Baddawg
Member
Okay, so I'm hearing the AWD BW4485 T Case can handle some power. What about the 4WD case in my 2013 Tahoe, the one with 2WD-AWD-N-4WD Hi - 4WD Lo. How sturdy of a unit do I have there?
AWD reliability ? How much power can they handle ?
- Thread starter cntryislandboy
- Start date
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So far we have learned that street signs are tougher, but from what I read once you start messing with power is like a chain reaction sooner or later T case would need some work.
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swathdiver
Full Access Member
The Magna Power transfer cases are also used by Jeep and Dodge and the off road crowd puts some serious power through them too. They are not as highly regarded as the manually shifted cases of yesteryear but I reckon that is because they haven't been around long enough yet. 4LO does impose a speed limit of 45 mph that I believe the older GMT-800s with their Borg Warner cases did not have. Not sure what that means though. We don't read about too many needing service/rebuilds on the truck forums.
randeez
Full Access Member
saw someone chew up awd tcase planetary gear on pt.net, but i think it was more from offroading. its essentially an open diff design, there isnt much to break in it the side with less load is going to spin. it has its downsides but trans will go long before transfer case will.
The transfer case is fine, its the front differential that is the only thing to worry about. The biggest problem is that they hold so little fluid and people are so against taking care of their things any more, they get low on fluid over time and eventually it smokes the bearings. Usually new bearings can be put in and everything else is good if they've haven't ignored the noise and kept driving. The lesser problem is there is a tab that holds the bearing adjusters in place and they sometimes break and the adjusters can unscrew and also smoke the bearings. This can be caught early if the fluid is changed regularly. Personally, I don't want one with AWD but I wouldn't pass on a truck that is otherwise what I want just because it was AWD.
