Transfer case hi-lo grinding.

[Matmal]

Hey all, so I had never shifted into 4lo and wanted to try it just in Park, engine on, for the hell of it.

The shifter was very firm and sticky, expected for something that maybe never used.

I put it back into 4hi, or so I thought, and went into reverse. A little grinding occurred so I went back to Park and pushed extra hard into 4hi so it was fully engaged.

Did I do any damage to the trans? I did not move when it grinded. Drove fine after, I'm just worried I tore something up...

 

[bmwjnky]

I've had the best luck switching between high and low range while slowly rolling at about 5 mph. At a minimum I'd do it at a standstill in nutural without the brakes on.

 

[Tools R Us]

Stopped, with the transmission in neutral.

 

[Matmal]

Ya, the sun visor says neutral or park. Next time I'll do neutral for sure, I just hope I didn't damage anything?

 

[9780LC]

Ya, the sun visor says neutral or park. Next time I'll do neutral for sure, I just hope I didn't damage anything?

Mine usually grinds in park or neutral shifting between hi/low and back. It does make a terrible sound. Sometimes it's smooth and like the guy said above, that is usually when I'm rolling slowly forward a bit. I don't think you messed anything up.

 

[Dave 2000]

Stopped, with the transmission in neutral.

Unless you drive a manual version.

Oh and to the PO, no I doubt you did any harm at all.

regards

Dave

 

[KoffeeKommando]

Mine will only go into 4LO when in neutral. You have to pull it quickly and smoothly from 4HI to 4LO. Don't pause at all.
If you do it will grind.
Then, mine will only go back into 4HI if trans. is in park.
I can't even budge the transfer case stick back to 4HI if trans. is in N.

Try that sequence and see if yours is similar.

Sun visor instructions are lying.

I'm going to put Redline synthetic in the transfer case and see if it improves the shifter action.
Redline worked wonders on my Suzuki Samurai 5 spd.
Got rid of all noise in every gear pretty much.

 

[jonheld]

Ya, the sun visor says neutral or park. Next time I'll do neutral for sure, I just hope I didn't damage anything?

The transfer case internals are not made of eggshells and dove feathers. You did nothing wrong and caused no damage.
If the shift between gears on the transfer case is very stiff, the most likely cause is corrosion of the shift lever pivot point, not anything in the transfer case or associated linkage. This is a very common issue and can be a PITA to remedy.

 

[9780LC]

Damn. Sounds like a PITA just imaging where the pivot point is located.

 

[jonheld]

Damn. Sounds like a PITA just imaging where the pivot point is located.

LOL. Ask me how I know.
The transfer case shift lever is bolted to the top of the transmission housing. If you remove the 2 front seats, center console, carpet/padding, you can remove the many small bolts holding the transmission hump in place. These bolts can be pre-lubricated with the liquid of your choice from under the truck and I highly recommend this if you live in the rust belt. There is a cotter pin holding the linkage to the shift lever and that is easily removed from under the truck.
Once the hump is off, there are 4 bolts that hold the shift lever in place. Mine took a ridiculous amount of PB Blaster and associated cursing to get it to start moving freely. Once it loosened up I was able to drive the center pin out and really clean things up. Put is all back together with a generous coating of moly grease, and it shifts effortlessly for many years now.
I need to do the same thing on my LX450 before it gets bad.