Hi, this is my first post to the board. I have a 1997 Ram 3500 4x4 Cummins and it binds severely in 4 hi/lo when the wheels are cut all the way to the right or left. This is when the truck is in snow or on dirt. When wheels are pointed straight ahead it doesn't bind but generally couldn't get out of its own way on an incline of anything more than a few degrees (when in snow and ice).
When binding as described above, the steering wheel jerks and pops and it is basically enough to break your hand if you were to drive fast. I jacked the truck up with all 4 wheels off the ground and noticed when in 4x4 that all 4 wheels were spinning, and with the steering all the way right or left what had been binding with wheels on the ground manifested itself as a rather bad metal-metal sound that I THINK (am not sure) is coming from the NV 241 HD transfer case. I put it back down on the ground and checked and topped off the t-case fluid level, but the problem persisted. I noticed that the driveshaft at the t-case extension housing moves slightly front to rear and I don't know whether this is normal or not (no side to side movement and u-joints seem good).
Yesterday I drained and refilled the t-case and did not notice any metal shavings at all in the old oil, a good sign I guess. As for the poor overall 4x4 performance, some of that could be the fact that it's a dually and that it still has the yucky over the road skinny tires (215/85r16) that I haven't been able to afford to replace. I want to buy 235/85r16 when I get the money. Any tips/insights would be appreciated.

 

Welcome to the site Ted!


This sounds normal to me.

The 4x4 system on your truck is real time 4x4, none of this "it kicks in when the wheels slip " kind of thing. When you select 4 wheel drive you get it!!

What you are experiencing is when you turn the wheels on a hard packed surface then the wheels at that point are not all going at the same speed which causes the jumping as the outsides tires catch up with the inside tires.

Its nothing to worry about in 4 wheel drive, if you find it does that in two wheel drive then you may be in for some u joints on the front axle.

As far as the end play in the transfer case, is it the front or rear shaft? If its not leaking and there weren't parts coming out when you changed the oil I wouldnt get to worried about it.

Save your money for some new skins instead!! hehe

 

Thanks for your reply and I'm glad to be aboard. This is my 2nd Ram diesel, the first being a 2500 optioned out like my 3500 but minus the dual rears. That truck had too high a payment and so I sold it and did without until the winter here in the Tennessee Mountains came knocking. I do miss the 4 wheel drive performance of that truck with the oversize tires it had. I found this Driftwood 3500 that previously lived life as a car hauler but was well maintained with 107,000 on the clock.
Anyway, I agree with what you said about some binding being normal, but the other day when I had all the wheels off the ground that clanking noise with the wheels cut kind of worried me. Do you think that the noise was just from the wheels having no load on them and being cocked all the way left or all the way right? I have heard noise too (but as a growling noise) with the wheels on the ground during the binding episodes, again with the wheels cut left or right.
The driveshaft end play I spoke of that was at the t-case was at the rear driveshaft end, as the extension housing couples to the short rear shaft which goes to the carrier bearing. The end play is visible when I push forward on the shaft. Another odd symptom I noted with the truck up in the air on jackstands was that the passenger front wheel turned more slowly than the driver's front wheel, and I could even stop it from turning with my hand. I know that that is the side with the two piece axle shaft which gets coupled together by vacuum.
Well, as I said, I am glad to be a part of this forum, and I appreciate your help. I guess if this behavior is normal then I can just deal with it. I love these trucks, and a new set of tires and front bumper (deer left its calling card) will make my truck near perfect. I have the paint-matched camper shell, drop down 5th wheel and tow package. Talk to you (and the others) soon.