Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Transfer case seal

[jman]

Just noticed the seal on my transfer case extension is leaking where the rear drive shaft is. Anyone else have this thing leak. It must be a 36K seal because I noticed it at 36,219 miles. It looks like a real bear to change, and I just changed the fluid to Amsoil ATF about 3 months ago.



I'll wait and see what you guys think. I just don't want to tear it all apart and be in over my head. Maybe I'll give the guys a call down a Colorado Diesel in Castle Rock and see what they would charge me.



Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[gregdoerfler]

i just noticed mine last week i have 38000 miles so it must be a 36000 mile seal lol. at least mine should be covered under warranty.

 

[jman]

I can almost guarantee mine started leaking before 36K because I noticed it the morning after returning from Fort Collins. I turned over 36K on the way and it is a 220 mile round trip. Oh, well I really don't want the dealer to touch it again anyway. I had it aligned at the dealer while it was in for another warranty item and it is the worst alignment I have ever had.



I think I will take it to Big O and have them fix it even if it does cost me another $50.



If anyone has a number for this seal or if there is a heavier duty seal out there please let me know. It doesn't look like something you want to go cheap on for sure!!



Thanks

 

[jman]

Gee, gregdoerfler we are the only two that have had this seal go bad. I sure hope this isn't one of those "isolated cases" like it seems like I'm prone to getting.



I'll give it a few more days, the TDR usually always pulls through.

 

[fmj]

Guys its easy to replace. Remove the rear drive shaft from the rear end, making sure you mark the u joint so it goes back in exactly as it came out. Carefully pull out the spline and driveshaft. If the truck is level you shouldn't loose any fluid. Make it easy on yourself and get a seal remover and race/seal driver. They will save you a lot of time and are cheap from local auto parts house. Buy two of the seal in case you screw up one, as this will occur after all parts houses are closed. Here is the hard part. There are two seals that are different OD and ID, and I don't have the measurements. I went to the dealer and ended up with the smaller one and had the drive shaft out at 6pm before I noticed that I needed the larger one. I believe that the part number for the smaller one is a 4746258. The larger one is a 4741920 (new number is 5072896AA). No one could explain why there are two different ones?? My transfer case is a 241HD and has a PTO plate. I hope that this helps, and it will take about 20 minutes to change out the seals. Good luck and provide details for laughs.

 

[jman]

Thanks a lot fmj!!! I may just take a whack at it this weekend. Don't you have to take the carrier down too to allow the drive shaft to slide out?



If I can do this job myself the TDR will already have paid for itself. Oo.



Can NAPA cross reference a mopar number or not. I don't really want to buy a seal from the dealer, but if it isn't too much nore money and a better seal I can live with it.



Thanks

 

[EricBu12]

Mine went out earlier than 36 K but I took it to the dealer to replace under the powertrain warranty no cost and no cussin'

 

[fmj]

Jman, sorry I wasn't avoiding answering you. I've been to the SEMA show in Las Vegas and just got back. If you've done the job yet you'll know that you don't have to drop carrier. Drive shaft will drop down and slide out. I'm sure that NAPA can cross reference the part number. I haven't tried that as there isn't one close by so I went to dealer. Hope you tried it and found out how simple it was.

 

[LandShark]

My seal went bad a few months after the truck was new. Dealer put in a new one and it's been fine ever since.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

What are you guys using for a driver? A regular seal driver won't work because of the "balloon"... or am I wrong?

 

[fmj]

What are you guys using for a driver? A regular seal driver won't work because of the "balloon"... or am I wrong?

damn bill, i don't remember my seal looking like that . but it was awhile ago when i installed it. your seal is for the rear of the transfer case where the driveshaft goes?? i didn't have seal drivers at that time and i used a socket (not recommended) to drive it in. i wouldn't have done it if the seal looked like yours. someone with better info needs to step in here.