theonlyz

So its been about a year since I got rid of my previous 99 cummins and I just got a 2001 a couple weeks ago for a good deal. I just have always missed it and so did my wife. Anyways, my wife has been hounding me to let her drive this one and I finally gave in. When I let her take it to work and do some things around town it was still in 4 wheel from the blizzard we just got in SD. I got in it last night and was like what the heck you had 4 wheel in the whole time?? She said she never noticed!! My question is, what possibly may have this hurt driving on dry pavement for pry 12 miles high way and about 20 city? I notice when I make a slow turn to change streets the steering has a wobble in the steering wheel. Is this something I just didnt notice before or am I being parinoid? I havent looked underneath yet but, Im about to and just wonder if there is anything I need to look for?

Any help would be outstanding!!!!

Also on another note....is there anyway to tell what gears are in my truck other than taking the diff cover off?? Someone removed all the tags off stating what it has?

AWCampbelll

i would think the wobbling yur feeling is the u joints when u turn. u could go to a dealer and have them do a print out of everything on the vehicle using the vin#.

ac

AggieJustin

Straight-line driving wouldn't cause much problem for it. If the roads/parking lots have still been wet, you may be OK for city driving as well.

Really surprised that she never noticed, unless she never turns sharp in either direction. On mine, if I turn more than halfway to either side, you can feel the front end try to jump as the inside wheel grabs traction. But if the surfaces were still slick/wet, it may not be as noticeable.

You may want to drain the front diff and just see what comes out. If it all looks good, just keep on going.

theonlyz

Thanks for the insight!!! Im afraid to see what comes out but I guess it needs to be done. What would you suggest for replacement oil in it?

purduepurdy

Might have killed a little life off the tires, im pretty sure the tires will slip before anything gets too banged up. Just correct the wife, check the fluid, and you should be fine.

Im sure you could get a new pretty front diff cover if you played it right with the old lady.

Dinner

Might have hurt the transfer case as well depending on her speed while in 4 wheel drive, I would also check that fluid.

stevenl

i have taken my truck in 4 wheel drive down the drag strip at 85-90 MPH no probelms not to mention boosted launches in 4 wheel. and no problems o i doubt it hurt anything.

torquefan

Have a sniff at the fluid of the transfer case and both differentials. If they'd overheated enough to do damage, you'll smell an obvious burnt smell.

Saw that once in an AWD Grand Cherokee with a compact spare tire on it. You could still hear the gear oil boiling in the differentials 20 minutes after it was parked.

theonlyz

what fluids does everyone use something that i can get at napa or checkers autozone

theonlyz

do i need additives??

Moose10

Hey Z, I put Mobil1 in my diffs right after I got the truck, and I think I might change out to Royal Purple in the spring time since I'm towing a little more weight now. Also if you look on your glove box tag, it should say the gear ratio there, but like we were talking I'm gonna guess you have 4.10's like mine due to the RPM's you're turning.

theonlyz

ya thats what im figuring thanks bud

Busboy

XFR case takes Dextron 3 or 4 not much, while the diffs take what you like. Like synthetic or dino. I use synthetic 85-90 because it's so cold here in the winter and I tow heavy in summer. AS for the 4X4 I run mine a lot in 4X4 and the jumping you feel on corners is exactly that, tire hop as something has to give when you turn as one wheel has to travel further than the other so the tire will hop if it can't slide or slip.

sheriffav8r

Yeah, the jumping is normal for a 4x4 in gear. I think you could run around all day in 4WD and just be skinnning your tires a bit, nothing else. I believe the glove box has the sticker with the gear ratio on it. 85W-90 works in the diffs. If you have a LSD try synthetic oil instead of having to put in additive. It should say on the bottle that no additive is needed with limited slip diffs.

theonlyz

thanks a ton guys all the help is appreciated!! I checked all the fluids in the diffs and transfer case and all of it is brand new and has good color so I think I will be ok. Something in the steering just isnt right now I guess. Whats the possibility of the front axle not wanting to disengage?? It jerks the wheel more when turning to the left than it does to the right. I guess I may just have to have it checked out