Odd

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Jimmy68

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New issue. 4x4 was working fine. Now an issue.
When in 4x4 going forward in town or highway it works well. But stop and go to back up I get about 3-5 feet and the truck stops like you backed into a parked car. Forward, nothing. Just when I back up.
Noticed a slight howl now. Only in 4x4. More howl when decelerating. Leads me to believe front diff. But to stop dead in reverse only? Weird.
Truck runs great in 2wd.
Could it be a bad chain in the t-case?
I mean, front diff wouldn't only bind up in reverse would it?
Wonder if my t-case chain is piling up in reverse.
2001 Ram 1500. Auto.
Ant ideas?
 

dudeman2009

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I've heard of pinions wearing to such a point that when driven in the opposite direction of normal they bind. The only way to test that though while also isolating it from the transfer case would be to jack the front end up and manually apply a vacuum to the front diff 4x4 switch and turn the front driveshaft by hand. Its also possible that the chain is old and stretched and when moving in reverse the teeth bind up.

To test the Tcase, just 'break' the front differential engagement system. Pull the vacuum hose so the front diff never engages, then put it in 4x4 and try to backup.
 
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Jimmy68

Jimmy68

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I've heard of pinions wearing to such a point that when driven in the opposite direction of normal they bind. The only way to test that though while also isolating it from the transfer case would be to jack the front end up and manually apply a vacuum to the front diff 4x4 switch and turn the front driveshaft by hand. Its also possible that the chain is old and stretched and when moving in reverse the teeth bind up.

To test the Tcase, just 'break' the front differential engagement system. Pull the vacuum hose so the front diff never engages, then put it in 4x4 and try to backup.

Thanks. I'll give those a look. Not right away though. Have four cars to haul today then Christmas stuff and all. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll get a chance.
Had the front diff open 6 months back to change seals. Gears and such looked good. I was thinking bad chain.
I do have a T-case out of a 94 2500 sitting in the shop so if that's the issue I'm good.
If it's the diff... I've been wanting to swap to 2500 diffs anyway. Do that in the spring after tax time.

Nice thing is it's all good in 2wd.
 
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Jimmy68

Jimmy68

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Well, 80 miles today in 4wd pulling a trailer on the hwy. Digging through deep snow, winching cars onto the trailer, backing up, foot deep snow, digging, pulling, highway, off road, got four cars hauled today and made it home. 4wd worked flawlessly.
I don't get it.
 
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Jimmy68

Jimmy68

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Haven't really looked too far into it but I have looked at my axle u-joints and they look good.
Now I noticed that the binding I'm getting is only in reverse, only in 4wd, only when the wheel is turned left and is only occasionally.
 

dudeman2009

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I would suspect something with the front axle then, its hard to tell if its either the right or left side, but you might try giving everything a good amount of grease and seeing if that fixes or helps it (only grease one side at a time).
 
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Jimmy68

Jimmy68

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I would suspect something with the front axle then, its hard to tell if its either the right or left side, but you might try giving everything a good amount of grease and seeing if that fixes or helps it (only grease one side at a time).

Ya. It's like a bad u-joint. Was out hunting today, it's -18c (-1F) and deep snow, out looking for Coyotes. 4wd worked flawlessly. Not a creak or a groan or snap.
Just weird. Non greasable u-joints. Everything looks good. Thinking about U-joints and they are about 6 months old since I put new axle seals in.
Was driving in 4wd for about 4 hours pretty steady. Bustin through drifts and such in the hills.
 

dudeman2009

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It seems like its gone for quite awhile without issue. I'd chalk it up to some strange occurrence that is gone for now.
 
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