Transfer Case ?

MIXEDBREED

New member
How do the transfer cases in are trucks work. I know its a borg warner which are pretty badass to start with but whats the easiest way to tell if the front wheels are getting power. My syclone blows the back tires off every time I get on it and the front tires seem like they just dont do anything. I know its a light split 35/65 I believe but still you would think that it would at least pull the truck forward. My truck will literaly stay put and and smoke the back tires till I roll forward and get them to hook.

I put dr's on the back of the truck and it will hook fine with those but on street tires it just spins. Any help would be great. i just finished working out a timing issues and the truck runs full boost with 2 deg or less knock and is fun to drive but know I have major traction issues lol.
 

REVEREND HARMON

Party in a box!
Re: Transfer Case ?

Stupider question. Is there trans fluid in the case?? Viscous coupler needs fluid to work.

I thought the VC is a sealed unit with its own fluid in it? It doesnt use the tranny fluid from the case. If im wrong someone please inform me.

I read that from the syclone gm supplement mechanics manual.
 

gkrcr882

SyTyless......for now!
Re: Transfer Case ?

I thought the VC is a sealed unit with its own fluid in it? It doesnt use the tranny fluid from the case. If im wrong someone please inform me.

I read that from the syclone gm supplement mechanics manual.


Correct, the VC is sealed with its own silicone fluid inside. It sounds like either the VC is bad or the chain is broken. Look up "viscous clutch" in the search, DaveP explains a simple yet thorough test procedure.
 

cloneman315

Active member
Re: Transfer Case ?

you can somewhat test them,yank it out and pull it apart,I doubt the chain is broke but it could be.
 

Luke

Fish sticks SUCK !!!
Re: Transfer Case ?

that was a kick ass write up on the test procedure....
 

MIXEDBREED

New member
Re: Transfer Case ?

you can test it with two ratchets

How do I test it? I searched and read for a long time and only found threads about removing the propshaft or not to remove it. If my vc is fried already then it wont hurt anything if i do pull the propshaft and run the truck as rwd or will the truck just not move?

New sy owner but it seems like once you fix one prob another ones pops up lol. Motor is running great but now the back tires just spin unless i have the dr's on.
 

cloneman315

Active member
Re: Transfer Case ?

put a ratchet on the driveshaft side and one on the propshaft side,it should take about 80 pounds to feel the vc start to slip,I can tell just by feel now when they are good or bad.also the vc sometimes will be blue when you take it apart from the heat.
 

'JustDreamin'

Dream: 6LV8 Turbo Bravada
Re: Transfer Case ?

So, to sum up:

You need the trans in neutral.
Ratchet on front shaft.
Rear shaft choices: 1.) Leave it connected if you have a good solid parking brake
2.) Disconnect it from the rear (if your parking brake sucks) and use it as a big breaker bar to hold the rear output stationary.
3.) Ratchet on rear shaft.
Pull on ratchet on front shaft while holding rear output stationary (one of above 3 methods).

If no resistance is felt = VC cooked (probably ruptured) or tcase chain is broken (seems unlikely to break without making a bunch of noise first).

If ratchet doesn't move at all (with 125 ft lbs (guess) or more) = VC cooked (the other way - should be "hopping" while turning, basically locked into 4wd)

Moves with a fair bit of force (Cloneman's 80 ft lb suggestion) fairly slowly = good VC.


I think that's an accurate summary of the required items, correct me if I've got it wrong.

'JustDreamin'
 

MIXEDBREED

New member
Re: Transfer Case ?

So, to sum up:

You need the trans in neutral.
Ratchet on front shaft.
Rear shaft choices: 1.) Leave it connected if you have a good solid parking brake
2.) Disconnect it from the rear (if your parking brake sucks) and use it as a big breaker bar to hold the rear output stationary.
3.) Ratchet on rear shaft.
Pull on ratchet on front shaft while holding rear output stationary (one of above 3 methods).

If no resistance is felt = VC cooked (probably ruptured) or tcase chain is broken (seems unlikely to break without making a bunch of noise first).

If ratchet doesn't move at all (with 125 ft lbs (guess) or more) = VC cooked (the other way - should be "hopping" while turning, basically locked into 4wd)

Moves with a fair bit of force (Cloneman's 80 ft lb suggestion) fairly slowly = good VC.


I think that's an accurate summary of the required items, correct me if I've got it wrong.

'JustDreamin'

I will do the test today and hopefully its all good. If the chain is loose is it able to sometimes have awd and at other times not ie the chain slips or something. Also is there a way the front diff could be bad and not giviing power to the front wheels. Thanks again for all of your help. this forum seems to help out fellow owners very well.
 

cloneman315

Active member
Re: Transfer Case ?

you would know if that chain was bad,could be the front diff also,doubt it,also the planetary could be bad
 
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