ford friction modifier about a month ago. So it has fresh fluid and the friction modifier. I was hoping that would take care of the rear, but it only got a little better and now it's back to being the same.

 

[IPcamper]

I would fix the differential first since you know it is needing it, and then see if the transfer case needs work. What makes you think the transfer case is bad?

 

[TheTech79]

have you ever remove the front driveshaft on a 96 ford explorer and still was able to drive, it is AWD

 

[ZWilson07]

have you ever remove the front driveshaft on a 96 ford explorer and still was able to drive, it is AWD

Search on the forum as well as starting your own thread. You have posted this in two different threads, both of which had nothing even close to do with yours.

Go to the 95-01 section and start a new thread.

Thanks

EDIT: check these. Sorry for thread hijacking, just trying to get it back on track.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421422
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=267368
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253359
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203441
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225515

 

[5whiskey]

I would fix the differential first since you know it is needing it, and then see if the transfer case needs work. What makes you think the transfer case is bad?

^^^ This. Just have the differential fixed and then try it out. Transfer cases are good parts to get from a junkyard... they tend to outlast transmissions by a good bit, they can be self-pulled in a couple of hours, and you can usually get one far cheaper at a junkyard than you could find a refurb or new. I would be afraid of a junkyard transmission without a warranty worth more than 3k miles... not a transfer case though. Plus transfer cases are probably the easiest drivetrain component to swap.