NP263XHD rebuild kit

[Ridin'GMC]

I've been searching for a complete rebuild kit for mine due to a driveline vibration. My rear driveshaft yoke at the transfer case moved up and down by hand easily as an indication of driveline vibration. I've noticed some of the vendors does not specify what brand the bearings are, I've seen some uses Koyo bearings and Timkens. I know Timken are well known to last, but how is the quality of Koyo bearings compared to Timken?

Is a transfer case brace necessary or is it just used for racing?

 

[Slowmax]

I've been searching for a complete rebuild kit for mine due to a driveline vibration. My rear driveshaft yoke at the transfer case moved up and down by hand easily as an indication of driveline vibration. I've noticed some of the vendors does not specify what brand the bearings are, I've seen some uses Koyo bearings and Timkens. I know Timken are well known to last, but how is the quality of Koyo bearings compared to Timken?

Is a transfer case brace necessary or is it just used for racing?

Can't speak for the quality difference in bearings'. But from what I was told the transfer case brace is designed to keep the case together in a event where there is a failure. And rather than it all come out on the road, track it is suppose to hold it.

 

[JoshH]

I don't know that they have a kit, but I've bought parts from these guys before: http://www.midwesttrans.com/

 

[andy-stevenson]

I've got a remanufactured unit if you're interested.

 

[Chevy1925]

never could find a kit when i rebuilt mine. i wound up tearing it down, finding what looked/felt bad and ordered the parts. couldnt find specs on allowable chain stretch or much of anything else other than the updated mode fork and collar.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

There are several kits all over when you Google NP263XHD rebuild kit. Merchant auto is one of them.

https://www.merchant-automotive.com...and-seal-kit-261xhd-263xhd-transfer-case.aspx

James, what is special about the updated mode fork & collar? Is this something I may need in mine or is it already updated? I doubt my chain is stretched out that much, it hasn't seen that much of 4wd in it's life, mostly highway. I believe most of the components should be okay since I changed out the fluid last year and looked pretty good.

 

[Chevy1925]

There are several kits all over when you Google NP263XHD rebuild kit. Merchant auto is one of them.

https://www.merchant-automotive.com...and-seal-kit-261xhd-263xhd-transfer-case.aspx

James, what is special about the updated mode fork & collar? Is this something I may need in mine or is it already updated? I doubt my chain is stretched out that much, it hasn't seen that much of 4wd in it's life, mostly highway. I believe most of the components should be okay since I changed out the fluid last year and looked pretty good.

the old style fork has three little pads on them that wear out pretty quick. when they do, engauging 4wd LOW can be hard to get to click in and you will get a clunk when you go into reverse and get the rear tires pushed up against something that needs some throttle. ill see if i took any pics of mine but the updated deal is a new shift collar, fork and wear pads that last much longer. the 2wd/4wd fork can wear too but its much larger and mine just barely started showing signs of wear after 185k. i dont remember if i replaced that one, i think i left it as is cause by the time i bought the collar, fork, pads, rear output tone wheel, rear output bearing, new nickle plated slip yoke, a couple seals, and shipping i was at 400-450bucks. between the worn mode fork and the slip yoke, i had a decent clunk in reverse and after hard acceleration coming to a stop. fixing those made it smooth as can be now. my tone ring also got a groove somehow and caused my speed sensor to do some funky stuff, even caused the trans to go into limp one time.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

the old style fork has three little pads on them that wear out pretty quick. when they do, engauging 4wd LOW can be hard to get to click in and you will get a clunk when you go into reverse and get the rear tires pushed up against something that needs some throttle. ill see if i took any pics of mine but the updated deal is a new shift collar, fork and wear pads that last much longer. the 2wd/4wd fork can wear too but its much larger and mine just barely started showing signs of wear after 185k. i dont remember if i replaced that one, i think i left it as is cause by the time i bought the collar, fork, pads, rear output tone wheel, rear output bearing, new nickle plated slip yoke, a couple seals, and shipping i was at 400-450bucks. between the worn mode fork and the slip yoke, i had a decent clunk in reverse and after hard acceleration coming to a stop. fixing those made it smooth as can be now. my tone ring also got a groove somehow and caused my speed sensor to do some funky stuff, even caused the trans to go into limp one time.

That reminds me, whenever I used the 4x4 it did big clunk. It was worse when I used the 4low, clunked so hard that I have to step on the brake hard to keep it from moving the truck. I'll have to look into that. When you replaced your yoke, was it because it was worn from the seal or the spline? I'm trying to gather what I need to do in a weekend because it's my only daily driver. I don't want to find something messed up and need to replace additional hard parts that I didn't get.

 

[Chevy1925]

The splines were sticking bad and had some slop when engaged to the output shaft I didn't like. Amazon had it for 72 bucks shipped. You can easily rebuild it in a day, it's really simple. Little heavy though.

Have you done the pump rub fix? Something to think about but you won't know if bearings are bad till your in there.

You could always tear it down, find the issues, put it back together for the time being, order parts, then tear down again. Lot of work but keeps down time minimal. Hell I put a locker in my tracker for only two weeks knowing I'd just be regearing it then but wanted the locker for a trip and didn't mind tearing it down again

 

[Tothemax]

Koyo bearings are very good and used in a lot of factory builds on many models

 

[Ridin'GMC]

The splines were sticking bad and had some slop when engaged to the output shaft I didn't like. Amazon had it for 72 bucks shipped. You can easily rebuild it in a day, it's really simple. Little heavy though.

Have you done the pump rub fix? Something to think about but you won't know if bearings are bad till your in there.

You could always tear it down, find the issues, put it back together for the time being, order parts, then tear down again. Lot of work but keeps down time minimal. Hell I put a locker in my tracker for only two weeks knowing I'd just be regearing it then but wanted the locker for a trip and didn't mind tearing it down again

I haven't done the pump rub yet but was going to include that once I get into the transfer case. I'll check my driveshaft yoke before I go ahead and order the parts soon. I think I'll try to put in the updated parts you mentioned when I rebuild it, if there is anything else that shows some wear, I'll just reuse it for the time being and get back into it when I do my transmission in the future. Oh, did you put a brace on your case?

 

[Chevy1925]

no brace on my t-case. i was going to build one but its of no priority to me right now since it doesnt really add much to help anything.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

Alright thanks James.

Do you happen to have the numbers or the site for the update slider & fork as well as the rear yoke? I checked my rear yoke and output shaft when I got home from work, the yoke shows minimal wear and slides in and out easily but it has a groove from the seal wear, one of the reason from oil leaking out. I looked into the transfer case and can see the bearing is worn out after 142k miles on it.

 

[Chevy1925]

slip yoke
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GAPL9OA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

range fork, collar and pads. i can almost best yours are worn out so id do this
https://www.merchant-automotive.com/p-1409-a18-263xhd-263hd-shift-range-fork.aspx
https://www.merchant-automotive.com/p-1410-b14-shift-range-hub-263hd-263xhd.aspx
https://www.merchant-automotive.com/p-4319-a17-range-shift-fork-pad-263xhd-263hd-pair.aspx

apparently im calling it wrong. mode fork is the 2wd/4wd fork, range for is the 4lo or 4hi fork. And i want to say i had Steve order me this stuff at a little better price cause i scoured amazon and everywhere else looking for the best prices i could.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

Thanks! I won't need to order the shift fork pads since those are already included in the Deluxe bearing & reseal kit from Merchant. Although the bearing and reseal kit from Merchant is much higher than anyone else offers, makes me wonder what is different about their kit.