All wheel drive not working?

[rove_mcanus]

It can not be good for the transfer case to run with the front wheels stopped for any significant amount of time.
There is no bearing or bushing on the pinion gears and the pinion shaft in the center differential, just metal on metal.
They are not designed to spin at high speed for long periods of time.
I have seen the pinion gear and shaft gall and sieze in rear differentials where the driver was spinning a tire for a long period of time in a futile effort to get out of a stick.

You are right.

And the centre diff spins much faster then the front or rear and is smaller.

This is why the centre diff locks automatically in low range, and also why there are warning stickers stating to lock the centre diff (if you have the button from factory) when there is a chance of wheel slippage.

 

[peteinpeb]

This brigs up a question. If your car is towed with a front end type of tow truck, would it damage the transfer case? these cars can only be towed with a flatbed tow truck ?

I had this happen to me and the truck was towed about a mile and left in a random parking lot. I am pretty sure it was a front end type of tow truck. I was pissed! Can I go after the tow company if they damaged my car?

 

[fj4068]

One of the first things I taught my wife after we got our rig: If you ever need a tow, just keep repeating over and over, "It's AWD; I need a flatbed or dollies for the rear wheels. It's AWD; etc..."

.....

This brigs up a question. If your car is towed with a front end type of tow truck, would it damage the transfer case? these cars can only be towed with a flatbed tow truck ?

I had this happen to me and the truck was towed about a mile and left in a random parking lot. I am pretty sure it was a front end type of tow truck. I was pissed! Can I go after the tow company if they damaged my car?

It seems it would take some work to prove that damage was done (professional mechanic's assessment) and then prove incorrect towing equipment was used.

 

[jonheld]

The transfer case is not made from rare and exotic eggshells folks.

 

[Pin_Head]

Yes, but like most differentials, there are no high speed bearings or bushings on the pinion gears or shaft because it is not designed to run at high speeds for long periods of time, like when a wheel is slipping.