Transfer case shifter rod hits driveshaft?

BWFBezerk · 09-04-2009, 04:13 PM

Previous owner seriously f'd up the transfer case shifter, it was all ghetto-rigged and now I have it straightened out and there is a new problem. When I shift into 4-Lo my shifter rod going to my transfer case is rubbing on my driveshaft and makes horrible vibrations and noises when I try driving, what do I do?

BWFBezerk · 09-04-2009, 04:56 PM

.......can someone post pictures of their stock linkages please so I can compare?

TJunk · 09-04-2009, 04:58 PM

Simple fix would be to purchase an aftermarket linkage for around $70. It will shift smoother too

BWFBezerk · 09-04-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJunk

Simple fix would be to purchase an aftermarket linkage for around $70. It will shift smoother too

Not nearly worth $70 to me.

Anyways here are pictures of my linkage, first pic is 2wd, last 3 are 4Lo"

Can the part that both rods go into be reversed? Like make it face to the inside of Jeep instead of outside, I think that will fix the problem.

RLD831 · 09-04-2009, 05:22 PM

The piece that is hitting should be on the other side of the tabs with the points on the ends pointing toward the driver side.

TJunk · 09-04-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLD831

The piece that is hitting should be on the other side of the tabs with the points on the ends pointing toward the driver side.

Yep! Flip it to the other side. You can see the plastic insert on the t-case end is oriented the right way. sombody put it back together backwards

BWFBezerk · 09-04-2009, 06:43 PM

lmao, that somebody would be me, I flipped it, and it works, problem now is that it doesn't go into 4lo, the bracket on the transfer case is hitting the case itself and not allowing it to engage all the way, the slightest bump puts it into neutral??? It's not the linkage, but the bracket itself.

p.s. I Love my Jeep

p.p.s. Thanks for the replies and answers, it is appreciated!

**Jerry Bransford** · 09-04-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWFBezerk

lmao, that somebody would be me, I flipped it, and it works, problem now is that it doesn't go into 4lo, the bracket on the transfer case is hitting the case itself and not allowing it to engage all the way, the slightest bump puts it into neutral??? It's not the linkage, but the bracket itself.

p.s. I Love my Jeep

p.p.s. Thanks for the replies and answers, it is appreciated!

To adjust it so it will go all the way into 4Lo, you need to adjust the top link length so it is a tad shorter. It has pulled out of adjustment so it's now a tad too long. Look in the very top photo posted above. Nearly dead-center and just behind the lower link you'll see a bolt with a 1/2" head on it. Loosen that bolt slightly, pull the rod in a bit more from where it slipped out to, then tighten the snot out of that bolt.

Better yet, loosen the bolt, move the short transfer case lever the shift rod connects to manually into 4Low with a pair of pliers, then adjust the length so the lever length matches where it needs to be.

That rod can slip out of adjustment so make sure you tighten its bolt that clamps it into position adequately afterwards.

Edit: I copied the above photo and circled the bolt I was referring to for you. Here it is...

BWFBezerk · 09-04-2009, 07:09 PM

Thanks Jerry, but it's not the problem, in my previous post I stated that the bracket itself is hitting the transfer case and not allowing it to go into 4lo, adjusting the linkage doesn't change that. When I bought the Jeep It had a ghettorigged bracket that made my shifter reversed. I got a bracket off a YJ at a junkyard but I guess they're not the same. I don''t know where to find a bracket from a TJ. Here's a better explanation:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/np-231-shifter-bracket-problem-831661/

Here are the brackets I have to work with that people have mailed me from me stating my problem in that thread:

From left to right numbers read; 40 (rusted over), 758, 207, ghetto one

The one all the way on the right is what was on the Jeep when I bought it, one all the way on the left is what I got from a YJ, two in middle were mailed to me by JeepForum people. I've had the best luck with the 2nd on, although it is slanted so it makes the shifter rod want to come out of the bushing, and it doesn't go into 2wd all the way before the linkage starts to bind up. What do I do??? I need a bracket with the hole angled somewhere between 2 and 3, 2 doesn't go into 2 and 3 doesn't go into 4.

edit: Here is what I mean by slanted:

BWFBezerk · 09-04-2009, 08:31 PM

Any ideas?

TJunk · 09-04-2009, 08:59 PM

did you try flipping the 3rd one from the left, or even the first one so that the slotted hole angles a different direction? that would give you a different angle when mounted to the t-case.

Also what was it that made your shifter reversed? was the bracket mounted upside down? (swing on top instead of the bottom) The Rubicon 241 swings opposite of the 231. Can't remember which is up and which is down though. I'm not near my Jeep to check

**biffgnar** · 09-06-2009, 05:25 PM

Separate but related question. The long arm (which in OPs case was hitting the drive shart) has rubber/plastic adaptors/bushings on each end that lock it in to the holes on the connecting rods. Bit of an involved story, but one of those rubber/plastic pieces got damaged pretty bad while my daughter and I were messing with the jeep (trying to teach her to be able to work on the jeep; if that's the worst thing she destroys I'll be happy). Does anybody know where to get replacements for those rubber/plastic pieces? Dealership? Any place easier?

gcfishguy · 09-06-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffgnar

Does anybody know where to get replacements for those rubber/plastic pieces? Dealership? Any place easier?

They came with the kit for the TSB to cure the rattling in the linkage....

http://www.4x4xplor.com/T-CaseTSB.html

not sure if you can get them on their own, but that kit came to replace each and every one on mine.