hi
is it posiable to replace the transfur case bearing for the front drive shaft without pulling apart the transfur case ?

the seal is leaking a little and the yoke can be wobbled a bit as if the bearing may need replaced ?

thank you !

 

Wow I just posted the same prob in this tread Front end clicking when turning in the non drivetrain area . DOH !!!!!!just realised I put it in the wrong section . Come on guys help me and oldblues out here. Thanks

 

If you study the factory service manual, you'll find that the front shaft output bearing and seal are pressed into the case from the outside in. So in THEORY it might be possible to change these components while leaving the front output shaft in place.

In PRACTICE, I think this isn't going to work. With the shaft still in there, it will be difficult or impossible to get a purchase for any sort of puller tool to get the old seal and bearing out. Then driving the new bearing and seal into place is going to require making up a couple of custom hollow driving tools, since the shaft is in the way. Getting the new seal seated to the correct depth and not leaking will be a challenge.

Pulling and splitting the transfer case isn't that hard. You should probably inspect the chain and the rear bearing supporting the other end of the front output shaft anyway, given the problems you are having. If it were me, I'd get the transfer case out of the truck and do this on the bench. You'll need a service manual.

As for "Caper's" clicking issue, remember that the Dodge transfer case is part-time and has no inter-axle differential. Making turns in 4x4 is going to require the front tires to slip, since the turn radius for the front axle is less than the rear. If you make turns on pavement or hard gravel in 4x4, this is going to cause binding and all sorts of noises and protests from the driveline. Slop and backlash in the transfer case drive chain or front propeller shaft u-joints will be amplified by the circumstances. I'd consider some amount of clicking and rotational play acceptable. Lots of radial play in the front output shaft would not be acceptable, however.

 

Pull the front driveshaft and check the nut that holds the yoke on. It may have come loose. They're a onetime use item. I found this out the hard way trying to re-use it when I changed the seal. There's also a special rubber washer that goes behind the nut and seals the yoke to the shaft. It needs replacing as well whe you replace the nut.