Anyone else break their transfer case?

[rkcrawl]

[quote=f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Hummie2

Is there any manufacturers who produce a Cast iron or some other type of Steel housing? Yes, AAM makes the identical axle in cast iron

Just MY opinions on this issue

The above is good info... that means there is a direct bolt in replacement made of what should be a higher strength (albeit heavier) replacement. I'm sure that the aluminum case was used for weight savings, but if its proven that case deflection is whats causing this issue, it was a bad choice.

Originally Posted by f5fstop

I fought housing flex in certain Dana 44s (they are not all cast the same) before. Bottom line: when I reinforced the housing and stopped the flex(distorsion) I stopped breaking ring & pinion gears. I did the same, and I ended up busting axles. Every part of the drive train has a weak link, something will break if too much torque is applied with too much weight and too much restriction, in my Jeep it was the axle shafts. Personally, I would prefer the shafts, easy to replace in the field, and inexpensive.

Any of us here who has seriously wheeled has broken more then our fair share of parts. I've busted R&Ps, 9" ford cases, bent housings, axle shafts, transfer case output shafts, driveshafts, etc. I eventually ended up with Dana 60s front and rear, then my axle problems went away (in that rig... )

[HummBebe]

Would Dana 60's be a viable replacement in the H3??? Is it possible? I would like to change to 4:88's as I have 35" tires.

Would West Coat Differential be the people to talk to???

http://www.differentials.com/

[rkcrawl]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Would Dana 60's be a viable replacement in the H3??? Is it possible? I would like to change to 4:88's as I have 35" tires.

Would West Coat Differential be the people to talk to???

http://www.differentials.com/

The problem with a D60 on the H3 is the front... The front is IFS so a D60 from someone like WCD would probably want to be a full straight axle swap... not sure it you would want to get into something like that. As far swapping in a different IFS diff... That might be very challenging. Doesn't look like a lot of space where the current case is located.

The easy swap (but I guess gears are the issue?) would be the cast iron AAM case which would be a bolt in replacement. Other possible solutions might be the front case from an current GM 3/4 ton IFS 4x4 or maybe a H2 front case? Again space and mounting would probably be the first issues, then connection the outer axle shafts, etc...

I've seen custom 9" housing made, and if the center section fit under the front of the H3 I am sure it could be made to work with the stock IFS. In fact I know of a guy who did just that with a Toyota front IFS. With a nodular case and billet steel bearing caps you would end up with a "nearly" bullet proof front diff (though your probably start stressing the front half shafts ) and lots of options for a front locker too

As much as it would be a pain, for now, I'd let the dealer fix it under warranty before I spent ALOT of money on a customer solution. 1) Maybe GM will own up to fixing it right or 2) You end up doing something else once the warrantly is up and you've had time to really investigate solutions.

I'll be on the trails with mine soon and if I run into the same kind of issue, I'll be looking into solutions as well.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by Alec W

Theoretically could this happen in a mall if you gunned it on sticky pavement?

LMFAO!!!

I'm sure that's how Sewie busted his.

[Sewie]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

LMFAO!!!

I'm sure that's how Sewie busted his.

How would you know, you were out shopping at the time.

[Hummie2]

Yes, AAM makes the identical axle in cast iron

f5fstop... do you happen to know what application the cast iron version is used in? Year, make, model would be nice to know if possible.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Hummie2

Yes, AAM makes the identical axle in cast iron

f5fstop... do you happen to know what application the cast iron version is used in? Year, make, model would be nice to know if possible.

Not sure without doing a parts check, and not even sure if GM uses the cast iron version. If they do, it would be in a half-ton pickup. The Colorado/Canyon uses different axles.

[4Skin]

Does the H3 share the same tranny as the Liberty? That's bad news.