Transfer Case Failure x 2

[sag2]

This shows a clutch, but the service info does not mention it.

 

[Ozymandias]

This shows a clutch, but the service info does not mention it.

Jup that's the synchronization unit.

 

[jhenderson]

Synchronized engagement. Just like manual transmission’s for the last 60 years. It’s got internal teeth that spine to the shaft and friction material rather than bronze to ramp the dead shaft up to speed but just like traditional synchros it holds/ transfers no torque, as a traditional t/c clutch pack does. They can call it what they want but there’s no clutch that fits inside that transfer case that can take the torque.

 

[SCF Truck]

This shows a clutch, but the service info does not mention it.

Great diagram. Thx

 

[SCF Truck]

Synchronized engagement. Just like manual transmission’s for the last 60 years. It’s got internal teeth that spine to the shaft and friction material rather than bronze to ramp the dead shaft up to speed but just like traditional synchros it holds/ transfers no torque, as a
traditional t/c clutch pack does. They can call it what they want but there’s no clutch that fits inside that transfer case that can take the torque.

Synchronized engagement. Just like manual transmission’s for the last 60 years. It’s got internal teeth that spine to the shaft and friction material rather than bronze to ramp the dead shaft up to speed but just like traditional synchros it holds/ transfers no torque, as a traditional t/c clutch pack does. They can call it what they want but there’s no clutch that fits inside that transfer case that can take the torque.

This is very helpful.

Obtw no word from FCA on my truck. I have a new loaner 2500 so I can't fuss to much. Dealer said our case (pun intended) has been referred to a Master Consultant. I dont know what that means or what happens next.
Anyone have experience with this type of factory problem solving?

 

[Ozymandias]

No i don't, but what i know is that you now have a loaner you can use exactly as Yours and check if it fails too.

 

[SCF Truck]

No i don't, but what i know is that you now have a loaner you can use exactly as Yours and check if it fails too.

The loaner has more towing miles on it as our Ram pulling the same loaded trailer (see photo). Works great and no txfr case problems.

 

[jhenderson]

It’s going to be very interesting to see what they come up with. By their nature transfer cases as a whole are very reliable. Gears, bearings, a chain along with a design that hasn’t changed in years. Your situation is out of the ordinary to say the very least. I hope you’re treated well by the dealer and FCA. This certainly shouldn’t be happening to you.

 

[SCF Truck]

It’s going to be very interesting to see what they come up with. By their nature transfer cases as a whole are very reliable. Gears, bearings, a chain along with a design that hasn’t changed in years. Your situation is out of the ordinary to say the very least. I hope you’re treated well by the dealer and FCA. This certainly shouldn’t be happening to you.

Thank you. At this point I'm sure FCA is driving the boat. If I were in charge I would contact the customer with an update. Nothing. Crappy customer service in my opinion.

On a related note I looked at Ford SD trucks today.

 

[wyosteve]

So, what did you find/conclude looking at Ford SD trucks?

 

[EDankievitch]

I drove a SD truck last Sat. I have to say I was impressed. The steering was tight and very responsive not the vague loose feeling my 13 has. The transmission took some getting use to. But once I did it was very nice. Best way to describe it is that it was the closest to driving a manual transmission with the engine brake was in the auto mode. I could control speed with just the throttle. Let off the throttle and the truck slowed down unlike my 13. My 13 feels like the transmission, unless it's in tow haul mode unlocks and just allows the truck to coast, free wheel little or no speed control even with the engine brake on. I miss my manual that I had in my 05 and 12. Now if Ford would just offer a Cummins under the hood...…. Just my 2 cents.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Now if Ford would just offer a Cummins under the hood...…. Just my 2 cents.

I made the mistake of purchasing a 6.7 Powerstroke. The result of spending 62k was a truck that had three turbos and two engine blocks replaced to reach 10,756 miles. I'll never drink the powerstroke koolaid again. I'll take all of the shortcomings of FCA long before I ever purchase a new Ford product...................and my local Ford dealer was stellar during the entire performance. They kept me in a loaner truck the entire time and kept me updated daily, unfortunately, they didn't receive a quality product from the OEM. YMMV.

