Hey all,

My 2001 Dodge Durango (4.7L 45RFE trans, NV244 t-case) needs a new transfer case. When in AWD (normal state) it sounds like a hand grenade being tossed into a threashing machine...no bueno. And as a bonus headache, if the Durango is left in Park while in AWD, the damn thing wants to roll away on its own if parked on even the slightest slope. I can put it in 4HI and the noise stops, I can put it in park and it holds and she will drive just "fine". I put fine in "" because obviously I don't think its fine,,,,The question I have is WHY are NV244 transfer cases so bloody rare and expensive???? I'm seeing prices from $550-$1125 used. The strange thing is every place i look the blasted NV233 are a dime a dozen! Ebay is no help either! I put in my 2001 Durango with the STL+ trim and 4.7L engine and it brings up a TON of NV233 cases...when you scroll down and actually find a NV244, they claim it won't fit my vehicle??? WTF???? Am I loosing my mind? (more so than usual???)

Tag on the back of my t-case...you can barely make out the 244D at the top...my brother "helped" by using a brass brush to clean off the tag....smh

Is there any wisdom out there that might help? Is the NV244 such a rare beast or am I looking in all the wrong places???

Thanks

Steve

 

I found this one on EBay. almost a 1000 bucks, but, free shipping.... (which is like 300 bucks other places...) It's a used case...... Another option would be a rebuild kit.... Significantly cheaper.... little over 100 bucks for the seals/gaskets, and under 100 for the chain... But, that assumes the gears are still in good shape... Not sure given the noises yours is making, that would be a safe bet.

Another option would be a reman case, those seem to be easy to find, but, with shipping, you are looking at in the neighborhood of 1700 going that route.....

 

I definitely think the gears are toast...kinda want to tear the case open to see once I get her back on the road....

Thanks for looking, I used the link you sent, and this is the problem when I add my Durango to "check fit":

Ebay listing that shows the NV244 doesn't fit my 2001 Durango SLT+

I think I've found one in a local (somewhat) junkyard for $450 and change...so I'm going to check it out tomorrow.

Here are a couple of pics of the front drive shaft and the damage caused by either it going or the t-case going...



When I grabbed the driveshaft it is wobbly as all get out...the front tires spin freely while the back don't...
As for prices, I found a couple over the hill in the Sacramento area for $500+-, locally LKQ wants $960-$1125 for one, and B&R wants $730+ depending on who you talk to...

Are the NV244 really that rare?

Thanks again

Steve

 

The difference is probably how the front driveshaft mounts...... I don't know if that cup-style drive can simply be bolted on to the other case..... I wouldn't be surprised if you wouldn't need to change that output shaft there as well though......