Bits of metal from Transfer Case

[simple man]

I just drained the Transfer Case in my CJ7 and found the pieces of metal shown in the attached photo.

Does anybody have an idea of what the pieces are from?

As far as I know I don't think the previous owner ever changed the Transfer Case fluid so the pieces may have been in there an long time.

Thanks

 

[mtnwhlr]

Does it still work?

 

[simple man]

Yes it still works, but I wonder what might be down the road. (No pun intended.)

 

[Torxhead]

You could install a magnetic drain plug, although I am not sure if those parts would stick, but could help.

 

[mriplaybass]

Looks like parts of the bearing cage on a Timken bearing. This cage holds the rollers evenly spaced from one another. As the cage fails, the rollers will begin to collect at the bottom of the shaft they are intended to support thereby giving no support to the top of the shaft the bearing is installed on. Might be time to explore a bit further.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Somedangthing is go'n 'south', fix it now when it will cost less.
LG

 

[simple man]

Well, the general consensus is that the pieces from the case are from a failed/failing bearing, thanks mriplaybass.

So I guess my next step is to pull the case and do a rebuild.

At this point I am considering either a Novak or TeraFlex rebuild kit. One of my concerns is to get a kit that uses quality components especially bearings.

Does anybody have any suggestions for who makes a quality Dana 300 rebuild kit?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Might want to think about a 4:1 kit.
Love mine.
Keep'n it stock=Novak
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

When I was researching low gear options the Lomax kit came out as not only being considerably less expensive, it was also considered to be stronger. I know it doesn't make sense, but that is what many posts and articles said. ..... This only applies to the Dana 300 Transfer Case , there is only one option for the Dana 20 and that's TerraFlex. I got my Dana 20 kit from Novak. It was less expensive (when Logged in) than anybody else, but it is a TerraFlex kit. The Dana 300 might be different, but I doubt it.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I have one of the first Lomax 4:1 kits in my D/300 t'case for 11-12 yrs now. Have never had any issue.
My only gripe is the shifter detents are not as 'positive' in feel, as the OEM gear set was.
This was also the first 300 I ever tore down. Glad I had and expert helping me.
LG

 

[hole]

X2 on Lomax 4:1, its a fantastic upgrade while your rebuilding the 300 . IIRC everything you need comes in the kit, bearings included.

 

[simple man]

I am getting ready to pull the Transfer Case and have a stupid question. How many bolts are there holding the Transfer Case to a T-5 Transmission ? Have seen several illustrations showing 6 bolts but I can only find 5. I found three on the driver side and 2 on the passenger side.

The illustrations seem to show a bolt at the 12 o'clock position but I don't see one there.

Any idea where the 6th bolt is?

 

[mriplaybass]

I believe that unlike the Dana 20 , the Dana 300 bolt pattern is fairly symmetrical. All the bolts are evenly spaced from one another, so just measure around the pattern and you should find the other bolt. Is one of the bolts a stud? You would have a nut in this position. You can tell pretty well if you missed a bolt by gently tapping the Transfer Case at a strong point, not the face of the case! with a brass or lead hammer. You may have to use a brass drift punch if the hammer won't fit. Lift the rear of the case slightly while tapping to help free the case. Do not try to wedge a screwdriver and pry the case off, it should slide free easily. If you get a solid sound with the hammer, you probably missed a bolt. If you get a hollow sound, you probably got all the bolts and the gasket/sealer is holding the case on.

 

[simple man]

Well, I know why I couldn't find the 6th bolt/threaded stud, THERE WASN'T ANY. The hole for the bolt located at the 12 o'clock position was filled in.

When feeling behind the Transmission case, to where I guess the bolt would exit there is no "exit" hole. The hole is right in front of the Transmission shift lever.

As you can see from the attached photo it looks like the condition has been there for a while.

Any thoughts on why I don't have a 6th bolt?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Could that have been for a dowel pin? Is it threaded??
Looks much smaller than the others.
LG

 

[simple man]

The "pin" is flush with the back of the Transmission . There doesn't appear to be any threading inside the case. As for the hole it is close to the same diameter as the other holes.

I also thought that it might be a locating dowel, but as I said above the surface of the dowel is flush with the case.

What type of fastener is in that space on other CJ7s?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

IIRC on my T-5 to D/300, it's a threaded stud. Not 100% sure now-

LG

 

[simple man]

I guess my Transmission case must have been put together late on a Friday afternoon, because it looks like they forgot to install the threaded stud.

 

[mriplaybass]

I don't know about the Dana 300 , but on the Dana 20 there is one fastener that does not thread into the Transfer Case . Instead it uses a through bolt with a nut on the other side.

 

[Hedgehog]

It has been FAR to long since I worked on a Dana 300 to remember the bolt pattern, but there MUST be someone here that knows all there is to know about the Dana 300 . Try a Google search on the Dana 300 and go to the "Image" tab. Pictures are worth 1,000 words.

Edit: When looking at the front of the Transfer Case several pictures clearly show, a stud at the 11:00 position.