manimal
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- June 27, 2006
- Messages
- 147
- Reaction score
- 15
- City, State
- Gig Harbor WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 96 XLT
I have been chasing a vibration on my old 96 that seemed to be coming from the trans tunnel/driveshaft area - the vibration does not feel strongest in the steering wheel but instead was very strong when putting my hand on the top/side of the center console. It starts around 50MPH and continues onward. Tires are new, have been balanced several times (balance not changing) and are not out of round. So yesterday I decide to get under and check to see if I have a bad U-joint, and I discover that the rear output yoke on the transfer case has quite a bit of in/out and up/down play. It has also been leaking fluid for some time, which I figured was just a weeping seal that needed to be replaced.
Needless to say I believe the source of the highway vibrations has been located.
So now I have learned that this is extremely common with higher mileage BW4405. Well mine has almost 230,000 miles so I guess that includes me.
I'm leaning towards finding a BW1354 electronic shift oand GEM from a 95/96 Ranger and swapping it in, but it would probably be easier logistically to just do a basic rebuild on the 4405, including bearings, bushings, and clutches. I have read the rebuild diary and it looks like a very simple operation http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...rner-4405-transfer-case-rebuild-diary.182071/
However I see that the writer of the diary simply chose to purchase the Omega rebuilt case halves and it doesn't seem to address one crucial issue: is there a way to sleeve the worn rear case half to install a new bearing to achieve a tight fit, or to somehow shim the bearing cavity so that 4405 can be easily rebuilt at home? Is it possible to do without machine shop services?
I was planning on keeping the Explorer around as a 2nd vehicle and having my wife drive it in bad weather or snow, which the Control Trac is perfect for.. For that reason I prefer to not lose its particular set of features by going to a BW1354.
Needless to say I believe the source of the highway vibrations has been located.
So now I have learned that this is extremely common with higher mileage BW4405. Well mine has almost 230,000 miles so I guess that includes me.
I'm leaning towards finding a BW1354 electronic shift oand GEM from a 95/96 Ranger and swapping it in, but it would probably be easier logistically to just do a basic rebuild on the 4405, including bearings, bushings, and clutches. I have read the rebuild diary and it looks like a very simple operation http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...rner-4405-transfer-case-rebuild-diary.182071/
However I see that the writer of the diary simply chose to purchase the Omega rebuilt case halves and it doesn't seem to address one crucial issue: is there a way to sleeve the worn rear case half to install a new bearing to achieve a tight fit, or to somehow shim the bearing cavity so that 4405 can be easily rebuilt at home? Is it possible to do without machine shop services?
I was planning on keeping the Explorer around as a 2nd vehicle and having my wife drive it in bad weather or snow, which the Control Trac is perfect for.. For that reason I prefer to not lose its particular set of features by going to a BW1354.
