Transmission Problem and Idea - T-case, front diff

[Titan08.5]

Okay so here is the situation my 4x4 light started flashing did it for about a year. I could not put it in to 4x4 so it drove fine no issues... well a year down the road started to hear a loud clunking noise, took it to the mechanics to trouble shoot it and its what I thought it was the frond differential was going out. So I drove it some more not thinking anything of it and low and behold I was pulling in to the drive way and heard a pop and then I had no forward or reverse you could hear the transmission spinning cause when I went from drive to park it sounded like a clicking noise.

Also it would roll if I didnt keep my foot on the brake.... if that helps

98 explorer awd 4.0

who thinks its the transfer case that went out?
who thinks its the transmission that went out?
who thinks its just the front differential that went out?

Options to fix the issue...

what if I wanted to just make it a 2wd explorer and save money
option A: pull the T-case and front diff. and the half shafts and hook up a longer drive shaft from a 2wd explorer.

Option B: pull the t-case and get a used one and see if that fixes the issue and just start replacing parts...

Option C: part it out as it sits and see how much I can get out of it

Thanks for reading and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[drdoom]

Transfer case.

 

[drdoom]

That's a long time to drive with warning lights on.

 

[Titan08.5]

yeah but my theory on it was I was going to drive it till it broke then buy an new car.... which i did so now I have this great explorer sitting in my drive way and would love to fix it and sell it off.

 

[Titan08.5]

Im hearing that there are more than one type of transfer case for the 4.0 ga ca c.... are they interchangeable?

 

[koda2000]

+1 transfer case.

 

[drdoom]

Titan yes I found that out myself when my transfer case went out. Don't really know about the interchangeability, but there are some differences like a 97 has the VSS vehicle speed sensor in the rear of the case, 98 on do not. Also the front output flange can vary, I believe yours is the six bolt cup style. Sorry, I never did figure the CA GA blah blah, but they have tags & decals on there under the grime.

 

[drdoom]

For what its worth I have a 97 and it came with a GA. I have an AA here also from an unknown year and it has no VSS and has the cup flange and some freaking counterweight on there as well.

 

[Titan08.5]

Well Im on my way out to start taking the front diff off... I think the front diff failed causing the transfer case to go bad... so with luck ill find out which transfer case i have tonight. A guy has on on craigslist for 50.00 lets hope they match...

 

[Titan08.5]

Well I was hoping by dropping the diff the half shafts would come out also.... Yeah no... Looks like I have to pull the spindles to get the half shaft out then the diff will drop out... Sucks... So Im out to pull the calipers and spindles...

 

[drdoom]

Those cases go bad pretty frequently regardless, there are a couple of weak areas, mainly the shift rail related issues. There is a good rebuild thread in the transmission sub-forum if you haven't seen it yet. I bet with the craigslist case and your old one you could get it going no problem. That case is really simple on the inside, just open it gently USING THE TABS INTENDED FOR THAT PURPOSE. I see these cases come in gouged all to heck from people jamming knives, shivs, screwdrivers whatever jeez! Any way just open it up and keep track of what you're doing with a camera and some cable ties keep it organized its not bad.

 

[Titan08.5]

Hey I need a little help Ive got everything out now I need to know how to and what to fill the two up with... is the tcase just regular transmission fluid and the front diff is diff fluid?

 

[AOCUSNRET]

t-case fluid

page 1-42 of Chilton's Ranger/Explorer/Mountaineer book says Mercon atf

 

[Titan08.5]

Thanks I cant find my darn manual i looked all over... and its missing....

 

[AOCUSNRET]

Titan, I'm happy to share mine :<))

 

[drdoom]

Like AOCUSNRET said, dex/merc in the t-case, and I recommend 75W/90 lucas synthetic for thhe front axle.

 

[koda2000]

Like AOCUSNRET said, dex/merc in the t-case, and I recommend 75W/90 lucas synthetic for thhe front axle.

i may be wrong, but i thought i remembered reading something like 75w140 full synthetic for the diffs (with friction modifier if posi) in the owner's manual. dex/merc is correct for the t-case.

 

[drdoom]

Hey koda, you are partially correct, the 75W/140 is what you want in the REAR axle.

 

[Titan08.5]

Okay need some real help here... Got the transfer case off got the one of Craigslist... same one.. AA would you believe it... But when I dropped my transfer case I noticed the Transfer case motor is really really rusty and one of the clips that looks like is a speed sensor broke... so i go to the oriely and advanceauto parts online to look at a picture of the part and it does not have the sensors.... any Ideas?

 

[drdoom]

Can you post a photo of the broken part?