950 miles from home, what to do? Transfer case I think...

[smier]

Alright, I need some schooling on transfer cases and tailshafts... I figure I might as well put the time and money in and hopefully be done for a while. I believe I have an np241, but how do I verify for sure? Am I looking for a tag or stamping somewhere? Where is a good supplier for rebuild kits? Any good websites to research transfer cases and tailshafts?

 

[82355]

I would think a new seal would be sufficient, a rebuild seems a bit of an excessive reaction to an oil leak.

Martin

 

[gotblazers]

you have an np241 as the np208 was not offered in 91. If you want to know for sure then go look for a tag on the passenger side rear of the t-case that has red markings on it. It will say np208 or np241. Theres your sign

 

[Fordum]

I would think a new seal would be sufficient, a rebuild seems a bit of an excessive reaction to an oil leak.

How long have you been hanging around this place?
Most anything is a good excuse for a rebuild

 

[smier]

When I bought my truck, I would have agreed with you, throw a seal in it and hope for the best. Now that I'm almost $9k into this pig, priorities have changed... It's still cheaper than a new truck. I did pick up new ujoints and s seal just to try and see if it gets rid of the vibration.

 

[smier]

Pulled the driveshaft, installed a new seal in tailshaft and found the rear U-joint was toast!!! I'm hoping that's my vibration, but there is too much oil everywhere on the truck to pinpoint the source just yet. Going to press the new Ujoints in and then degrease everything and see what I find.

 

[Fordum]

Figured that. That is probably why the seal failed. Old hard seal that could not flex enough anymore to handle the vibration.

 

[imiceman44]

Pulled the driveshaft, installed a new seal in tailshaft and found the rear U-joint was toast!!! I'm hoping that's my vibration, but there is too much oil everywhere on the truck to pinpoint the source just yet. Going to press the new Ujoints in and then degrease everything and see what I find.

If the Ujoint is shot, replace the bushing in the tailhousing when you change the seal.
The bushing supports the driveshaft so it doesn't wobble and ruin the seal, you need to replace both or your seal will not last long.

 

[smier]

Thanks for the tip. However, even if the seal stops the leak, which I don't think it will, I'm still thinking it's time to go thru the transfer case and tailshaft. This is a great truck, I'm not afraid to invest the $$$ in it, I mean I'm looking at $40k for a new truck to replace it, and anything new wouldn't have a cool removable soft top!!!
I was really pleased with the way the truck ran otherwise, I put over 3,000 miles on it in the past month, and the old girl averaged 17.4 mpg with the AC on and the cruise set at 73 mph on the highway with all my tools, equipment, and luggage in the back! I really can't complain. If the trans hadn't decided to pump all of it's fluid out in the middle of the night, I probably would have noticed it sooner, but the damage was done by the time I realized it. That's why I was so nervous about the trip home when I discovered the vibration and that I was leaking fluid again... Seemed like a repeat of the trip down!