Wow I sure hope not, but I will check that.

With the little bit I've driven it, I don't think any bearings are gone though.

To clarify, which shaft are you referring to when you say "main t-case shaft"?
out of the 3: input, intermediate, and output.

Thanks

 

So i did something I should have done a while ago.
I put the whole truck in the air and idled it in drive.

it is mostly FWD until it clunks randomly with no input, at which point the rear wheels will turn.
similar situation in reverse.

my theory is the CDL is locked, giving input = output drive to the front output full time, with potentially shattered spider gears that sometimes bind up to allow drive to go out the rear.

either way i have a feeling i need to replace the whole unit.

Will be removing this t-case either way.

ugh.

judging by the non-particulate filled oil and fairly clean magnet when i changed the fluid earlier, I have a feeling the previous owner knew about this and made an effort to keep this issue hidden.

 

well, got the t-case out and pulled some covers off.
several marble sized chunks of metal fell out and there's obviously missing teeth on several gears.
I can't wait to see the inside of the differential section

 

holy $^!+ - would love to see some pics once you get it all apart and see whats really going on

 

Haven't had a chance to figure out how to open the diff up because the bolt heads are all sorts of mangled.
there's a giant v groove around the center of the carrier caused by the debris too.
CDL shift rail is bent/jammed up by a big chunk of cross pin.