T-case bearings

83 · 10-01-2009, 02:04 PM

Anybody have experience taking their t-case apart? I've been chasing a noise down for a while now..metallic clanging noise that's slowly getting worse and sounds like it's coming from the rear. I've replaced one u-joint (was told the other was fine), and just put in a new used rear diff over the weekend, and the noise is still there. There is some play where the d-shaft bolts to the t-case. So I'm thinking it might be the equivalent of the pinion bearing in the transfer case?

Just curious what kind of job this is. I can handle taking things apart, maybe bring the bearing to shop to have it pressed off, reassemble etc. I'm wondering if it's that easy. It wasn't hard for me to find a cheap(free) 3rd, since people are regearing and looking to get rid of stock stuff all the time, but I'm guessing I won't have such an easy time finding a transfer case in good condition for cheap, since people like doing duals. I just really can't pay to have a shop take the case apart.

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pennywize · 10-01-2009, 08:37 PM

http://trail-gear.com/pdf/470kit.pdf

theres a pretty good writeup for dis-assembling and rebuilding with lower gears, not exactly what your doing but it should help you see whats going on in there.
i rebuilt my case and put in 4.7's in just a couple evenings, working a couple hours on it after work. it's not too difficult, just keep track of the parts.

ocdropzone · 10-02-2009, 01:58 AM

x2 on the trail gear instructions, they are pretty good.

T-G also has a couple of transfer case videos that are worth watching before taking apart a case:
Transfer Case Info
Trail-Gears TC Videos:
t-case: http://www.trail-gear.com/videos/toy-tcase.wmv
Dual case: http://www.trail-gear.com/videos/toydualcase.wmv

MUNJUE · 10-02-2009, 02:33 AM

i have rebuilt quite a few, if you are new to it, have a clean work area, and a digital camera is very handy to take pictures so you can jog your memory where parts go,
make sure you have a few zip lock bags small ones for the detent springs and ball bearings, as they have different spring ratings label them,
there isnt alot to them and the entire job could be done in 8-10hrs if you are mechanical minded and just tinkering away,

83 · 10-05-2009, 06:35 AM

Great, thanks guys. I'd really like to finally trust my truck again before hunting season really gets going. And winter...

Looks like there are quite a few bearings on the output shaft...so I wonder if I'll be able to tell which one is going out, or if I should just replace them all, or what? Anybody know which one could cause play in the rear d-shaft if it was going out?

83 · 10-05-2009, 02:29 PM

That first video is giving me a "website cannot be found" error. Second one works. Thanks! I guess I can check out their site myself. Lots of bearings in there...hopefully I can get a good idea of which one(s) are most likely to blame, since this is my dd and only vehicle, before I tear it apart...

83 · 10-19-2009, 07:40 AM

Ok...so I'm guessing my noise is on the rear output of the t-case. But..anyone have any idea which bearings it's likely to be? What would cause some play in the rear shaft? So here's my situation: not much money. want the truck driveable (out of town) again. So far I've basically had to replace everything on this truck. the first major bearing on the rear output is $40 from Toyota. The next one in is $60. A minor rebuild kit (doesn't include needle bearings) from Marlin is $184. I'm considering just rebuilding it..

So what I'm wondering on top of that stuff is...if I pull the first two covers on the rear, will I necessarily be able to tell if the bearings are bad? Will it be obvious? I'm thinking if I can save some money (and down time) by taking things apart a bit, looking in there, then if it's just one bearing, I'll put it back together, order the bearing, then replace it once I get it. But if I'm going to spend $100 on two bearings, I'll just get the rebuild kit.

But the truck is my daily driver and hunting season opens this weekend, so I'm not going to pull the whole case and see what's wrong, then order parts then have no vehicle while I wait. So, can I tell a bad bearing when I see one, if I just take the cover off the rear of the case? Has anyone had experience with this? If it's more than one bearing, I don't see any reason not to just buy the rebuild kit.

The reason I mention that I've had to replace about everything on this truck is that I wonder if, since there's obviously something going on with the t-case, if there won't be more issues with it. I mean, if one bearing is going out, how far away are the others? But obviously I'd rather just pull the back two covers off the case and replace a bearing than pull the entire case and do a rebuild...

ocdropzone · 10-20-2009, 01:43 PM

sorry about that link not working...

here is a pdf version from an FSM on the transfer case:
http://www.lukemiller.org/toys/1985_...r_case_FSM.pdf

83 · 10-20-2009, 02:03 PM

Thanks OC. I've got the '83 FSM for my truck, so I've got that stuff. Those videos will help way more than the FSM, from the looks of it. I'll just watch them a lot before I do anything.

