Weird noise after going 4 wheelin'...need some help....

[85MudMonster]

I found a nice little muddy trail today, went as far as I could (In 2 wheel the whole way) but had to turn around cause I hit a spot I knew the truck couldn't handle it. After turning around I decided to go back in 4 wheel low, and it was like the mud wasn't even there. However once back on the road I heard a weird noise like a baseball card in a bike tire, but only half as loud as that coming from the rear of the truck. I stopped to see if I had something stuck, nothing there but alot of mud. Came home, parked it and then after awhile whent out and checked on it agian. I saw no problem with the driveshaft, axle housing, wheels, and nothing in the hubs that would make that sound. However I looked up towards the front of the rear drive shaft and saw more than fluid there than what normally leaks from my 208. and a good bit on the ground. Is it possible I messed up the transfer case. What will happen if it does go bad? And how can I narrow it down to be sure, cause it's hard to find the noise when your driving it....

[VileZambonie]

did you get water in your transfer case? As far as the noise is converned, clean it and inspect thoroughly.

[Blazin]

Did you get a stick in the drive shaft near the case and wipe out the rear seal?

[85MudMonster]

I'm not sure on that, I'll have to check.....rear main seal is still intact. I don't think I got water in it, it's sealed fairly well except for 2 spot I can see it leaking from the rear main seal and the drail plug. BTW, there is a plug on the top of it that is suppose to have a connector plugged into it what is that connector for?

[Blazin]

Kinda on the passengers side top toward the front? That is for your 4 wheel drive light in your dash.

[85MudMonster]

okay, well that's not really that important to hook up. I'm not sure what that noise was, it might have just been me being paraniod, but the next morning I went out fired it up and backed it out the drive way and headed out to work and the noise was not there. I thought it was weird but since the transfer case isn't in the best of shape I thought maybe I pushed it a bit too hard and it got too hot or something, I think I'll keep to the roads 'til I find someone willing to ship one to me. All the junkyard ones down here are gone, I just checked today, and the ones for sale down here are not within my price range. So hopefully it will last a while til I get a new transfer case.

[Blazin]

208s are easy and fairly cheap to rebuild.

[85MudMonster]

How much to rebuild on average, and wouldn't it be more beneficial to wait a bit longer and get a 205?

[76_Scottsdale]

If you're looking at doing some hard 4 wheeling in the futue then by all means go for the NP205. It's much stronger. Maybe even consider a 205/203 doubler for some really crazy wheelin.

[85MudMonster]

where I'm at and where home is it's mostly mud, not much for rock crawling or nothing. I just need something that can be beat through mud time and time again without worrying about it.

[Blazin]

The 205 is a much better t case. The only thing the 208 has over the 205 is a lower lo range gear ratio. Last time I bought a kit for a 208 it was around $150 buck. It took me about 6 hours to remove it, rebuild it, and reinstall it. Would have taken more time but it was in my plow truck and it started snowing about the same time I pulled it into the garage to pull it out.