Had a weird noise/vibration in 4WD so I got under and checked it out: I could wiggle the front driveshaft at the flange quite a bit, and the shaft is oily. So it looks like the bearing & seal is wasted.

Can the bearing & seal be replaced with the transfer case in the truck, or do I have to drop it?

If it can be done on the vehicle:
The skid plate will have to come off, but what about the tranny cross member? Do I need to lower it for access?

Also, there is no transfer case R&R in the sticky, anybody got pics?

 

There is one link in the sticky...but it no longer works.

Here is a link to a thread where a guy does a great R/R on the NP205 rebuild, it's a chevy unit....but pretty much everything applies. I used this one for my rebuild as well.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=469726

and this one as well....

http://www.wideopen4x4.com/NP205RebuildGuide.html

 

Thanks for that chevy link, now I know what to expect....looks like it can be done in the vehicle.

 

Use the input shaft bearing for a 23 spline 205. It has a higher roller count than what NP put in the front drive output.

23 spline input shaft has 12 rollers
rear output shaft has 8 rollers
front drive shaft has 6 roller.

I use the 12 count rollers all the way threw my 205.

 

I had heard that somewhere before....good info though!!

 

DO NOT use a maximum style bearing for the output shafts. They have an increased axial capacity, but a decreased thrust capacity, due to the slots in the races for assembly. They can be damaged by the thrust loads from the driveshaft compression & expansion.

Those goofy big ball fewer number of ball output bearings that were in the 205 stock, are actually better for the output shafts, because they have a significantly higher thrust load capacity, due to the larger ball diameter.