transfer case questions

[dybamx]

I just picked up a 93 Cherokee with a 5spd that might eventually go into my Comanche. The transfer case on the 5spd grinds going into 4wd and will only work if the engine is turned off first. 

 

2 questions

 

is this an easy fix?

 

if not, will the transfer case from my 87 work in it's place?

[Dillithium]

You need to do some googling about transfercase input spline counts. If you have a 93 AX 15, it will be 23 spline. Your current transfercase in your 87 could be a 21 spline, meaning it would not work (You can swap output shafts on transmissions, but I wouldn't).

 

About the donor transfercase, rebuilding a 231 is not hard if you have the tools and room to do so. There are plenty of written and video tutorials.

[dybamx]

I replaced the chain on a Quadratrac years ago. it's probably a similar job

[dybamx]

so, they're the same transfercase model, but the input spline count is different?

[dybamx]

thanks for pointing me in the right direction. The Quadratech page says that the AX15 has 23 splines and they have seen the AW4 auto with both 21 and 23. I will be pulling the parts truck apart in the next couple of days and will find out then

[mjeff87]

AW4's were 21 spline up to around 1990-ish.

[dybamx]

thanks, I guess I will pull the transfercase when I get a chance. hopefully it will only need a new chain

[Rockfrog]

The spline count changed with the introduction of the AX15.

The input gears are swappable across all years, so a 21 spl can be made a 23 spl easily enough. I have an 88 242 21 spl input gear in a 98 231 that was originally 23 spl. There was an internal gear pitch change in 94 (likely also when the brass shift synchro was deleted as well) as far as internal gears go, but it does no affect the inputs.

[metrictonner]

Have you tried depressing the clutch and shifting the tranny into neutral before you yank on the transfer case lever?