Transfer Case Swap Help

[Campbesl]

I have a 2012 Yukon Denali XL 1500 6.2l AWD with 195K miles. The transfer case (TC) has developed a lot of lash evident by lots of clunking. It's bad! Time for a reman TC. I've watched all the relevant videos and searched thoroughly for DIY directions but haven't found anything really good.

1. Is this doable for a home garage mechanic working with truck on jack stands? I've got lots of tools but will need to buy/rent a tranny jack.

2. Can anyone point me to a good video or set of DIY instructions?

3. Any recommendations for sourcing a reman TC? I've seen the GEARSHOP selling reman TCs on ebay and their own website for $995 plus core.

Thank you very much for any input that you might be able to provide.

Scott

 

[Doubeleive]

you can do it at home in the driveway/street but might want a helper when shoving it back up in there, easy to come out. Been a long time since I did one.

 

[Campbesl]

Wes - thanks for your input. I think that the video you linked was for the front differential. I'm focused on the transfer case; a different animal but possibly not as involved as the front diff.

Scott

 

[Geotrash]

Wes - thanks for your input. I think that the video you linked was for the front differential. I'm focused on the transfer case; a different animal but possibly not as involved as the front diff.

Scott

It should be a BW 4485 AWD TC. This one is very similar:

 

[swathdiver]

They are not very difficult to work with internally. You could drop the original out, overhaul it and have it all buttoned up over a weekend if you've never done it before and are reasonably proficient with tools and following directions. A man who does this everyday could start after breakfast and be done by lunch. Me, it would take me months!

 

[Doubeleive]

Wes - thanks for your input. I think that the video you linked was for the front differential. I'm focused on the transfer case; a different animal but possibly not as involved as the front diff.

Scott

Ya, I messed that one up lol o'well looks like you got the info needed either way

 

[Campbesl]

Yep, I got great information from these responses. Thank you all very much!

 

[89Suburban]

Yep, I got great information from these responses. Thank you all very much!

Good luck!

 

[Campbesl]

I chickened out. I went by a local transmission shop. You know the type; they've been in business for decades and have transmissions, transfer cases, differentials and internal components everywhere. They're the real deal. They put my Denali on a lift and inspected the drive train. They verified that my transfer case chain is loose and slapping. They saw the multiple oil leaks. For $2200 they offered to drop and rebuild the TC with GM parts, undo the tranny and replace the RMS and rear engine seal (big, open square shaped seal), and reseal the engine oil cooler. Doing it myself I was going to be at about $1800 for a reman TC including tool purchases and tranny jack rental. These guys are a smarter solution for me.

Thanks again for your input.

Scott

 

[Fless]

Hopefully they'll give you a good guarantee on the repairs.

 

[Geotrash]

I chickened out. I went by a local transmission shop. You know the type; they've been in business for decades and have transmissions, transfer cases, differentials and internal components everywhere. They're the real deal. They put my Denali on a lift and inspected the drive train. They verified that my transfer case chain is loose and slapping. They saw the multiple oil leaks. For $2200 they offered to drop and rebuild the TC with GM parts, undo the tranny and replace the RMS and rear engine seal (big, open square shaped seal), and reseal the engine oil cooler. Doing it myself I was going to be at about $1800 for a reman TC including tool purchases and tranny jack rental. These guys are a smarter solution for me.

Thanks again for your input.

Scott

My kind of place! Glad you found a solution. Have them replace the oil galley barbell while they're in there, too. It's on the back of the block behind the RMS cover and can be a source of oil pressure loss on high mileage engines. It's a 5 minute job once you're in there.

More Information for GM GENUINE 12573460

 

[Campbesl]

My kind of place! Glad you found a solution. Have them replace the oil galley barbell while they're in there, too. It's on the back of the block behind the RMS cover and can be a source of oil pressure loss on high mileage engines. It's a 5 minute job once you're in there.

Great suggestion. Thank you!

 

[AmericanThunder]

My kind of place! Glad you found a solution. Have them replace the oil galley barbell while they're in there, too. It's on the back of the block behind the RMS cover and can be a source of oil pressure loss on high mileage engines. It's a 5 minute job once you're in there.

More Information for GM GENUINE 12573460

Thanks for this pointer! About to replace the rear cover on my ‘08 Denali and this was not on my radar. Picked up the Melling barbell from RockAuto. I was tempted to get the high-performance aluminum version also from Melling, but figured I’ll wait until I’m ready to overhaul the entire motor. Cheers —

 

[dkad260]

@Campbesl So how did the new/rebuilt transfer case work out? Mine seems to have a good deal of slack at 155K and I'm debating a swap with a reman or doing myself. I have a fair amount of clunk in the driveline and is evident by the amount of driveahaft rotational movement between the rear and front shafts at the TC.

Did your clunk go away?

 

[petethepug]

If you notice the majority of the cost is labor. Thanks for mentioning your mileage. Your trans will soon be due for an overhaul.


Caution: removing the trans and the torque converter can upset the current moon & stars harmony going on between them at 195k miles.

If you haven’t replaced the trans yet, wait to do the xfer case and trans at the same time. Paying to remove the trans 2x is $2,000.00-/+ in labor out the door lesson.