Replacing the seal will not stop the noise you are hearing (though should be done anyway). W/o being there personally I cannot say for certain what the sound is. But checking U-joints is good plan also.

 

I’m with you on swapping the seal probably not being the solution, if the noise is coming from the transfer case I would imagine it’s slack in the chain and just the chain dragging. I think I phrased it poorly last time, what I was trying to say is that if I’m fact it is the chain dragging and I replace the tcase with it ha salvaged one, should I just have to change the seals on the salvaged part or are there bearings and other components that should be changed as well?

 

Honestly I can't remember if I replaced the input bearing or just the input seal. Knowing me, I probably replaced the bearing also. Maybe someone else can chime in with their thoughts. But I'm sure I don't need to tell you to be sure it's the T-case before spending one dollar.

 

I was actually looking at the diagram thinking about doing that bearing to. The guts of thing looks like hell, I think that input bearing is as deep as I would want to go without having another working one next to me.

I guess now the question is where to start with diag, I’ve got a noise and a full tcase of fluid so I know there’s a broken seal. I also know I gotta check my ujoints but either way I gotta drop the damn thing don’t I?

 

Me personally, I would get all four wheels off the ground by using Jack stands under the lift points on the frame. Get the wife in the driver's seat to start it up and put it in 4WD while I try to pinpoint from the side where it is coming from. Definitely I wouldn't get under the truck. Another option that may or may not help is jacking up the front end only, putting t-case in 4WD, trans in neutral, engine off and spinning front tire by hand to see if that helps find it (may not be definitive). Front propeller shaft should spin as you spin the wheel.

 

I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly...the noise only happens in 4WD, correct?

 

No, it’s a constant dragging once the vehicles moving more than like 5 feet from being parked. When driving it sounds like my exhaust is hanging off the car anything under 45. My 3 button switches to 4 hi just fine, I can hear it, 4 low I can’t really tell. I haven’t moved it too much since I got it back

 

Then don't worry about what I stated about putting in 4WD. U-joint on main prop shaft could be a good start. Check backing plates on rear brakes also. Maybe get rear tires off ground and spin by hand.

 

A quick thought before heading to bed: Did you check for excessive free-play in the transfer case driveshaft like in the repair video?

BTW I like the suggestion of rockp2 about checking the u-joints, prop-shafts, and brake backing plates.

 

So to me, that sounds like the u joint on the slip side went bad... it happened to mine 2 years ago, i removed the driveshaft and the problem went away... it actually probably had something to do with my exhaust splitting and busting all to hell, in hindsight... but thats what my opinion is... i had the same issue with the transfer case back vac'ing trans fluid... its a real easy fix and not very expensive... another thought i was having is that i had a vacuum leak on my line and the shift fork was half engaged... it made a grinding noise that you could feel in the steering wheel... i guess that diaphragm that engages the 4wd, if its not getting enough vacuum or if its leaking, it will only half *** engage ur front diff and it causes a grind...

Anyway, off top i think its ur front driveshaft... pop it off and take it for a ride, see if the noise continues... or pop it off and see if the slip yoke flops over like a limp dick... my money is on the lip dick tho 🤣🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