1995 RRC Viscous unit check

[motorover]

I chocked wheels,put everything in neutral,lifted right front wheel,put lug wrench on it and with normal downward pressure it will not move.If I lift both front wheels it will move slowly but not with just one.Is my viscous unit siezed? Feels like it wants to scoot a little when you go around a tight corner

 

[headdamage]

Sounds like it is seized, when mine used to work I could rotate the one raised front wheel by hand with some effort and it would move slowly. When it seized I couldn't turn it by hand or with a wheel wrench. It still drove fine but I could notice some tire scrub/slipage when turning tightly in a parking lot or doing a U turn.

 

[carlosz]

keep an eye on your u joints, specially the front shaft to trans... it is the weakest link because of the heat build up of the cat so grease in it dries quicker thus it stresses with a seized coupler.
yes when defective it will cause the front end to scrub specially in parking lots...

 

[headdamage]

I should add that I took the front drive shaft out once I knew it has seized and then replaced the borg with an LT230 a while later.

 

[motorover]

Re: 1995 RRC Viscous unit check follow up

Just wanted to folow up on this post for anyone that is interested.I used a friends RRC,with everything in neutral,one front wheel off the ground,just using two hands the wheel will turn about a quarter turn in ten seconds.(which is what ashcroft listed as good).My rover same scenario,wont budge not even with a lug wrech.Viscous is seized.Truck sat for a few years so I guess that is when it happened.Test works,even if the HI/LO is engaged and tranny in neutral.

 

[Gordo]

I always test my vc like this. pull a driveshaft, either end, if it drives normal your VC is fine, if it doesnt its toast. Slipping but driving is on its way out. I guess if it was seized though it would still drive normal? Not sure. It is easy to change in the truck though if you got that route. No reason to drop the box.

 

[motorover]

I didnt know you could swap it in the truck.That could definetly change my plan of action because i would like to keep the borg warner set-up.

 

[headdamage]

It is in the large round out put housing on the front of the transfer case where the front drive shaft attaches. If you look at it you should be able to see that the whole housing is held on with a large circle of bolts, the whole housing comes off and the coupling is inside of it. There should be some instructions on the net someplace.

 

[White Widow]

drive in a tight circle, if the wheels grab or chirp its toast

 

[JBradley]

dead easy vc test:

put a line of tape or paint dab on the top side of the front and rear shafts in a line

then drive for a few miles/ days .. if tape still lines up from front to back your vc is frozen , if it is out of line front n rear are turning differently so not locked