Hey all thanks in advance for any useful info.
truck is 02 f150 4x4 280k miles v6.
Idk if it has anything to do with it.
Changed passenger side wheel hub day before problems. 160 miles later
going down the rd in 2wd transfer case slips into Neutral randomly. sometimes you can move lever back and forth and it will go right back into gear(with some grinding) other times you have only 4x4 low range. Sometimes nothing until you keep messing around back and forth with lever until it gets a gear. when trans is in park it has a noise as with any gear until it literally pops back into gear.
I have not worked on a truck other then basics in 25 plus years so i am completely lost.

 

Your truck is a 4 x 4... It has a vacuum cylinder on the front axle that engages the differential to connect the drive shaft to the front axle half shafts... To get the power to the front end, you have a transfer case behind the transmission. Normal pass thru to the rear axle. When you go into 4 x 4 ( HI) the transfer case engages the front drive shaft going forward.. When you shift to 4 x 4 LO, the case shifts thru a reduction to get the LOW gear to both front and rear drive shafts... "MOST" transfer cases are controlled by an electric motor and a **** on the dash for 2 x 4, 4 x 4 HI, and 4 x 4 LO...... You say you are moving the LEVER so i assume it is either floor shift ( mechanical ) of the transfer case, or you are talking about the TRANSMISSION shift lever on the column.

The TRANS shift lever on the column only controls the TRANSMISSION, not the 4 x 4 or transfer case .......... If your talking about a transfer case shift lever on the floor, then you have a problem with the transfer case inside.