Atlas vs. Stak

[CHKNFKR]

I've read all the technical data on both companies transfer cases but what i'm really after is first hand experience with either or both. Does anybody on here use either of them? What is your experience? Pros/Cons?

I don't so much care about the gearing available, or the physical characteristics, like i said, i've read the tech sheets. What i'm after is real world durability and ease of use/service.

Please don't post unless you have first hand experience. I want to keep speculation out of this.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

4x4junkie has an Atlas in his ranger. He's about the only on on here that I know of with one.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Yeah Junkie is the only one around here with either that I'm aware of. Search Pirate4x4, you'll find plenty of unhappy Stak users...

 

[ThatGuy]

I personally don't have the $$$$ for one but 3 of the guys I ride with all have an Atlas. If your dropping that much coin on one go ahead and get the beefy input and output shafts. That's the only problem any of them have had. Also cable shifters and an auto trans SUCKS try to stay with mechanical shifter if possible.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah mine is the 4.3 version, I bought it in 2002 IIRC. Has the 32 spline outputs (blue-ringed seal housing on it).

Overall I'm happy with it, but I do miss the 2.48:1 lowrange gear at times (the 4-speed version wasn't available when I got it). Like most gear-driven t-cases, the shifters will flat-out refuse to budge if there's any binding or load on the drivetrain (best to shift it while the vehicle is rolling in a straight line).

Issues I've had with it:
Oil leakage past the output shaft splines (had to remove & reseal both yokes with RTV)
Noisy (sound travels through the shifters into the cab... not much you can do about it)

Outside of that it's been pretty good. Before I installed it, I took the bottom cover off and affixed a magnet inside there to collect the fine metal particulate that comes from normal gear wear.