Posted by Don Evans on March 15, 1999 at 18:45:56:
In Reply to: NP201 Transfer Cases posted by Mark Pfeiffer on March 15, 1999 at 17:07:00:
The annoyance with 201's is the so called "knocker gear". It is the output shaft and gear assembly to the rear driveshaft. The actual gear is separated from the shaft and joined via a sort of "internal circlip" and cushioned by springs. The gear meshes with the idler gear and is under load with the 4wd ingaged. Under normal highway it just runs the idler gear.The problem is the springs break and play occurs between the outer gear and shaft portion. The result knocking/banging/vibration noises occur at certain rpm's, light loads or taking the foot off gas. The gear can be changed with 1 piece assembly from 200 xfer (flat fender PW's). In addition 10 bolt pto's are hard to come by. 205's don't seem have the gear problem. If you have any W series Dodges of '57-67 vintage then you will have to like the 201. They are just not always the quietest transfer case.