Hey guys, my name is Ryan.. Just signed up, this site is coool.. So I have a- 99 Ram Laramie 1500 4x4. The truck was built in Canada. 5.2L, auto transmission, no slip rear, open front, 231d tcase. I've owned the truck 2yrs now. Put in a new engine, rebuilt the front axle-- hubs, all bearings & seals, ujoints, CAD, all fluids.. Drives perfect in 2wd. Offroad- shifts perfect, stays in 4hi & low. But does a bang/pop every so often under resistance? Only in 4wd? Nothing to do with turning, 4wd stays engaged? Driveshafts in good shape, rebuilt the front axle still does it? I was thinking maybe tcase chain but heard those are really strong & hard to wear out? Feels like the front kinda bangs. No certain duration, just under resistance and only in 4hi or 4lo? I'm at a loss? Everything works smoothly and properly? Can anyone help?

 

Not that I know but my truck does that in 2wd in a blue moon. Feels like it hit a brick wall for a split second doing like 50 and it bangs like something locked. But I know I have a leaky front axle and I have to refill it once in a while. Check your gear fluid.

 

Does it do that on the trails? Or did you try that on pavement?

 

Hey guys thanks for responding. But I am a stickler of keeping fluids clean, the correct types and amounts so good there. And yeah its off road. It will do it whether climbing a hill or even in a level sandy wash? I live in AZ so I never use my 4wd on pavement, only off road when needed. No issues ever in 2wd on or off road. It only does it in 4wd hi or low but the tcase shifts and works properly, stays engaged in any range. That's why my first thought was maybe tcase chain bc when it does it its like a slip/bang kinda sound. But was told tcase chains are near impossible to stretch? I'm an experienced off road enthusiast but this is the first dodge I've ever owned.

 

How many miles on the truck? Wonder if the chain is just stretched..... it happens.....

 

I had something like that on my 97 1500. It would pop/slip/ bang with torque, and did it a lot more in low range (higher torque load on drive train).
Opened the transfer case and couldn't find the problem. Put it back together and was still doing it, so I opened it again and ordered a rebuild kit with a new chain and sprockets. The old set looked good until I had the new set along side of it. There was enough wear to let the chain slip a tooth when under load.
It held up good after that until I really messed it up, but that's a story for another time.

 

If you have a vacuum leak somewhere, the CAD might be disengaging. There is a kit that keeps it locked or engages it with a cable.

 

Has it done it since you bought it?

Check your gear ratios on both axles. It's possible someone threw the wrong one in at some point.

 

Thanks guys for your input! It has done it since I bought it. I know I am the second owner so its overall in really good shape. I agree its gotta be the chain or something with the tcase. I rebuilt the front axle and put in a new CAD and it stays in 4wd. So I'm going to just rebuild tcase when I can. I want to change axle ratios also. I was thinking 4.56 but have heard can only clear 4.11.. Anyone have any info on this? I'm running 33x12.5 and even with the new engine it works to move this truck haha. I'm eventually gonna put a 4-6" lift and run 35's. Nothing crazy but would def rather have the 4.56 ratio if the axles have the room? Has the D44 in the front, D60 in the rear

 

4.56 will fit fine. You will need thick cut gears for the front, unless you change the carrier as well. May need to grind a bit off a tooth on the rear ring gear to get enough clearance for the cross-pin. (for the spider gears)

That ratio will also work very will with 35's.

Checked all the u-joints in your driveline?