Okay guys, not too sure how big a problem this is but it's enough to make me wonder. First some details:

97 V10 4X4
125,000 miles
No mods yet [:@]
Rebuilt 46RE Transmission: Less than 2000 miles on her

I was hauling a load of dirt, yep just dirt, to my buddies house in Woodland Park, which is up in the mountains. We decieded to take Rampart Range road which is basically an unkept dirt road that in some places would swallow cars and small trucks, it switches back and forth thru the foothills. I think the highest elevation is like 7200 feet but not sure. It is in spots, pretty steep. Any way, I dropped her in 4 high for some of the steeper sections. My baby had no problem pulling the load. The problem that I am experincing happend the next day on the way to work. It is almost like the brakes are pulsating when I am almost stopped. The truck lurches forward right as I come to a complete stop and if I am stopped long enough, like 45 seconds to a minute, I will feel something disengage. Its almost like a lurch forward but its just a nudge and the truck doesn't go anywhere. I have had bad brakes before, so I know what its feels like when they are starting to go and pulsate to a stop. This is close to that but it feels like it is coming from right under me vs. up front in the brakes. Has anyone else experienced this. I had a complete brake job done less than 4 months ago. Anyway, I 'm gonna check the brakes out again this weekend. Just wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this.

thanks....

 

Sounds like the Transfer case to me.....its not your brakes.....that much I can tell you....

 

Did the transfer case not fully disengage back to normal 2 wheel drive or what? Is there a check that I can do find out or is it something I should take to a shop to look at? I didn't think it was my brakes either but that was the easiest thing to check and cross of the list first. I thought perhaps it was my tranny because it had just been rebuilt and I might have put too much strain on her too soon. But after 2000 or so miles I figured it was broken in by then. thanks for the input.

 

My experience with trucks is mostly limited to 4x2, but I do know quite a bit about thrashing trannies Your tranny wouldnt be giving you the symptoms your expressing while sitting. I could see if it was while accelerating or while driving, but not when sitting at a stop or coming to a stop. A transfer case on the other hand, could be disengaging or malfunctioning and generating that sensation your experiencing. Bad sensors or a bad relay maybe. The person you'd really want to ask would be Tani1500....or Steve00Ram360

 

awesome...thanks for the info. I'll keep all posted as I move forward.

 

Dude, what possessed you to take Rampart Range Rd? Taking Hwy 24, though longer in distance, is almost always faster, and usually by a bunch. Trust me, i've tested it many times. I don't even take Rampart Range Rd when i'm coming down from Rampart Resevoir, which is right at the top of that road. I still drive into Woodland Park first, then come down Ute Pass.

I pulled my camper up it once to get to Rampart, and will never make that mistake again. [sm=badidea.gif]
I've also been on it after a heavy rain. That was a lot of fun, 4x4 almost the whole way, mud flying everwhere. [sm=icon_rock.gif]
My wife just didn't like some of the drop offs though.

 

yea I know it was kinda stupid but we were at Garden of the Gods and said...what the hey! lets go! I do the same thing drive up 24 and then back down 24. I think that was like the 3rd time I ever gone up that way. But it was fun. Also we stopped off at the shooting range and hung out for bit. Yea those drop offs can be a bit scary. But what fun! I needed to test the 4X4 anyway, right? lol

 

There are alot of different things it could be.I doubt its the Tcase.Your truck is manual shift T Case correct?You could have Glazed the brake pads while you were going down the hill and or toasted the rotors too.It doesnt matter how long ago it was that you got them changed.If you boil the brake pads usually everything is toast.And they can be warped so badly that it feels like a lurch.Slight chance your hubs are shot and the 4x4 didnt disengage completly.There are alot of elements that could have caused this.I would get it checked over by a mechanic

 

thanks Mr. ChaoticBastard....nice name by the way. I doubt its the transfer case too. just trying to eliminate all possiblities. It's either the brakes or the transmisson. The brakes smelled pretty nasty after I got down so it could've fried them. I'm changing those tonight and getting the rotors turned. If it continues to do it...then I'll take it into the shop and have them check it out. Could be the pressure solinoid or the govenor not working correctly in the trans. I'd rather check on the things that I can handle first before I send it in and pay someone to do it. you know, lack of funds and all...lol

 

Dont turn your rotors! It's a waste of time and money two-thirds of the time. You're better off buying new rotors.....especially if they smelled/look as bad as you think. Even a cheapo rotor is better then a half way worn turned rotor....