I have a 2000 Durango 4x4.

The transfer case shift lever flops in the breeze, only have 2 wheel drive, any suggestions or ideas?

 

Yep, this is an easy one, just went thru it myself. The linkage rod is held on by two CHEAZY rubber grommets. One or both dry rotted and cracked and you either have your linkage hanging under there OR you lost it on the road somewhere, sometime since you shifted in 4WD last!

Luckily, I was fishing the intercoastal with mine and it shifted in 4WD, then did the floppy thing when I went to shift into 2WD. My linkage dropped right off BUT I was able to find it since I know where I was and where I went.

Hold on, I'll repost the how-to-fix and parts you need depending on if you find the linkage or not. Luckily, if your linkage is there, the grommets are $11 retail at the dealer and mine sold them to me for $8. It takes about 5 minutes to press them in yourself... Give me a minute or two to find my post and I'll copy & paste here...

Obviously, you can climb underneath and push the shift lever on the transfer case manually by hand to shift to and from 4WD if you're between a rock and a hard place until you can find/buy/replace the linkage rod...

 

Here is the linkage rod with the two NEW grommets:



This is where it goes:



Ok, now here is the deal, at least on the Ram, but yours should share the same parts:
The rod was changed after '06. So if you lose yours and go buy a new one the part # is 52105555AA this rod will work in older vehicles as well and the older style is no longer available.

IF you purchase the new rod, it will require a different clamp (52105212) and clamp bolt (J018077) as well as the grommets. The shifter side grommet is 52105551AB and the transfer case side grommet is 5080227AA.

If you have your pre-'07 rod (as I do - now that I found it) then the grommets for both sides are the same and the part # for them is 68078974AA, obviously you'll need two.

It's a b*tch to press those grommets in with your fingers, I used a set of channel locks and squeezed and they pressed right in...

Hope this helps...

 

Thanks for the info. That sure sounds like the problem. I'll take a crawl underneath and see if it's missing.

 

According to the parts manuals. From my understanding the part numbers are not available anymore and they look like different part numbers Hammer? Can anyone check these part numbers for availability?




1998 - 1999 Durango part numbers for the manual shift lever Grommets:

Transfer Case
03467791 GROMMET, Shift Lever

Shift Lever
03467791 GROMMET, Shift Lever


2000 - Durango part numbers for the manual shift lever Grommets:

Transfer Case grommet
05015837AA GROMMET, Shift Lever

Shift Lever
05017960AA GROMMET, Shift Lever

 

The explanation I got from a Dodge mechanic was the part numbers I gave are used by him for Dak, Durango, Rams & Jeeps with manual shifting transfer cases due to the fact that most original part numbers have been discontinued.

The 68078974AA part is a pretty generic grommet that should press into any pre-'07 transfer case side and shifter side. At least they did for me...



OP, just curious, what did you find when you climbed under your rig and had a look/see???

 

Nice!

I don't see why they would be different I agree. I'll have to get a set just to have them for my truck and swap em out just to see. I can only assume they would be the same anyway. I was going to make some out of polyurethane but I need a good one to mold off of. In fact I was thinking of making a bunch so if someone needed them they could swap out theirs or fix them. Never did it though, who knows what I'll do.

 

After the failure I had, I'd recommend EVERYONE with a 4x4 check theirs for cracks/dry rot at every oil change. It's easy enough to look at them while under there pulling the oil plug and just a quick look will tell you what kind of shape they are in.

Had I thought of it, I'da picked up an extra pair when I bought these two. I think next time I have to go past the dealer, I'm gonna grab them just to have around...

 

Yea, I check mine all them time and so far there is a little rot so I need to get on it. I dropped the T-case over the summer and they still looked ok and didn't rip or anything, but still piece of mind in a sticky spot is always a better idea. Still, I'd like to find something close in polyurethane and tweek it, of simply build a mold. With a polyurethane grommet there would be no messing around with it anymore, however it would be a b!tch to get it off......LOL

 

Had the same issue here and my local dodge dealer couldn't find the part#... Wound up ordering online using your p/n hydrashocker,TY for the info. The last owner of my "D" had their idiot mechanic look at it and he zip tied the linkage to Trans speed sensor wiring,stupid....good thing I'm familier with waterproof wiring repairs.
Anyway,after I did get grommets that fit I drilled the rear side of the linkage and installed a ss washer and a ss retainer key.I'll know if the grommet fails again by the shift feel but I'll still be able to shift until the repair..