Transfer Case, bearing or what?

I have replaced my front right bearing about a month ago. But the other day I was on the highway and hear what I thought was a bad front right bearing, so as I slowed down to a stop it was clearly the truck trying to engage in 4WD. I sounded like it was grinding. I really sounded like the Front right wheel area. I cycled it in and out of 4WD and 2WD and it finally went away for about 50 mile drive. now it seems when the truck sits for any length of time it does that again. I can usually get it out of that mode by cycling it through 4WD and 2WD a couple times. The truck does need an alignment.

Pull the vacuum line from the actuator under the battery and see if there is transmission fluid in it. If so, the transfer case switch has failed and is allowing tranny fluid to be sucked into the actuator and the vacuum lines. Have you been losing tranny fluid but can't see where it is leaking? It's in the vacuum lines, actuator, and accumulator bulb mounted under the hood. The fluid isn't letting the vacuum actuator return to 2wd position...gets stuck in between.

The switch has three vacuum hoses connected to it on the driver's side of the transmission, screwed in from the top. $15 Dorman part at the parts store. But the bitch is cleaning out all the fluid. Have to replace or blow out all the vacuum lines, clean out the actuator, and remove the fluid from the accumulator by drilling a small hole to let it drain out and sealing it back up again or suck it out with a hand vacuum pump. Rinse/blow out everything with brake cleaner (carb cleaner has a low-volatile component that doesn't evaporate quickly...regulate the air into the actuator, too much will blow the diaphragm). Hope this helps!

I have replaced my front right bearing about a month ago. But the other day I was on the highway and hear what I thought was a bad front right bearing, so as I slowed down to a stop it was clearly the truck trying to engage in 4WD. I sounded like it was grinding. I really sounded like the Front right wheel area. I cycled it in and out of 4WD and 2WD and it finally went away for about 50 mile drive. now it seems when the truck sits for any length of time it does that again. I can usually get it out of that mode by cycling it through 4WD and 2WD a couple times. The truck does need an alignment.


i had this same problem on my 02 blazer vin w turned out it was the selenoid on the transfercase apperently the ball valve inside was stuck half way only had this problem engaging wile on the highway doin about 70-75 replaced the part and been good ever since