Not Really Sure What Happened.....

[daddy-justin]

I was driving my 88 Ranger 2.9 the other day. It had started making occasional noises lately that sounded like it was coming from the transmission, transfer case area. When I would let off of the gas, it sounded like someone was stomping with their shoes on the bottom of the truck about 3 times. Sounded like a muffled thump when I would let off of the gas. It only happened after the truck was warm and not all of the time.

I was driving down the street and I heard a bang, truck stalled and I coasted over to the side. Truck started right back up but rear differential was broken out. Looking back, my thoughts are that the transfer case locked up and since the truck was rolling but the transfer case was locked up, it broke out the rear differential. Not seeing any damage and not really knowing what happened, I locked up the front hubs and engaged 4 wheel drive, since I had no rear wheel drive and started to drive home. About 2 miles from home, the same bang and engine stall occurred. Yep, I broke out the front u joints on the half shafts. Now, I had no rear drive and needed to be towed. Not a good day.

Manual transmission was rebuilt about 20k ago and I have had no issues with it at all. Does this sound familiar to anyone and am I on the right track? I found a used transfer case that I was going to put in. My thoughts are that the bearing seized in the transfer case and that is what caused it to lock up temporarily. Once I started the truck, everything seemed to work fine, except for the broken parts in the rear and front.

I just drained the transfer case and it is full of good ATF fluid and smelled like ATF. no burning smell. Thinking maybe the transfer case oil pump stopped pumping oil and might have seized the bearing. Could the transmission be the problem,??Clutch?

Any thoughts would be great. What could cause this lock up?

Justin

 

[Diesel Mechanic]

First off, the clunking every time you let off sounds like the rear diff was going for a while. I would not blame the transfer case for this. As far as the front goes, how often do you engage the 4wd? If you rarely to never use it, it could have just been a seized ujoint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Transfer case most likely had nothing to do with the problem. If it seized, you most likely would not have been able to put it in 4x4, much less started driving on the front axle. I've had them seize up before, and everything locks up on them when that happens (I failed to make sure it had good fluid, pulled the drain plug and got about a pint of what can only be described as mud out of it. That's about the last time I trust someone, lol).

Sounds to me like the U-joints were likely worn out. I blew out my rear driveshaft in my work truck one night because of a bad U-joint. It was clunking and making noise and I ignored it because "that joint has only been in there like 6 months, can't be bad already." Well... BANG. Guess it really was bad...


Sent from my kite using a trebuchet

 

[scotts90ranger]

My guess is the spider gears in the rear axle let go, or a pinion bearing which would explain the difference on decal, something is catching occasionally... when things caught the extra leverage went through the transfer case and broke the front joint...

These transfer cases are pretty stout, I did a tractor pull a few years ago with my Ranger, 35" tires locked in the rear, 1354 transfer case and pulled far enough to get first place, when I stopped axle wrap was happening, bent a leaf spring, twisted the rear axle tube, twisted the rear drive shaft, pushed the rear shaft into the transfer case hard enough to break the output bearing lock ring groove and pushed the engine into the radiator... I mention this because the transfer case survived, I didn't know anything was wrong until the aluminum from the lock ring groove got into the chain, and some of the shavings got into the shift linkages to the point that it wouldn't disengage the front output.

 

[daddy-justin]

Thanks for the ideas. Now leaning towards the diff. Will keep you updated on what I find.

 

[BLOODBANE]

You might also check all the mounts (motor, transfercase, etc). You say it was making a noise and they could have let go when you put pressure on it. It could have caused it to bind up....

 

[daddy-justin]

Just wanted to give you all a little update. Truck is still sitting in driveway. I have decided to have the 7.5 rebuilt with 4.56 gears. I do not see a need to upgrade to a 8.8 since I have never had any issues in the trucks 260k miles. I thought about buying a used axle as it would be cheaper, but I did not see any with a 4.56. I did see 4.10, but on studying this website. it would not be that noticeable. It is mostly my weekend truck and spends most of its time on the street, but does go into the mountains for hunting or playing. Truck does not get beaten on. I have had it since 89 when I was 21, and now I am a lot older. Truck is not going any where soon and bonus is the wife loves to drive it.

It is a 2.9 with 4 inch lift and 31 in. tires. Since the front end half shafts are toast and do not seem to be easily obtainable, I would replace the D28 with a D35 with 4.56 gears. 4.56 would not fit in the D28 any way.

Sound like a plan? Appreciate the input.

 

[daddy-justin]

I did just find a 2004 8.8 with 4.56 gears. It is from a 4x2. Would this be a straight swap? Looks like it is 1/2 inch wider. Does it matter that it is from a 4x2 since mine is a 4x4?

Think I might need to have the rear yoke changed, but hoping that is about it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

All Ranger axles are interchangeable, so it doesn't matter... and other than the yoke on the axle changing around '90 that's about it. In '93 they got wider, but with your lift it shouldn't matter... the D35 is a little wider as well, you'll be fine

 

[daddy-justin]

Thanks for the help. I will buy the 2004 axle.