97 Limited 5.0 AWD - tcase problems?

[nismotunedgtr]

So my girl just bought a really nice black /gray fully loaded 97 Limited up here in Maine. Paid $900 and drove it home to Portland from Bangor.

So far I've done:

-Plugs and wires (had 3 different types of plugs and wires)
-Jmod done to the tranny (12k miles on reman, shifts amazing!)
-All fluids changed to Synthetic (EXCEPT T case)
-Air ride removed completely
-New rear calipers, rotors and ceramic pads all around
-$1200 Alpine component sounds sytem
-MAC cat back
-All interior LED lighting
-Rear shackles
-Front poly sway bar bushings and links
-Upper control arm bushings
-Lowered 2" and aligned


When we bought it the owner said it had no front driveshaft because the driveshaft was bad. Not unheard of obviously...

Well, it doesn't roll away in park. It slowly creeps, like maybe 6" over 16 hour period.

The front diff pinion flops all around and leaks BAD.

So right now it needs a front diff rebuild and a driveshaft.

I am concerned it also needs a transfer case, because it doesn't roll away without the front driveshaft. I fear the fluid coupling is worn and not slipping like it should.

Any input?

 

[SoNic67]

If it was driven without the front drive shaft, you have 90% chances that the viscous coupling inside the center differential is fried (overheated).

PS: That is not a T-Case like on 4x4 systems, it is a real differential, with the slip front-back limited by VC.

 

[nismotunedgtr]

That's what I figured.... To me, it's worth fixing or swapping to a rear tcase. We live in maine and this Explorer has original non-rusted brake lines and the rocker panels are SOLID. It was a amazing find! Too bad it wasn't kept-up.

So would you say it's smoked juding by the fact it barely rolls down a 45* incline over night? I can hear it creep sometimes...