Ive searched the forums looking for help with this problem with no results so here we go. My 17yo son decided it'd be fun to powerbrake my 1990 f-150. Im sure youtube was his inspiration. Either way i ended up with a busted rearend and a driveshaft spun into 2 pieces. I dont know a lot about tranny/rearend issues so i just got another rearend and driveshaft out of the junkyard and swapped em out. Finally got it done just now and fired her up, put it in gear and.... nothing. It'll go into gear just fine but it's like it's still in neutral. Another thing is when it was sittin in the road after the burnout my son got a farmer to push it into my front yard. I tried to shift into 4WL to pull it off to the side and had the same issue. I'd never tried the 4WD before so i figured maybe it just didn't work. Now im wondering if the transfer case was busted too. Or maybe when it was pushed... I dont know. Would a 2WD burnout wreck the transfer case? The way the driveshaft spun off indicates the it was surely working when the rearend gave it up. Any helpfull ideas as to what I may try will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Oh! I just remembered! When it was sitting just off the road and i got my 1st look at it, i started it and put it in gear. When I let off the clutch i could hear the lil nubbin of a drive shaft (all that was left) spinning. So at that point the transfer case was working in 2WD. Obviously the problem is when I shifted out of 2WD. It could easily be a previously existing issue as I only bought the truck a year ago and have never used 4WD.

 

I wish now I had thought of these things before the first post. Oh well, too late now. Anyway, I just went and did a lil more digging. I rocked the truck and the driveshaft turns so the rearend is working. I checked the transfer case shift linkage and it is in good shape. Not loose or damaged or anything. With the truck in gear I can hear what sounds like the tranny output shaft spinning. It just seems to not be mating with the rear driveshaft. Any ideas?

 

I would wonder if the center boss is sheared off of the clutch friction disc?

 

are you sure that the t-case is absolutely engaged? If the t-case is in nuetral it wont go anywhere.
I doubt that anything gave up, and you just have the selector stuck in the nuetral position.
I believe your shift lever has a detent that prevents the shifter from moving from the neutral position, and you are just not engaged.
Try to move the t-case lever while the vehicle is not running, and see if you can get it engaged somewhere, then fire up the truck and try it in gear.
Try any 4wd selection and attempt some motion.

 

thanx for the ideas! i got under the truck while i had someone shift the transfer case and the linkage is moving and seems to be right. i wonder if the linkage could be off a touch even tho it isnt adjustable? also i moved the driveshaft by hand and heard a metalic clunking inside the transfer case. is this normal? i really appreciate all the help.

 

I had the same problem happen to my truck when the PO put in new gears without locktite on the bolts for the ring gear. If your t-case is like mine, BW 1345? or 1356? I believe, they are chain driven, so you may have snapped the chain, that is what i did. If you have a mechanical speedo in the tranny, then u can tell if the tranny is moving, but if its in the rear end, thats no option, Good Luck!

 

thanx for the info! i think my speedo is actually in the transfer case. it is a bw1356. i called my tranny guy and he's backed up for 3 months so im gonna try and fix it myself. what do i have to lose right? if anyone has been inside a transfer case i'd be interested to know if it was pretty straightforward or a royal pain. i'm gonna remove it next weekend. any info or tips b4 i go in would be appreciated. thanx again to everyone for the great advice!