4wd oh, oh - Dodge Dakota Forum

Subject: 4wd oh, oh
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'99 V6, Auto 4X4

So I engaged the 4wd last week for needed traction. The front axle area made a clicking noise as I pulled forward slowly. I stopped and re-engaged 2wd and then back to 4wd without any noise for several miles. Now in 2wd when making tight turns I hear light clicking from the front axle occasionally. I think the hub(s) are now not completely disengaging.

I've tried going in and out of 4wd as well backing up while testing. Not having the owners manual I have always stopped and put the shift selector (auto) in neutral before pulling the 4wd lever back to 4H. Is this the correct method? A friend thought this new of a truck could be shifted into 4wd "on the fly". While in Drive there is resistance on the lever while pulling lightly so I have never forced it. The selector lever frees up and moves smoothly when in neutral.

Does anyone know how the hubs are locked vacuum or magic?

Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2007
08:10:44

RE: 4wd oh, oh
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I don't know about your '99, but my '92 says to engage 4H on the fly, not stopped or with the tranny in neutral.

J and J Auto
GenII

2/07/2007
22:36:54

RE: 4wd oh, oh
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front drive shaft or axle halfshaft or wheel
bearing

there is no locking unlocking hub in the system
the axle shafts go into a spline and are alwawys
enguaged

all are shift on the fly but don't be spinning the
rear wheels and shifting it will clung under that
situation

you must stop to go into low range though

Larry
J&J Auto

Gregg
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2007
22:46:01

RE: 4wd oh, oh
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More diagnostics, looks ugly. Visual inspection of both half-shafts - all boots look good. Went on a series of road tests and discovered an intermittent (with wheel/axle rotation) dull thud...thud...thud. This is going in a straight line, thud goes away near 25mph and shows up usually after it's been sitting.

Tight radius turns either left or right sometimes produce a fast clicking like a gear is trying to engage. This seems to be matched to wheel rotation speed like a card in the spokes. This one sounds like CV's but both were silent 6 days ago. The worst noticed effect is bucking when turning with metallic clunks on dry pavement. Like how they squirm when in 4wd on dry surfaces.

I think something may have failed in the transfer case? Seems odd all these symptoms come and go. A toast CV will continually click. It's like it's still trying to go into 4wd. Gliding through a tight turn is fine. Applying power through a turn will sometimes cause the bucking effect. Same turn on dry pavement in 4wd duplicates the buck/squirm as expected.

Remember all was silent until operated in 4wd a short time last week. Trying to pull the 4wd lever back has resistance when in drive. Selecting Neutral on the column frees it up. Thanks for any arm chair diagnostics.

Gregg
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2007
22:11:50

RE: 4wd oh, oh
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Ahhh, slid by easy this time. Seems to have been a snap-ring on the tail shaft of the transfer case that uh, snapped. "snap-ring"... sorry. The repair was $100 and some change. Sweet!

Found out the problem is common. The shop guy said Dodge makes this case branded Borg-Warner and is used by Jeep and GMC/Chevrolet. Who-da thunk?

So if your 4wd lever has resistance pulling her back and you hear death clanks from under the truck you may get off easy with the ol' snap-ring failure.

sweet
Dodge Dakota
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2/14/2007
16:17:58