PVH/T-case basics.

[Mike R.]

I'm new to this system of 4x4, having only been exposed to the '93 F150 Dana 44. I now have a 2000 Ranger XLT, extended (super?) cab, 4.0 4X4. Before I got the truck, it had been in an accident, crunching the front left side, so the spindle was replaced. I found that the vacuum line on that spindle had fallen off, so I reconnected it, but suspected something just wasn't right. I raised up the front end and manually spun the wheels. I found the left hub was still locked. So I took it apart, cleaned it, unlocked it. Fine. What I would like to know is, when the switch is in the 2wd position, what is supposed to be spinning when the truck is in gear with all 4 wheels OFF the ground. The shaft from the trans to the T-case? The shaft to the front end? The shafts to the two front wheels? What exactly does the t-case motor controller do? Sorry for my ignorance, but I really miss that 4wd shift lever on the floor.

 

[Mike R.]

I'm new to this system of 4x4, having only been exposed to the '93 F150 Dana 44. I now have a 2000 Ranger XLT, extended (super?) cab, 4.0 4X4. Before I got the truck, it had been in an accident, crunching the front left side, so the spindle was replaced. I found that the vacuum line on that spindle had fallen off, so I reconnected it, but suspected something just wasn't right. I raised up the front end and manually spun the wheels. I found the left hub was still locked. So I took it apart, cleaned it, unlocked it. Fine. What I would like to know is, when the switch is in the 2wd position, what is supposed to be spinning when the truck is in gear with all 4 wheels OFF the ground. The shaft from the trans to the T-case? The shaft to the front end? The shafts to the two front wheels? What exactly does the t-case motor controller do? Sorry for my ignorance, but I really miss that 4wd shift lever on the floor.

Ok, yesterday I raised the truck completely off the ground (4 jackstands). With the truck in 2 wd, and the trans in drive, only the drive shaft going to the rear end should be turning. With the selector in 4 wd hi or low, the drive shaft to the front diff is also turning, as well as the half-shafts to the front wheels. On the 2000, the front hubs SHOULD engage because of the vacuum 'pulse' applied to them. BTW, there is no shaft from the automatic transmission to the transfer case, as they are bolted right together. While I was at it, I pulled the rear driveshaft, unclamped the bellows and pulled the front section off. After thoroughly cleaning the splines and bellows, I slathered both splined ends and the inside of the bellows with the baby blue synthetic grease. After reinstalling the shaft and taking the truck down, I took it for a test drive. WOW!! The clunking when coming to a stop and taking off are gone!! Thanks TRS for posting about the clunking problems, and the cure!