4wd slipping, watter in diff.

[c_note]

im bettin its in your carrier or ring gear. before my rear took a dump, sometime when id make a turn i could feel that side tire lock up and then go as everything was ok. it wasnt extreme but i could tell it was there. then one day of driving it finally shot a carrier bolt through the diff cover and was catching every 2 minutes.

do you know what was catching? it was the carrier bolts that backed out and fell to the bottom of the diff getting cought on every other turn of the ring gear.

it kinda sound like what your dealing with so check your setup. i hope this helps.

 

[4x4junkie]

My money's on the t-case.

In the past, I've seen a fair number of reports of slipping chains in the '98up cases (why only these and not earlier ones I don't know, never been inside a '98up case to know what's different in them. AFAIK, it was only the front yoke).

They would slip under load, as if something is flexing or stretching inside there.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Maybe "slipping" is the wrong term. The chain will skip and jump along the drive and driven sprockets. The sensation is very violent and can come and go depending on throttle and road conditions.

The cam that moves the shift forks wear out too. The hi/low range hub will move and disengage from the planetary and will feel like it's in neutral along with a very loud ratcheting/whirring noise. Usually happens under medium to heavy throttle.

 

[Woods-Rider]

So i went up in some mild snow today by myself and i couldnt make it slip (didnt push it much though being afraid of getting stuck alone) so im crossing my fingers and hoping just filling the diff fixed it. i should be going back up with some friends this weekend and will be able to push it a little more to be sure.

 

[Danger-Ranger96]

I also noticed this problem in 4wd in my 96. I only get it when i go down hills but when theres load on the truck, it clunks (i thought it was bad u-joints) so i changed them out, i still noticed it, and i still haven't fixed it. Its sort of hard to explain BUT i know when i go down a hill, it almost feels like it goes into neutral for a second and catchs and hooks back up (i dont know if its the same problem you're having). I think it may be something in my tranny causing it. I know it gets really bad in 4low due to the extra load on everything. 4Hi isn't as bad but it is still there.

 

[Woods-Rider]

I also noticed this problem in 4wd in my 96. I only get it when i go down hills but when theres load on the truck, it clunks (i thought it was bad u-joints) so i changed them out, i still noticed it, and i still haven't fixed it. Its sort of hard to explain BUT i know when i go down a hill, it almost feels like it goes into neutral for a second and catchs and hooks back up (i dont know if its the same problem you're having). I think it may be something in my tranny causing it. I know it gets really bad in 4low due to the extra load on everything. 4Hi isn't as bad but it is still there.

Mine is the opposite of what you are describing. it usually only happens under a load, doesn't have to be much of a load though, but going down hill i rarely feel it.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I also noticed this problem in 4wd in my 96. I only get it when i go down hills but when theres load on the truck, it clunks (i thought it was bad u-joints) so i changed them out, i still noticed it, and i still haven't fixed it. Its sort of hard to explain BUT i know when i go down a hill, it almost feels like it goes into neutral for a second and catchs and hooks back up (i dont know if its the same problem you're having). I think it may be something in my tranny causing it. I know it gets really bad in 4low due to the extra load on everything. 4Hi isn't as bad but it is still there.

Mine did that same exact thing, only on downhill compression braking in 4low, regardless if the hubs were locked or unlocked, it was the t-case, I'm thinking since it did it with the hubs out it was something in the planetary and not the chain.

 

[Woods-Rider]

So i didnt notice the slipping sensation for a while, but it came back ever so slightly on saturday while doing some light wheelin. i just drained the T-case to look at the chain and the tension seemed fine (i could move it about 1/4 inch when poking with a screwdriver). since it seemed to be way less noticeable after i got rid of all that water in the diff im thinking ill flush the diff to make sure all the water is out and then go from there.

 

[Woods-Rider]

Im bringing this thread back to life. I have the same sudden slipping jerking thing happening. very noticeable when i have chains on drving on about 3" of packed snow.

how do you tighten the chain in the T-case? is it easy or do you have to open it up?

here's a pic of the chain. it feels tight but it looks like there is a gap between the chain and the sprocket at the top. maybe thats the way its supposed to be, i dont know.

 

[Woods-Rider]

bump

 

[metalmacguyver]

There is no adjustment for the chain. If there is a problem, your tcase fluid will have a sparkle to it from the metal particulate in it.

Also, If the chain is slipping you will hear some strange noises coming from the tcase.

Do you have any noises at all?

 

[Woods-Rider]

when it happens there is a big "clunk" and the front end looses power.

 

[Woods-Rider]

I finally had my T-case looked at by a professional because i couldnt see anything wrong. he said it all checks out so the problem is not in the T-case. it feels like something is binding up and the big "clunk/bang" and jolting is when its letting loose. the guy said it almost has to be in the differential since its not the T-case. what possibly could this be?

 

[Woods-Rider]

oh man, now you have me second guessing what i thought was already checked. lol

 

[Crunchy]

Just to get you thinking, but are you sure its part of the drivetrain?

I had the same problem, I could have sworn it was my tranny or diffy. It felt like someone hit me from behind. Turned out to be a leak in my intake tube causing a lean missfire.