 

[Newsa]

I drove a SD truck last Sat. I have to say I was impressed. The steering was tight and very responsive not the vague loose feeling my 13 has. The transmission took some getting use to. But once I did it was very nice. Best way to describe it is that it was the closest to driving a manual transmission with the engine brake was in the auto mode. I could control speed with just the throttle. Let off the throttle and the truck slowed down unlike my 13. My 13 feels like the transmission, unless it's in tow haul mode unlocks and just allows the truck to coast, free wheel little or no speed control even with the engine brake on. I miss my manual that I had in my 05 and 12.

Then Ford must have improved their E Brake. Cummins E Brake has always outperformed Ford and GM/Chevy in the exhaust brake area. ...... According to independent reviews.

Or maybe your experience is that the automatic in your '13 doesn't have the programming to make it perform optimally during e braking?

 

[Dan_69GTX]

I drove a SD truck last Sat. I have to say I was impressed. The steering was tight and very responsive not the vague loose feeling my 13 has. The transmission took some getting use to. But once I did it was very nice. Best way to describe it is that it was the closest to driving a manual transmission with the engine brake was in the auto mode. I could control speed with just the throttle. Let off the throttle and the truck slowed down unlike my 13. My 13 feels like the transmission, unless it's in tow haul mode unlocks and just allows the truck to coast, free wheel little or no speed control even with the engine brake on. I miss my manual that I had in my 05 and 12. Now if Ford would just offer a Cummins under the hood...…. Just my 2 cents.

Just out of curiosity, was the Ford a 2013 also? Or were you comparing a new truck to the 2013? If so, I’d be really interested for you to compare a new Ram to the new Ford. I have not done that.

 

[EDankievitch]

My 13 Ram has had every available update. The engine brake and transmission have a mind of their own. I drive the same road, down the same hill every day. One trip the engine brake will hold the truck right at 28-32 mph the whole way down. The next trip it'll come on slow the truck a bit then the transmission unlocks and if you don't ride the service brakes you'll be over 60mph by the bottom of the hill. I so miss my manual. Pick the gear and let the engine/ engine brake work for you.
The FSD that I test drove was a 2019 XLT super cab long bed with some value package. Heated seats, Sat radio, Tow mirrors, and something called rapid heat which worked awesome. Oh and heated seats. Sticker was $60k No I didn't buy it but I did drive it for almost an hour. Poor sales man thought he had it sold.... I know I'm a heart breaker...Lol

 

[Odp]

We have had 3 company trucks loose transfer cases. The truck in the picture was my truck. It had one trans. Case replaced by the dealer after a failure. About 20k later the replacement blew apart like a grenade going down the road. The result is what you see below. If you do a google search and search some forums it seems to be an unusually frequent event.

 

[nukegm]

holy cow that is scary! what, if anything did ram / dodge do for you after the photo?
cheers!

 

[DonFitzwater]

We have had 3 company trucks loose transfer cases. The truck in the picture was my truck. It had one trans. Case replaced by the dealer after a failure. About 20k later the replacement blew apart like a grenade going down the road. The result is what you see below. If you do a google search and search some forums it seems to be an unusually frequent event.View attachment 111257

Pffft!!! That’ll buff out.

 

[SCF Truck]

Thank you. At this point I'm sure FCA is driving the boat. If I were in charge I would contact the customer with an update. Nothing. Crappy customer service in my opinion.

On a related note I looked at Ford SD trucks today.

UPDATE. Our Ram dealership called today. Chrysler will NOT cover the replacement of our 2nd txfr case under warranty. Per the service manager FCA said the txfr failed due to "being overloaded".

Our dealer has decided to cover the cost of replacing the txfr case .

I'm baffled by the failure since we were 4,050 lbs BELOW the max towing for our VIN.

Needless to say I dont trust this truck and will be trading in it ASAP.

The dealership is recommending a Ram 4500. Seems over kill to pull an occasional trailer loaded with 13,500 lbs.

Thoughts?

 

[lpennock]

I think transfer case is same in the 4500 and 5500. They just make less torque and have lower gears. Be cheaper to regear.