Hi, I'm new to this forum and have a question about my transfer case. I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 with a NV231 transfer case. Last week I was driving with the 4WD on when suddenly it felt like the front wheels were trying to lock up, ecspecially when giving it gas. I took it out of 4WD and everything was fine. I read in the forums about a snap ring in the tail shaft that can break and cause similar problems.I checked the snap ring and that was fine. I drained the fluid out of the TF. I dug some pieces of plastic out through the drain hole. I found a diagram of a NV231 TF and it looks like some kind of washer.My question is, does anybody have any knowledge of what this might be, how to replace that part, or if it will fix my TF. Thanks for any replies

 

first off, go here http://www.rm-indy.com/tech.htm and download the service manual, it says 60 mb download next to it highlighted in yellow, that will give you detailed info on just about anything you might want to do to your truck.

as far as your problem goes, i'm not sure what could cause that since the problem goes away when you put the truck back into 4x2. maybe something to do with the front driveshaft or the gears in the front end. or maybe the chain got some major slack in it or just broke completely.

 

Thanks for the link to the service manual.That will give me another source of info to check out. I just wanted to clarify that I don't think the front wheels are trying to lock up, its just the way it sounds. I actually had to put my truck in 4WD today out of necessity and it only makes that noise when accelerating. The more gas you give it, the louder the noise. Idling down the road, no noise. The more I read about it, I am more inclined to think its the chain that is slipping. Thanks again for the reply!

 

are you putting it in 4x4 on pavement? that is a no-no. you can bind up the gears and break stuff doing that.

 

i would suggest either a rebuild transfer case or get a used one for a decent price. i think i got a used one with low miles for around $380.