Center diff (transfer case) leak at the front - need advice

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kyoso23

kyoso23

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Threads
30
Messages
498
Location
AZ style
I had trouble finding anything searching on here beyond people saying they've never really had a problem with their xfer cases. The front seal on mine started leaking last week and it's leaking pretty bad. I had it scheduled to go in to the shop for a timing belt and water pump anyway for today and asked them to replace that too. The mechanic quoted me ~$250 to change it which I though was high since it looked like an easy remove the output shaft and change it but he said it was actually quite labor intensive for what it was. Well, I just got off the phone with them and they said they didn't even have the resources to fix it at their shop because the case has to be cracked open to fix it and they weren't comfortable doing that. Of course I said don't touch it, but really:bang:... what's involved in replacing this $15 seal? I can't find anything on it?
 
Looking in the FSM it does look like a lot of work. The front extension housing has to be removed and the seal is around the input shaft. The FSM procedure has you drive the seal out from the rear with a hammer. This is only possible if the input shaft and gears have all been removed. To do that you have to split the case and disassemble everything.

If it was possible to remove the seal and reinstall from the front with the input shaft in place then the job could be much easier. Unfortunately the FSM only covers the seal replacement as part of a total assembly/dis-assembly process. So you can't tell if it is possible.

If the seal replacement gets to be very expensive replacement with a remanufactured unit may be a better option.
 
I had my front seal replaced and the whole t-case had to come out and be split. A really long "fingered" bearing puller is needed to get that front bearing out from the inside. I had it done by a referred "shade tree mechanic". He figured it all out but it was pretty labor intensive.

Another guy I showed later said it looked like it could come out from the outside with the t-case still in the truck, not sure if that works or not, though.
 
The case definitely has to be split to remove that seal, along with an internal propeller shaft and precision retainers, etc... I've gotten two quotes now for this repair, one is in the upper $600 range and one is well over $800. I normally do my own repairs, but even the transmission shop I just got off the phone with seemed a little intimidated. For a $12 seal that on almost any other vehicle on the planet would be 30 minute repair. I'm incredibly frustrated. Anyone have any ideas? I may have located one out of a wrecked 100 series locally, but any other advice is welcome.
 
kyoso23 said:
..... I may have located one out of a wrecked 100 series locally, but any other advice is welcome.
Click to expand...

You already have one used T-case, why would you buy another?

I'd either have the one you already own re-built or buy a re-built t-case.
 
I had Slee offroad, do both mine at about 150,000. I spent a weekend driving through deep mud puddles. Some mud and grit got in to the seal and it needed replacing. I don't recall what I was charged. I do think they had to remove the t-case and split it for one of the seals not for the other, but while it's out might as well replace them both. Call Slee, ask them what they charge and what's involved.
 
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