I was told by PO that they put 4.56 in the rear but the front stayed stock. Which I think is 3.73 or something. My question is until I can get the money for the front gears how fast can I drive it like this without problems. The pinion gear seal is leaking on the front axle. Just trying not to damage anything. Last drive test it seemed to overheat while driving at 35 and up but at idle it does not overheat. Wondering if mismatching gears causes higher rpms and overheating.

 

as fast as you want, just keep it in 2 wheel drive.

mismatched gears have nothing to do with overheating. sounds like you have a cooling system issue to address.

 

Could it be stuck in 4wd? No lights saying that its in 4wd but a friend thinks its in 4WD.

 

if its stuck in 4 wheel drive, your transfer case would be in pieces.

I suppose you could have a np 242 transfer case with a shot viscous coupling though.

 

If it was in 4wd with mismatched gears your t-case and or one or both of the axles would have blown by now.

 

Turn (slowly) at full lock on dry pavement and you'll know if it's in 4wd.

 

I do have the 242 tcase.

 

So I should not put it in 4wd until I make sure the gears match?

 

yup

 

the coupling could already be junk. but yea, no 4wd at all until you get matchign gears.

 

Don't know where you're getting your info from but the 242 is NOT a viscous coupling. It's all gear driven (48/52 F/R torque split).

OP, if it's stuck in Full Time 4wd then you'll be getting a LOT of gear whine from the t-case. What's overheating anyway, the engine or the axle? I'm assuming the engine since you couldn't check the axle when it's running 35 mph. With that assumption I think you have a completely separate issue.

Even having an NP242 with that drastic of a difference in the gears I wouldn't recommend even running Full Time 4wd until you get it fixed.

 

I have no actual experience with the 242. but I have seen a few 242s out on the trail where the front drive acted almost like there was a limited slip in the transfer case, only spinning the front driveshaft when traction was low. the drivers simply blamed "the viscous coupling".

 

Yup, they will do that. It's pretty much like an open differential in an axle, except it differentiates between the front and rear axles instead of side to side. No traction on one axle and it will spin it. They have to be put in part time off-road.

 

i guess i used to wheel with idiots lol

 

Didn't we all at some point, and we all have stories of "yea me and a buddy... Then we... Idk have we lived.." ha ha just saying