1997 Bravada with failing Transfer Case

Hello All,

I've been the owner of a 1997 Olds Bravada since Dec 2001. Bought it with approx 75k miles (also bought an extended warranty thank goodness). I now have 137k miles on it. The extended warranty has covered several thousand dollars in repairs (new transmission, new drive shaft, ac compressor, etc), however, it has expired and now it seems that my AWD Transfer Case (the one up front) is shot. I took it to a dealer and they confirmed the problem. Said there was a loose castle nut inside the transfer case (on the driveshaft that was replaced - which is also out of warranty from the dealer). They replaced the nut, but that didn't fix the problem. To replace the Transfer case with a remanufactured unit is going to cost upwards of $1800-$2000 (after labor). The truck isn't worth much more than that.
My question is, can the AWD unit be disabled or the driveshaft to the Transfer Case be removed without causing internal damage to the transmission or anything else, and be driven? I can't justify spending that much on this vehicle, but don't want the bottom to fall out whilst driving down the road.

Thanks in advance,
Rob

Actually that's not the transfer case, it's the front differential.... You can pick one up at a wrecking yard for about 200 bux and do it yourself in a few hours...Otherwise, upi can disconnect the drive shaft from the transfer caseto the front diff...but the front diff will still be turning anyway because of the front wheels...

Actually that's not the transfer case, it's the front differential.... You can pick one up at a wrecking yard for about 200 bux and do it yourself in a few hours...Otherwise, upi can disconnect the drive shaft from the transfer caseto the front diff...but the front diff will still be turning anyway because of the front wheels...


I appreciate the clarification. The dealership told me it was the Transfer Case that had gone bad. I figured this was up front since there is a 'clunking' noise during acceleration coming from the front. They said the driveshaft is basically 'slipping' in the transfer case, causing the noise. I'm guessing teeth have been broken from the spline or the gears in the transfer case.

Will removing the driveshaft from the front diff to the transfer case have an adverse affect on acceleration? I believe the smarttrak system is supposed to transfer power to non-slipping wheels. I wouldn't want to destroy anything by removing the driveshaft.

Again, I appreciate your help,
Rob

Your ecm and abs will go buggy...

Since it's a '97 without the encoder motor or other electronic doodads because of the viscous clutch, the ECM doesn't know it's there. The ABS sensors are on the wheel hubs...as long as the wheels rotate.
The transfer case looks planetary, meaning without the load of the front driveshaft/differential, the viscous clutch has to provide the "load" and will wear out real quick. Check with a reputable local repair shop and get another quote. Some auto recyclers will swap out whole units for a fair price...just be sure the ratios are the same...part of the job agreement.

I ended up finding a used Transfer Case at a local Salvage Yard back home. I took the truck home and had a mechanic install it and replace my upper ball joints for less than the cost the dealer wanted to charge me just for the Transfer Case.

Truck runs great now.

Thanks again,
Rob

Way to go Rob,
I'm glad you got a better deal.

Hey how much did youpay for your transfer case? I had a junk yard quote me 800 bucks!

HeyRobi

If I remember correctly, I paid around $350 for it. But, after about 3 months, it went bad too. I hope this doesn't happen to you. I figure that the replacement transfer case must've had high miles on it too. I had close to 170k on mine. After that saga, I ended up selling the Bravada and getting a Diesel VW Beetle.



Hey how much did youpay for your transfer case? I had a junk yard quote me 800 bucks!

HeyRobi