Clarification of gen-four 45&5500 4x4 transfercase spinning full time
02-28-2018 | 10:30 PM
#1
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Clarification of gen-four 45&5500 4x4 transfercase spinning full time
Hey guys ~ looking to upgrade from a gen-2 2500 4x4 5.9 to a gen-4 5500 4x4. Having a conversation with my mechanic the other day and telling him my plans to upgrade. He proceeds to tell me a story about a customer that brought a gen-4 4500 4x4 to him that was suffering from a bad vibration. This customer had taken the truck previously to the local Dodge dealership. They told him his transmission and transfer case had to be rebuilt and charged him $6000.00. He still ended up having a problem. So he brought it to my mechanic who quickly assessed that the front driveshaft was worn out. My mechanic informed me that in these Dodge trucks the transfer case and front driveshaft spin full-time. I am having a hard time believing that this is so. Can I get some clarification on the matter?
03-04-2018 | 07:14 PM
#2
Just a plain ole guy
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,537
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From: Carlos, Texas
They do. The driveshafts always turn. You can change front hubs to free spin hubs but that pricey and not really practicle. A driveshaft is simply a tube and u joints. the tube can never wear out. A u joint can, it replaceable. There's a good chance that he just has a driveshaft out of balance or maybe even a tire thats bad or out of balance. People pay alot more than that sometimes chasing problems but unfortunelty, never start with the simple and obvious.
03-04-2018 | 09:02 PM
#3
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From: Sand Gap, KY.
They do. The driveshafts always turn. You can change front hubs to free spin hubs but that pricey and not really practicle. A driveshaft is simply a tube and u joints. the tube can never wear out. A u joint can, it replaceable. There's a good chance that he just has a driveshaft out of balance or maybe even a tire thats bad or out of balance. People pay alot more than that sometimes chasing problems but unfortunelty, never start with the simple and obvious.
The 4500 & 5500 trucks do not use AAM axles, so there is a good chance that they may turn all of the time.
03-05-2018 | 07:10 PM
#4
Top's Younger Twin
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Thanks Don M!
As above my front shaft on MY 16’ doesn’t turn unless engaged. First time I discovered this was a bit of a shock. I thought I had snapped something up front since the shaft turns freely by hand when not in 4x4.
03-06-2018 | 12:41 PM
#5
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From: Banning, ca same house 73yrs
03-06-2018 | 09:02 PM
#6
It's my pot and I'll stir it if I want to. If you're not careful, I'll stir your's as well!
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Central Mexico.
Perhaps I missed something, but unless the truck has free wheel hubs, how is it possible for the front driveshaft NOT to turn, in or out of 4 wheel drive?
03-06-2018 | 09:59 PM
#7
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Banning, ca same house 73yrs
some years of dodge trucks have a front axel disconnect. it is a collar that disconnects the passenger side axel. the axel is made in 2 pieces and a collar connects them together. when you`re in 2 wheel drive, the pass. axel is NOT connected together with the collar, and the outer piece turns with the pass. side wheel. the driver side axel turns with the wheel and turns the spider gears and inner half of the pass. side axel. it does NOT turn the ring and pinion or front drive shaft. G.M. and Jeep vehicles also used a CAD (central axel disconnect) system in certain years. when a vehicle with CAD is in 2 wheel drive and standing still, you can turn the front drive shaft by hand, and the front drive shaft will not be turning when you drive down the high way. CAD is a lazy mans free wheel hub. all mfg`s had trouble with CAD, especially in really cold climates, and did away with it. but some put it back in some vehicles.
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03-07-2018 | 06:23 AM
#8
It's my pot and I'll stir it if I want to. If you're not careful, I'll stir your's as well!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 173
From: Central Mexico.
Thanks for the explanation. Sounds like a lot of bother for not much gain. I will stick with my free wheel hubs thank you and get out of the truck to manually engage them when the need arises.
03-08-2018 | 12:30 AM
#9
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I guess I’m still having trouble understanding this.......In the Gen 4 tradesman series 4550 5500 trucks they have the same four-wheel-drive shift lever on the floor that my 01 2500 has. It has a 2 Wheel drive , four low, four high & neutral position. I have to believe that floor mounted shift lever is engaging or disengaging the transfer case????? Why would any manufacturer think it’s a good idea to turn a drivetrain component unnecessarily?
03-08-2018 | 02:34 PM
#10
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: On the Farm, Manitoba
Free wheel hubs is the ONLY real way to disconnect the front wheels from the drive train, every other way has draw backs like back driving the rear of each tooth or running around inside the diff with the spider gears. Other than free wheel hubs I guess All wheel drive comes the closest as it only applies the amount of power needed but again everything is turning.
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