Transfer case noise...please help

[97splorer]

Can Anyone help me with this???

I have been hearing a slight binding noise coming from under my X for a month or so. I finally got sick of guessing where it was coming from, so in true Darwin Award style, I got under the truck and had my wife slowly move foward and back to locate the noise. It is coming from the transmission basically were the front and rear driveshafts both come out. I think that is the transfer case. Anyway, it is a slight binding noise but my truck runs fine and the fluid is a healthy red color. What the hell could the noise be from? Any help would be great.

thanks, Brian

 

[james3302]

Mine is kinda doing the same thing, had the transfer case oil changed, they said it didn't look to hot, It's at the transmission shop right now. It gets lounder in 4wd while backing up.

 

[Doug]

What do you mean by binding noise? do you hear something scraping? tapping? squealing? is it speed dependant? does it do it all the time? The transfer cases in our trucks arent known for being great so it's possible it's on it's way out. but i havent heard someone say they've heard a binding noise.

 

[james3302]

Grinding noise, what AAMCO said

Back part of my transmission is screwed. I drove it like 35 miles to the shop and parked it. They call me later and say that while backing it up a hill the trans locks up in reverse and wont even roll in neutral. They take a quick look at it and say that normal wear and tear has caused something to come loose in the back of it. They're going to look at the transfer case also. If the trans can be re-built it will cost $1,574, If I need a remanufactured one from Ford then it will $2,200 then $450 to put it in, wont know until Fri. This grinding noise starting happening three days ago.

AAMCO also said that the trans in Explorers are not that great, they are the same as the one's that go into Rangers, and they cannot hold all the weight. That i was lucky to get the trans to hold up for 150,000 miles. I had the trans purged at 100,000 miles because the fluid was black. If this "new" trans lasts for another 150,000 miles then I will have nothing to worry about.