4x4 Occasionaly Sliping out of 4-high into neutral

[adsm08]

That plate bolts onto the side of the tranny with a huge bolt (1 1/8 I think) and then there is a little 15mm bolt holding behind the outer piece. I have one that's out, I can get another pic of that up in a day or so. If you check the Manual 4x4 social group album, there may be a pic of what you are looking for already there.

JB welding a notch on there should help keep it from slipping out of gear. If the shape of your hole is the same as pictured sans tab, the tab sits roughly half way back the wider area.

 

[broncogirl]

Thanks no need for more pics, I think. I now see how it works in the linkage adjustment diagram - it's not just a flat, slotted plate - its a bent bracket that holds the lever assembly at it's pivot point as well as serving as the track/slot for the in-cab stick/lever - right? From your description I'm gathering that the plate is the same as the "LEVER BRACKET" in the diagram and finally understand that is the same thing as the "CAM PLATE" in the procedures.

I was confused when reading the linkage adjustment procedures and looking at the diagram in the past. In the diagram, there's a note to "instal hose with white mark flush to top surface of LEVER BRACKET" with an arrow pointing to what I see in my rig (though in the diagram I can't tell if it has a notch for neutral). The linkage adjustment instructions say to put it in 4-low, then move the "CAM PLATE rearward until the bottom chamfered corner of the neutral lug just contactst the forward right edge of the shift lever" - then tighten the two bolts.

There is no "CAM PLATE" labeled in the diagram, which confused me before. Now I think I am understanding that this is the same as the "LEVER BRACKET" - I see the big and little bolts holding it to the transmission in the diagram. I'm now understanding that the CAM PLATE is the same as the LEVER BRACKET - right?

 

[adsm08]

wow. that confused me. I think the cam plate and the level bracket are the same piece. Thats about the only way that would make sense.

 

[broncogirl]

Where, online, can I get t-case linkage bushing?

Yes, the cam plate is definitely the same as (or at least an integral part of) the lever bracket. This page has the diagrams I am talking about that I had also seen in my chiltons or haynes. http://www.broncoiicorral.com/2wd_to_4wd.htm Ignorant folks like me can't tell what/where the heck the cam plate is in the adjustment procedure diagram when the main diagram calls it the lever bracket. Mine's modified and missing the neutral lug, so I first thought maybe I was missing the cam plate.

I did get underneath to have a look, but was temporarily thwarted by the wierd non-nuts that attach to the bolts that hold the little skid plate on. Driveway is too muddy to use ramps or jacks, so couldn't really see them, but could feel maleable, flat squares that maybe used to be welded in place? They are so thin, it seemed like they might be designed to give and tear away to minimize frame damage by letting the plate slide away if impacted hard enough?? They were spinning freely and I couldn't get a grip on them with the few tools I had under there with me. Will wrangle them off with vice grips or hack saw the bolts soon, but wonder if anybody has a special trick for dealing with these...?

I could see enough of the t-case assembly to tell the linkages were modified qite a bit by the builder of my rig. Not looking forward to trying to remove the big bolt as it is pretty crusty-rusty - it looks like it came from a deep-sea wreck.

No bushing left at all. Anyone know where to buy online? Can't seem to find them.

Haven't cut and JB welded a new neutral lug, but did notice I can not pull it down from 2H to neutral when I try to while at a stop with with A4ld shifter in D or 2. So, not sure why or how it is slipping into neutral when I'm driving up a steep hill (though it hasn't done it the last four trips up the mountain). I think I will try working on the linkages, etc. first. I did notice that the whole assembly kind of torques up and moves quite a bit when I shift the AT. Anyway, I plan to dig in, lube linkages, replace bushing, and try to tighten it all up soon.

I did have success with the side-note issue of the AT shifter hitting the bottom of the plastic indicator bezel before I could get it into 1st gear (while also being maxed out at top for P). When I had the bezel/indicator up again, I cleaned out some of the carpet build up, tightened the bolt/spring assy at the base of the stick, and then just didn't screw the bezel back down so tight. It's pretty darn tight, but has just a tiny bit of play so that now I have a really distinct Park and, yay! - I have 1st gear. No more riding the brakes down the mountain when crawling in traffic.

 

[adsm08]

Good. Glad to see you are getting things figured out.