4x4 What to expect?

[enough]

This may seem like a strange question but I have no prior knowledge (benchmark) with which to compare, so forgive my ignorance.

(Specs: Donor truck, v6 4.0l, 98 with electronic shift, Borg Warner 44-05 Transfer Case, going into same spec but a 2000)

OK, I'm putting a 'new' transfer case from a donor truck, into my truck to replace my transfer case, which is toast (NOTE: Borg Warner 44-05). Everything appears fine with the donor transfer case, but I thought I should see if anything is wrong with the donor T case with an actual field test. I figured I would see is it is indeed going into 4 High when the dash light comes on and says it is (when I turn the dash switch to 4 high which is supposed to distribute power 50% to front wheels and 50% to rear wheels), So I came up with the idea of going onto some wet gravel, inching the front of the vehicle so it's touching a tree, so it cant move, and revving high enough to get the wheels to spin. The 'logic' being that if both the front wheels were spinning and both the back wheels were spinning, then 4x4 is working. I did not get this result however, Only the rear wheels span, which does not seem correct.

Is this test unnatural? Or should I have seen the front and back wheels spin? If you think this is a crazy way to test, can you please suggest a way that I can verify that 4h is indeed working when it's engaged. (NOTE: The vehicle does 'hop' and bind when on a tight turn on pavement, so the hubs are locking)

It just seems to me that even though the 4h light is coming on and even though the hubs are locking that the front wheels are not getting anywhere near 50% of the power.

 

[slickemhoundd]

Just keep in mind your truck does not run locking hubs. You have an actuator in your front axle. Also with your tcase and front axle they both are controlled seperatly. So your front axle can still engage even tho your tcase may not. But that test should have worked. If not when in gravel give a light powerbrake for a second or two and let off to accelerate to spin wheels

 

[Wills05xlt4x4]

Let's not forget that this truck has a open diff in the front and at best a ls in the back so you Will NEVER see all four tires pulling...if you did Noone would install lockers...
Do the two trucks have 4x4 auto or 2wd option? The clutch pack that engages the front diff could be worn out...this is what the brown wire and magnet n case do...
Check brown wire for voltage; if the brown wire has no power then the magnet that engages this clutch that drives the front wheels Will never engage...