01 Tundra Manual T-Case 4x4 Binding

Just picked up a 01 Tundra that needed a bit of love before being put on the road. The seller stated it was hard to get into and out of 4x4 (Manual Transfer Case). It will go into 4 HI with no issue, but immediately the wheels start skipping and binding when going in a straight line. Extremely difficult to get back into 2wd, and almost always requires going into reverse for it to finally pop out. Same with 4 LO to 4 HI, in neutral / park sitting still it is extremely difficult to get back into 4 HI. Only thing I can think of is if someone in the past swapped the rear axle but not the front? On the lift in 4wd all 4 wheels move smoothly by hand, and no binding or anything weird happening when in drive in the air. The truck won't even idle forward when in 4x4 HI, making me think there is an issue with the front axle possibly. V6 automatic transmission if that changes anything. No issues at all otherwise, can drive just fine in 2wd or 4wd on extremely muddy terrain that allows a lot of slippage, but again difficult to switch back to 2wd unless its in the air.

Thanks!

 

Does it bind and skip on a dirt road or a snow covered one? Are all the tires relatively the same tread depth?

 

All tires are brand new, same tread depth and size. Harder packed dirt it skips still in a straight line, if its extremely loose I don't hear it binding quiet as much but still doesn't "feel" right. As if there is a significant bind still, and the vehicle looses speed quick and won't idle forward in 4wd. In 4wd on gravel I hear the front wheels skipping as if they are trying to go slower or faster than the rear, again in a straight line of course.

 

Yeah, that does sound kind of messed up. Also you shouldn't necessarily have to backup to disengage, it should happen moving forward as well. I kind of wonder if the prior owner did something he shouldn't have and broke something.

 

Makes me think that the rear differential was swapped with a different ratio. Written on the differential is "L+P 11/22/2021", no idea what that means but the yellow paint they used screams junkyard

 

thats exactly what I was thinking. It sounds like a mismatched gear ratio issue. Engage 4x4 and lift all 4 wheels up to count the drive shaft rotations to verify.

 

You could also put chalk or paint marks on the tires and let it idle a couple rotations and see if they're in the same position.

 

If you get all 4 off the ground put a piece of tape at 12 o’clock and run it. See if the tape stays in the same spot on each front and rear tire. If not, it’s a different ratio front and rear.

This happened to a buddy that custom ordered a new Chevy years ago. Rear had 4.30’s, front had 4.10’s, from the factory.

 

Wow... huge difference front to rear. Spun the driveshaft and marked the position of the tires, and found out I had 3.91 in the rear. Factory 4.3 in the front, RIP transfer case. Truck should be a bit faster off the line once its swapped correctly..

 

Wow.....someone dorked that up.