Here at XDP, we are proud to offer a wide range of replacement products that allow you to upgrade the performance of your vehicle or simply make repairs to your truck and help keep it on the road. One of the things that is not often thought about in the powertrain is the transfer case. It goes engine, transmission, and then transfer case on 4WD vehicles. The transfer case is the final connection to the axles through drive shafts (front and rear). A lot of people forget about the transfer case until it is too late or until you have a failure. 

People put a lot of miles on their diesels. With that mileage comes wear and tear on drivetrain components. We see more transfer case replacements especially on older generations as these trucks age. For this reason, we put this guide together for anybody that is in the market for a replacement transfercase. This guide will help make sure you get the right t-case for your truck the first time around.  

Transfer Case ID Tag / Serial Tag 

One of the most important things to do in any repair is to make sure that you have the right part before you take your truck apart. It is important to properly identify what you need before you order it. In most cases you can identify by looking at the back of the transfer case. You should see an ID tag, serial number, nameplate, or something from the manufacturer to identify the model number. This is usually the best way to get some basic info about the transfer case in your vehicle.

If the ID tag has been removed at some point, then you may need to do some more research to properly identify what you have. Also keep in mind that a previous owner could have swapped in a different year engine/trans/or transfer case, etc. Depending on the age and the mileage of your vehicle someone may have already replaced the transfer case once before. 

Transfer Case Identification 

When you are figuring out what kind of transfer case is in your truck, it is also important to take note of your current drivetrain configuration. Do you have a manual transmission or an automatic transmission? All this information is going to be important when it comes to getting a transfer case that fits your truck. The transfer case that bolts up to the manual transmission in that same model may not be the same transfer case that bolts up to the automatic transmission. Those are just some of the things that must be considered when ordering a replacement. 

Output Flange/Slip Yoke 

After that, another good idea is to just look at the output shaft of the transfer case, or the flange. Look at that output flange and then see what you have. Is it a flange that the drive shaft bolts to? Is it a splined shaft to accept a slip yoke? These are things you definitely want to pay attention to and ensure that you order the correct replacement.

Spline Count 

The next thing you are going to want to look at is the spline count. Obviously, you would do this before installation or after you removed the failed t-case from your truck. You will want to pay attention to spline count as it is critical. Do this by simply marking your starting point, and then count the rest of the splines. This helps ensure you get the correct replacement unit. 

Vehicle Trims/Options 

Once you identify the model of your transfer case, you also want to be mindful of any options the vehicle is equipped with. Things like vehicle trim packages and optional equipment may cause the transfer case to change. Some vehicles came from the factory with either a manual (shifter linkage) or electric (push buttons or dial) operation for the 4WD. Regardless of which way your transfer case is shifted, just be sure to make note of it while you identify the proper transfer case for your application.   

So hopefully you are reading this before you get your transfer case ordered up and then checking again after you get the transfer case in your hands. When you tear out the old one everything should be an exact match. Nothing is more frustrating than starting an installation and discovering that something is not a match. This can stop you in your tracks and prevent you from installing the transfer case. Our goal is to get you the right transfer case the first time around.

Check out our videos to learn more and head over to XDP.com to find a replacement transfer case for your truck.  

Transfer Case Application Chart 

Ford F250/F350/F450/F550 Super Duty Transfer Cases 

Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD Transfer Cases 

Dodge Ram 2500/3500/4500/5500 Transfer Cases