2014 High Country Transfer Case Issue/Question - 3023 (??)

[ZombieK5]

While fixing the rusted frame I decided to fix the transfer case leak. Got it out and found a disaster/mystery.

Fluid is basically black. The drain plug has a solid coating of metal (no pieces, all fine dust). Opened the fill plug and zero came out... Dry as a bone.

Dropped case and found a snap ring sitting inside the transmission/Xfer case adapter. Snap ring was fractured in 5 or six pieces. The ears were both broken off and other pieces were in the Fluid. The input seal was simply sitting there. IT WAS NOT in the bore where it should be. I looked inside the bore and could see the bearing but there was NO GROOVE for a snap ring. What's going on here. I don't see any place for a snap ring.

Ideas? Thoughts?

 

[Fastereddie]

While fixing the rusted frame I decided to fix the transfer case leak. Got it out and found a disaster/mystery.

Fluid is basically black. The drain plug has a solid coating of metal (no pieces, all fine dust). Opened the fill plug and zero came out... Dry as a bone.

Dropped case and found a snap ring sitting inside the transmission/Xfer case adapter. Snap ring was fractured in 5 or six pieces. The ears were both broken off and other pieces were in the Fluid. The input seal was simply sitting there. IT WAS NOT in the bore where it should be. I looked inside the bore and could see the bearing but there was NO GROOVE for a snap ring. What's going on here. I don't see any place for a snap ring.

Ideas? Thoughts?

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I believe the snapring should go on the input shaft, not the seal housing.
Then the bearing outer diameter has a snapring that rests between the case and the seal housing.
IF i’m thinking correctly….

 

[ZombieK5]

The input shaft doesn't have a groove.

 

[ZombieK5]

I believe the snapring should go on the input shaft, not the seal housing.
Then the bearing outer diameter has a snapring that rests between the case and the seal housing.
IF i’m thinking correctly….

Well DAMN...on page 23,481 of the Chevy manual I found a diagram. Apparently there is a C-Clip. BUT...The bore where the input shaft exits the case DOES not appear to have a groove for the clip to go into. I need to get closer to the thing tomorrow.

 

[ZombieK5]

It seems the clip keeps the input shaft stub from falling into the case, especially on rebuilds when putting the two case halfs together. I am wondering if the input shaft stub fell back into the case partially.

If I twist the input shaft the forward axle output also turns. I am very familiar with NP205 xfer cases but these are totally new to me. I need to see if I can try to pull the input shaft stub outward so i can access the retaining clip groove.

 

[ZombieK5]

GOOD NEWS. The input shaft is a stub, when the snap ring is missing the stub shaft will fall into the case about 1/2" thereby covering the groove. My stub was partially stuck but when I hit it with a mallet and pulled on it with a pair of vice grips it released and pulled out enough for the groove to be seen. The entire unit seems to function normally.

I ordered a new snap ring from GM so all should be well....

 

[ZombieK5]

I got the transfer case fixed. The new retaining clip fit perfectly and the replacement seal went in no problem. I would never have expected that amount of play on the input shaft and I would never have expected the existing snap ring to have shattered.