Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

liquidswords88

I pity da fool
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

I've been driving my typhoon with the whole front differential removed. Down the road I plan to have the internals of my tranny put into a 2wd case. Bottom line is that I have driven this truck hard with no front prop shaft. All seems fine, just don't park on a steep hill or you'll end up in the middle of the road (ask how I know) :oops:
 

Brianawd

New member
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

I've been driving my typhoon with the whole front differential removed. Down the road I plan to have the internals of my tranny put into a 2wd case. Bottom line is that I have driven this truck hard with no front prop shaft. All seems fine, just don't park on a steep hill or you'll end up in the middle of the road (ask how I know) :oops:


Chances are is you were to put the front prop shaft back in you will notice it will drive
Like it's a 4x4 truck because the viscous is most likely seized
 

0966Sy

Code what?
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

I've been driving my typhoon with the whole front differential removed. Down the road I plan to have the internals of my tranny put into a 2wd case. Bottom line is that I have driven this truck hard with no front prop shaft. All seems fine, just don't park on a steep hill or you'll end up in the middle of the road (ask how I know) :oops:

What did you do with the axle shafts in the hubs?
 

liquidswords88

I pity da fool
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

I took the outer portion of the c.v. Shaft and removed it from the assembly. I then put it through the splined part of the wheel bearing and put the axle nut but back on. I was not sure if the wheel bearing needed the shaft to hold it togther or not. It was fairly easy to take apart, I had to pull a copperish retaining ring out to remove the cupped portion of the cv shaft. I have replaced boots on atv shafts and they were held together with snap rings. I'm not concerned 1 bit with possible transfer case damage as I plan on ditching it in the future anyways.
 
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

Where did you hear about a "bad batch of vc's"? A search of "bad batch" on here led to no discussion about a batch of bad vc's. I doubt there ever was, really. Likely, it was just a single bad vc. Just because a part goes bad before you expect it to doesn't mean something is inherently wrong with it. Or do you have multiple vc's purchased from this "batch" to show that there is a continual problem with multiple parts?
 

NWISY

New member
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

Hey guys, I'm still learning about how this all works, but according to Dave who I just talked to.. with the Propshaft still in the VC does nothing unless you break the tires loose. I've had the Propshaft installed since last year and have given it all the power since then and been fine. Got on it today and pulls hard no sign of slippage.

My buddy ordered a couple of the Rebuilt GM VCs from STE in Cali and I'll be testing them within the next week. They should be the answer for a reliable replacement. I'll keep you guys updated. But for now, my truck is driving great like it should AWD, and Dave will be discussing to STE about how all these guys ran without a Prop and drove fine soon. He will also bring them a good known stock unit to compare since it's Tight.

I was wondering if there was any new info or an update on the VC testing & or search for a reliable replacement? I'm getting close to the point of my upgrades where I will be going through my TC & am still curious as I'm sure others probably are also about what you may have discovered.
 

Sean Krupa

Moderator
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

I just Rebuilt another Tcase for a friend couple days ago, which has a Viscous Coupler from Transfercase.com AKA TCU in New York. They claimed to rebuild actual GM cores cutting them open to rebuild and use the Proper Dupont Fluid. Well, I got it back together and tested it. It's still about the same as the other VCs that I've tested. About 15ft lbs. Still have the STE VC from Cali to test but maybe my buddy will decide what he wants to do with that one.

From what it seems, basically these VC whoever you get them from seem to be all the same.
 

NWISY

New member
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

Thanks for the quick response! I have 2 transfer cases I'm working with. My original from my Syclone & another I picked up from a Bravada. I'm planning using the Bravada tc, so hopefully I will have good parts between both to have a solid tc to use. If not this info will help as to where to go. Thanks
 

skolman91

Member
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

From what it seems, basically these VC whoever you get them from seem to be all the same.

Its the same thing with cv axles, they can say whatever but ultimatly they are made at one place and put in different boxes.
1 of 2 things is going to happen with these imo, 1 the bad batch from whoever made the last mass production will eventually filter out (would take awhile) and good ones start to show back up.
Or 2 they have unknowingly/dont care changed the specs and this is the new norm on what will be available..
Im guessing option 2 is whats realistically happening.
Will need to find a reliable producer or rebuilder of these, and put up enough $$$ to get them to make a large batch.
 

Sean Krupa

Moderator
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

Every company I call say the same thing. They know exactly what's goin on and have a wealth of knowledge with my current VC and that they know all about the Overseas rebuilders. These companies say they put the right fluid in their compared to the others. Like I said, have one more company to try STE.
 

xr4x4ti

New member
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

I am very curious what you find out about the STE VC. About two years ago I was getting frustrated at the drag strip with my car because I could quite easily spin the rear wheels before the fronts did anything. I did the Dave P torque test on my TC (VC) by taking the front drive shaft off and the torque wasn't remotely close to what Dave P said it should be. I then swapped it with a rebuilt unit from STE and tested it again. It was pretty much exactly the same:(

I too feel that all of these newer VC's are not stiff enough or at least don't react fast enough. Talking to STE over a year ago, they said they could make a stiffer unit by changing fluids, but I wanted to test mine on a lathe to get some baseline data first. I have not had a chance to do that, but I might just spin the wheel and take the chance on getting one that is stiffer and see what happens.

I did a bunch of research on other vehicles that use a VC and available upgrades. The two that stand out are the Ford Sierra's (what my car is based on) and the Subaru's. In both cases it is not unusual to get a VC with TWICE the locking torque at 100rpm then stock and not negatively impact low speed handling. Standard test RPMS seem to be either 60 or 100 RPM.

I also have a NV120 torsen TC sitting in my garage from a TBSS and that might be a simpler solution.

Tim
XR4x4Ti
 

xr4x4ti

New member
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

Any updates?

DaveP, did you talk to STE? I was going to give them a call, but I don't want to confuse things by having several people calling them.

Thanks,
Tim
 

Quickstop [UK]

Combating adversyty.
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

DaveP no longer participates in this forum. There is another forum, let's call it Voldemort, that we aren't allowed to mention publicly on here. He can be reached there.
 

fauXGT

Brick Pilot
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

DaveP no longer participates in this forum. There is another forum, let's call it Voldemort, that we aren't allowed to mention publicly on here. He can be reached there.
:rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:
 

xr4x4ti

New member
Re: Transfer Case Viscous Clutch ?

DaveP no longer participates in this forum. There is another forum, let's call it Voldemort, that we aren't allowed to mention publicly on here. He can be reached there.

I am not sure of the history there, but I posted on that forum too.

Thanks,
Tim
XR4X4Ti
 

DaveP's Ghost

Well-known member
It doesn't appear that STE Couplers exists any longer. Does anyone have a source for a decent rebuilt coupler? I have 2 trucks that need couplers. Thanks.
 

gmemony2

Active member
I saw that a while back. I was not able to find replacements anywhere either except eBay or sport machines. eBay I don't trust and SM is quite expensive and now out of stock. No idea where SM was getting them either which made me wonder.

At one point these guys I believe said they had them, and they're local to me, but I don't know enough to ask the right questions and understand if they're reputable or not.

 
Top