10-02-2009, 01:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
ocdropzone Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 4,711	x2 on the trail gear instructions, they are pretty good. T-G also has a couple of transfer case videos that are worth watching before taking apart a case: Transfer Case Info Trail-Gears TC Videos: t-case: http://www.trail-gear.com/videos/toy-tcase.wmv Dual case: http://www.trail-gear.com/videos/toydualcase.wmv __________________ ~Robb '81 Trekker The B4Runner Build TREKKER Forum Mini FAQ/Misc Ideas Thread TRY THESE SEARCH LINKS GOOGLE FOR TOYOTA WEBSITES LINK TO ONLINE FACTORY SERVICE MANUALS Drive a real 1st Gen Wheel Responsibly, Don't Screw It Up for Others

10-05-2009, 06:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
83 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 1,691	Great, thanks guys. I'd really like to finally trust my truck again before hunting season really gets going. And winter... Looks like there are quite a few bearings on the output shaft...so I wonder if I'll be able to tell which one is going out, or if I should just replace them all, or what? Anybody know which one could cause play in the rear d-shaft if it was going out? __________________ Zach '83 Shortbed 4x4 L52HD Rebuilt & Mostly Stock

10-05-2009, 02:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
83 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 1,691	That first video is giving me a "website cannot be found" error. Second one works. Thanks! I guess I can check out their site myself. Lots of bearings in there...hopefully I can get a good idea of which one(s) are most likely to blame, since this is my dd and only vehicle, before I tear it apart... __________________ Zach '83 Shortbed 4x4 L52HD Rebuilt & Mostly Stock

10-19-2009, 07:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
83 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 1,691	Ok...so I'm guessing my noise is on the rear output of the t-case. But..anyone have any idea which bearings it's likely to be? What would cause some play in the rear shaft? So here's my situation: not much money. want the truck driveable (out of town) again. So far I've basically had to replace everything on this truck. the first major bearing on the rear output is $40 from Toyota. The next one in is $60. A minor rebuild kit (doesn't include needle bearings) from Marlin is $184. I'm considering just rebuilding it.. So what I'm wondering on top of that stuff is...if I pull the first two covers on the rear, will I necessarily be able to tell if the bearings are bad? Will it be obvious? I'm thinking if I can save some money (and down time) by taking things apart a bit, looking in there, then if it's just one bearing, I'll put it back together, order the bearing, then replace it once I get it. But if I'm going to spend $100 on two bearings, I'll just get the rebuild kit. But the truck is my daily driver and hunting season opens this weekend, so I'm not going to pull the whole case and see what's wrong, then order parts then have no vehicle while I wait. So, can I tell a bad bearing when I see one, if I just take the cover off the rear of the case? Has anyone had experience with this? If it's more than one bearing, I don't see any reason not to just buy the rebuild kit. The reason I mention that I've had to replace about everything on this truck is that I wonder if, since there's obviously something going on with the t-case, if there won't be more issues with it. I mean, if one bearing is going out, how far away are the others? But obviously I'd rather just pull the back two covers off the case and replace a bearing than pull the entire case and do a rebuild... __________________ Zach '83 Shortbed 4x4 L52HD Rebuilt & Mostly Stock Last edited by 83; 10-19-2009 at 09:20 AM.

10-20-2009, 01:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
ocdropzone Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 4,711	sorry about that link not working... here is a pdf version from an FSM on the transfer case: http://www.lukemiller.org/toys/1985_...r_case_FSM.pdf __________________ ~Robb '81 Trekker The B4Runner Build TREKKER Forum Mini FAQ/Misc Ideas Thread TRY THESE SEARCH LINKS GOOGLE FOR TOYOTA WEBSITES LINK TO ONLINE FACTORY SERVICE MANUALS Drive a real 1st Gen Wheel Responsibly, Don't Screw It Up for Others

10-01-2009, 08:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
pennywize Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 285	http://trail-gear.com/pdf/470kit.pdf theres a pretty good writeup for dis-assembling and rebuilding with lower gears, not exactly what your doing but it should help you see whats going on in there. i rebuilt my case and put in 4.7's in just a couple evenings, working a couple hours on it after work. it's not too difficult, just keep track of the parts.

10-02-2009, 02:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
MUNJUE Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 16	i have rebuilt quite a few, if you are new to it, have a clean work area, and a digital camera is very handy to take pictures so you can jog your memory where parts go, make sure you have a few zip lock bags small ones for the detent springs and ball bearings, as they have different spring ratings label them, there isnt alot to them and the entire job could be done in 8-10hrs if you are mechanical minded and just tinkering away,

10-20-2009, 02:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
83 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 1,691	Thanks OC. I've got the '83 FSM for my truck, so I've got that stuff. Those videos will help way more than the FSM, from the looks of it. I'll just watch them a lot before I do anything. __________________ Zach '83 Shortbed 4x4 L52HD Rebuilt & Mostly Stock

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