front t-case issue

[Drich]

The rear of my front driveshaft has play, not u-joints, in the t-case. The front of the transfer case at the output shaft is leaking fluid a small bit. There is a vibration from that area while driving. What would the problem be called and what does the fix entail?

My guess is a bad bearing in the t-case. That will need to be replaced, the seal, and upgrade front driveshaft or replace u-joints in it while I am at it. Sounds anywhere close?

Grab on to the round thing in the picture and it has jiggle in the t-case. More so up and down then left and right.


2011 Ranger 4.0 XLT

 

[Uncle Gump]

The seal behind that flange looks dry... you sure it's leaking there? I see wet on the crossmember but it appears to be leaking behind the seal.

Have you checked the lube in the transfer case?

 

[Drich]

Upon re-inspection, does NOT look to be leaking there. The very bottom of the t-case is a bit wet, but not up to the front output shaft.

T-case fluid was recently changed. Plenty drained out. Whatever leak there is is very small.

 

[Drich]

I was planning on doing this driveshaft conversion, and think I have all the parts for it now:

Building A Front Driveshaft For A 1998+ Ford Ranger - The Ranger Station

If you’ve lifted the suspension on your 1998 or newer 4WD Ford Ranger, than you’ve likely worn out your front driveshaft. The factory front driveshaft simply doesn’t survive at the angle created from lifting the suspension, which is why … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

 

[Drich]

Well, pulling the front driveshaft got rid of all extra noise and vibrations. The u-joint was no too good in it. Think I will end up just putting a new u-joint in the original shaft and re-install. Scared of making big changes just before winter and the upgraded driveshaft is a bit worrisome to me. Probably put it in next summer.

 

[gw33gp]

That output flange (yoke) on the front of the transfer case does not connect to a U-joint. At least that is not what is on mine. It is a CV joint and not easy to replace. Mine went bad because the boot cracked and slung out the lube. I wanted to replace the CV joint but realized it is better and not much more expensive to replace the entire front driveshaft. It is your call though.

 

[pjtoledo]

a dry ball in the cv joint can cause all sorts of really bad vibrations. the joint must rotate smoothly.
I had one start vibrating and found a dry ball, slathered some fresh grease in there and it only lasted a day or 2.
replaced the shaft with a reman one from NAPA.