Hello,

The problem:
When shifting into 4wd hi at around 20mph, foot off the accelerator, the 4x4 takes roughly 5-10 seconds to engage. When it engages it literally SLAMS into 4wd hi so hard that I can feel it under my feet. When it disengage, it can take up to 20? seconds to disengage, and also SLAMS out of 4wd.

The 4wd shifter itself does not bind, and is smooth shifting. engaging and disengaging is the problem.





Background:
4 weeks ago I bought this 98 Ram 1500, 5.9, 4x4, 231HD transfer case in excellent condition, it has 106,000 miles and is from one owner - who had it stored in a heated garage and always serviced by the dealer, I got all records.

Prior to selling the truck to me, the dealer performed $2,100 in recommended maintenance last November at 100,000 miles and what fixed what was found worn on the truck.

Work performed last November, 6,000 miles ago (and things to rule out):

• New tires, brakes, hubs, transfer case seals, U-Joints, front bearings, track bar, tie rod ends, axle seals., differential service (new fluid exchange), and transmission filter and flush.

Any ideas?

This is my first 4wd truck and this cant be normal...

 

You're not engaging the 4wd on dry pavement, are you?

 

Have you tried shifting it into 4x4 when stopped? Or in neutral?

 

Yes on dry pavement, but only on a straightaway with no turning. Since I just got the truck, i wanted to make sure the 4wd works.

The 4wd doesn't seem to engage hard if I stay under 5mph for a long time, and/or put the truck in neutral.

But the fact that it engages so violently "on the fly" leads me to believe there is something wrong.

Could the problem possible be a bad snap ring on the output shaft that I've read about? (no transfer saver installed I assume)

 

Someone else with more knowledge and experience is better off to answer this but if I am not mistaken, correct me if I am wrong, but I do not think these trucks were designed to shift on the fly.

 

Sure you can, 231 and 241 are both shift-on-the-fly cases. You can go from 2 hi to 4 hi up to a 40 mph (I've done it at 50 mph several times without a problem), just don't accelerate or slow down when shifting. And never, ever do it on dry pavement.

And to OP's case, one thing you want to check is the active radius of the tire (from ground to center of the hub) both front and rear. At 20 mph, it doesn't need to have much difference in radius when the front and rear axles have different speed. T-case shifts like it should, but when the front axle connects... well, that's where you get the slam.

 

These trucks ARE shift on the fly. Check all u joints in front and rear driveshafts. And make sure and check there is good vacuum at the CAD.. Possible there is a issue with the CAD... Could also check the retaining ring on the rear tailhousing of the Transfer case.. They are known for leaving their place and causing issues.

 

DO NOT SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE ON DRY PAVEMENT! PERIOD. It is shift on the fly( but NOT like newer vehicles that you are thinking how it should work) And here is a link to check the CAD. http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/..._engagment.htm


And it's not all the info, but read the sticker on the back of the sun visor.

 

Thanks everyone for all your help! I spoke with the dealer today and they confirmed that shifting into 4wd on dry payment even on a straightaway is not advised. For reasons a lot of you said.

As preventive maintenance, is the transfer saver worth the money? What percentage of Rams have the snap ring actually fail and cause damage to the output shaft/transfer case?

Thanks again!