school me on BW 4405 transfer cases, just curious

[pjtoledo]

they came in Explorers and from some pics it appears they have the 5 bolt pattern to mate to 4r44 or 5r55 or manual.
awd? low and hi range?
are they any good?
how fast do the clutches blow out? if they have clutches
would they even be worth considering?

 

[Josh B]

I'm not exactly certain which one I have in the 96, but it is an AWD, and it does have lo and hi range, at least on the dashboard
I didn't use it that I recall, it wasn't working but I think that was due to faulty air lines or something

 

[pjtoledo]

checking out the parts diagram. it appears to have a clutch pack that gives constant "power" to the front axle
but will allow some slip just like a traction lock. then there is a cam actuator that should fully lock in the front axle.
fully electric shift.


EDIT actually that's quite wrong, I would still like to learn about these.

does that sound right?

https://www.drivetrain.com/images/stories/product_imgs_large/bw4405_large.jpg

 

[Josh B]

That is mine also.

 

[00t444e]

Junk, I won't own a transfer case that has clutches in it.

 

[Josh B]

Junk, I won't own a transfer case that has clutches in it.

is that likely the automatic/electric ones?
Are those clutches like the ones in the differential?

 

[00t444e]

is that likely the automatic/electric ones?
Are those clutches like the ones in the differential?

They are different but just as unreliable. They use an electric solenoid to engage them.

 

[RonD]

Rangers used the BW1350 and then BW1354 after 1990 or so, main difference was low range planetary gear setup

These were 2WD or 4high and 4 low, no AWD

2000 and earlier had an electric clutch just for "shift on the fly" from 2WD to 4high, it was used to get front chain drive spinning at rear output shaft RPMs with Auto Hub equipped front wheels
This clutch was dropped in 2001 when "Live axle" was used, because front chain drive was always spinning at rear output shaft RPMs
This type of clutch was not part of the drive, power to wheels, just there to RPM match front and rear drive shafts when shifting from 2WD to 4WD while moving

Manual transfer case vehicles didn't use Auto Hubs, and did use manual hubs, if manual hubs were locked then transfer case front and rear driveshaft RPMs would be matched so "shift on the fly" required no electric clutch, like 2001 and up "Live Axle"
But if you tried to shift from 2WD to 4WD with hubs unlocked you would get some grinding

Any AWD transfer case requires one driveshaft to be "clutched", this can be clutch packs(BW4405), like Limited Slip axles, or a fluid coupler, like a torque converter
Usually the front driveshaft has the "clutch", this prevents damage in transfer case if front and rear driveshaft RPMs are not exactly matched at all times
Think of a Locked rear axle on dry pavement, great for going straight, on a turn...............well there will be damage, lol
Any AWD transfer case will have some power loss on the "clutched" driveshaft

Direct 4WD like the BW1354 is better off road

 

[North Idaho 5.oh]

Yeah… what RonD said…. 1354 manual case would be the best option!

 

[Josh B]

#Unless you wanted automatic

 

[Josh B]

Rangers used the BW1350 and then BW1354 after 1990 or so, main difference was low range planetary gear setup

These were 2WD or 4high and 4 low, no AWD

2000 and earlier had an electric clutch just for "shift on the fly" from 2WD to 4high, it was used to get front chain drive spinning at rear output shaft RPMs with Auto Hub equipped front wheels
This clutch was dropped in 2001 when "Live axle" was used, because front chain drive was always spinning at rear output shaft RPMs
This type of clutch was not part of the drive, power to wheels, just there to RPM match front and rear drive shafts when shifting from 2WD to 4WD while moving

Manual transfer case vehicles didn't use Auto Hubs, and did use manual hubs, if manual hubs were locked then transfer case front and rear driveshaft RPMs would be matched so "shift on the fly" required no electric clutch, like 2001 and up "Live Axle"
But if you tried to shift from 2WD to 4WD with hubs unlocked you would get some grinding

Any AWD transfer case requires one driveshaft to be "clutched", this can be clutch packs(BW4405), like Limited Slip axles, or a fluid coupler, like a torque converter
Usually the front driveshaft has the "clutch", this prevents damage in transfer case if front and rear driveshaft RPMs are not exactly matched at all times
Think of a Locked rear axle on dry pavement, great for going straight, on a turn...............well there will be damage, lol
Any AWD transfer case will have some power loss on the "clutched" driveshaft

Direct 4WD like the BW1354 is better off road

This is an awesome write-up Mr RonD