Well the time has come to tear into my NP241DHD,  I just bought an overhaul kit, ( seals and bearings only).  I will be dropping the transfer case at some point next week / weekend.  

 

Issues are I have a random grinding when I hit bumps, either in the CAD system or in the transfer case.  Pulling the stick back to 4x4 makes the noise go away, but I not longer have a working vacuum actuator either so I don't know if it CAD is to blame as I really doubt it is able to move the collar.  

 

I also have no ability to go into N or 4l in the transfer case.  It literally hits a wall trying to push from 2wd into N, so I am GUESSING that the shifter collar inside is FUBAR, but I won't know until I tear it apart.  

 

I am gonna go to the junkyard on friday and get a replacement CAD actuator and new vacuum lines as I can't even look at them without them busting / cracking.

 

Gonna take a bunch of pictures as I go.  

Also as a side note, I finally decided to figure out exactly what axle is under my truck.  It is a 610428-4  so a 3500 1994 front axle. nice to know rather than guessing.

Just a loose wheel rolling down the road?!

Pretty much,

 

"Humm that's a new sound.......oh crap I forgot to tighten the lug nuts, play it cool so your wife doesn't laugh at you"

Don't worry, I forgot to fully close my hood and was cruising down the 2 lane highway before it decided to pop open, with the wife in the car. It was a little harder for her to not notice that one!

Well I still have that stupid grinding noise.   So either the snap ring that hold the rear main bearing is weak, or the noise it elsewhere.  

 

I guess I have to dig more..... I guess at least I fixed the other issues though.

since my vacuum actuator was bad I decided to just lock the front axle over in 4wd mode.    Hopefully my grinding issue goes away. 

 

If so I will get a new one, but I need to stop blindly throwing money at this noise.

I am happy to report that my grinding issue is no more.  The cad was causing it.  I am guessing that when the alignment people put it up in the air on my vacation that they damaged it.  Or just random timing that it started right after they put it in the air.

 

Interestingly enough the front end "clunk" I have been chasing since I got the truck is somehow related to the cad also.  I no longer have it......

 

So the front end needs, 1 ball joint ( will replace all 4) , and a vacuum actuator.   I think I am going to go ahead and swap in the ford outer hubs.  cost will be the same and I might be able to get rid of the clunk by getting rid of the CAD system completely.

13 minutes ago, Me78569 said:

I think I am going to go ahead and swap in the ford outer hubs.

But you going to throw way the CF's often talked about 2WD LO abilities. Everyone what to be able to keep their 2WD LO on the transfer case. 

Personally, I tend to agree with you the whole CAD axle design is PITA and typically adds more problems to simple system. 

That's the beauty I keep 2lo thanks to having hub locks on the ford.  

Ah... that's right. 

yep, 

 

The pull and pay is $14 per side to pull brake and hub.  Gonna pull them, rebuild them on the bench then swap them in.  Just need to figure out any other details in the process.

 

that is all assuming that the junkyard has the parts.  The CAD was removed from all 9 of the dodge trucks at the yard...

Edited March 1, 20169 yr by Me78569