Solved! Slipping Drivetrain: Possible Causes? Order of Operations ?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Threads
61
Messages
1,075
Location
the west desert
Website
shadowlightpsych.com
I've got something slipping in the drivetrain. There's a couple of steep mountain passes I frequent, 10%+ grade, traveling 25 - 40 mph, I'll experience a subtle "pop" then a power loss that correlates with increasing RPMs. The experience is very much like driving a standard trans with a worn clutch that's starting to slip.

If I let off the throttle and slow the truck way down it will stop until I bring it up to speed again. Or, if I let off the throttle and press the CDL button it goes away, no slipping. I've gotten to the point that, if I take that road, I lock the center diff before I even attempt it, and the problem doesn't occur.

It's kind of intermittent and illusive. I haven't got all the variables nailed down. I think it usually occurs in 3rd gear, and if I drop in down into second it goes away too, or doesn't occur as often maybe.

I haven't torn anything down, but I've thrown it on a lift and gave it a quick look over. I'm running AVM hubs that seem healthy. No metal shavings around the slip yokes. No metal or anything odd about TC, trans, diff fluids.

So if it's not coincidence that the problem goes away if I press the CDL switch I figure it's got to be something with splines past the center diff, e.g., front hubs, both ends of the front axles, inner ends of the rear axles, pinion flanges, slip yokes, TC driveshaft output flanges.

Anything possibilities I'm missing? What's the most common failure point? In an effort to save time/sanity, what should I check first?

I've thought about trying to gather more data on the problem by, instead of pressing the CDL button, locking the ARBs one at a time to try to eliminate possibilities at least down to inner axle splines, but that sounds sketchy on a winding mountain road. Not trying to die.
 
Last edited:
Do you normally drive with AVM hubs and CDL unlocked? I drove my 94 without the front shaft once and before I got out of my neighbor hood I felt slip and loss of power. Engaging the CDL corrected the issue.
As I understand, when you go part time, the center differential is replaced with a spool for that very reason.
 
I drive with hubs locked, center diff unlocked. Unless off road then center diff locked. I would never drive with hubs unlocked center diff unlocked, it wouldn't go far, as it sounds like you experienced.
 
Stripped drive flange?
 
What about companion flange @ Diffs.
 
What about companion flange @ Diffs.

Yeah maybe. Those are on my list. Before I go tearing everything apart to inspect I was hoping I'd find a lead, you know, others who had a similar issue, and it came down to that one thing, or one or two things...
 
So years go by... a complicated kinda stressful job... perhaps too much time in the shop breathing gas fumes... or early onset Alzheimer's maybe... whatever the reason, when I posted this thread I forgot I had already posted about something similar awhile back:

Trying to Identify a Possible Drive Train Issue, Looking For Advice...

So over two years I've been battling this thing. Back then, as documented in the first thread, I pretty much tore the whole front axle apart, including the front hubs. I remember closely examining the hubs, but apparently not close enough, as I suspect this little problem was present back then too:

ImageUploadedByIH8MUD Forum1441171271.873251.webp


It was a hairline fracture. I just about missed it again this time.

So I replaced the driver side hub with the original flange, then went out and railed on it. I thought for sure I had it. Problem solved. Then pushing it hard around a corner I heard another loud pop, and then the buzz. After that it didn't take much to get it to slip, just the slightest acceleration. Had to lock the CD just to get it home. Cranking it into the driveway I heard the loudest pop yet. Rattled my skull, made my teeth hurt. Pulled the passenger hub and found this:

ImageUploadedByIH8MUD Forum1441171686.639709.webp


Thanks everybody for helping me with this. I wish I would have examined those hubs a little closer two years ago. The crazy thing is I've wheeled the hell out of this thing at least a dozen times since the symptoms first appeared. I guess I should be grateful they gave up the ghost when they did, easier to fix in my garage than out on the trail...

Thanks again fellas!

Shawn
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom