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transfer case sand blasting?

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3.5K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  98_DakotaSport  
#1 ·
so i am not sure if i mad a bad decision today. i disassembled by dana 20 t-case for a rebuild (gaskets, seals, and bearings) and took the empty case and misc. small parts to a local sand blasting place to be cleaned up. after taking them and dropping them off i am contemplating my decision for blasting. should i have taken them to an engine machine shop to be hot-tanked, instead? please tell me i should be fine with the blasting as long as i clean/rinse the case thoroughly.
 
#2 ·
They may screw all the bearing surfaces and sealing surfaces up...depends on HOW good a shop they are...some just BLAST, others actually blast. You could either wind up with nothing wrong, or it could be scrap.

I sandblasted at one point in my lifetime...saw a lot of stuff destroyed because of laziness. I would have hot tanked it myself.
 
#4 ·
thats the replies i was dreading. i will call them first thing in the morning to see if they started blasting yet. if not i think i will pick it up and drop it off at the machine shop, for dipping. :twak: i was in such a hurry after disassembling it, that i didnt even think of dipping until later in the day after dropping the t-case off and it was about closing time for the blasting shop. hopefully they are experienced enough to stay away from the machined surfaces as much as possible. i guess time will tell :wall: , i should know better than making hasty decisions for stuff like this!
 
#5 ·
well the shop already blasted the t-case. turned out pretty good, so hopfully all goes well. i reassembled the exterior of the t-case prior to blasting (oil pan, front output cover plate, rear output housing)....only main area left open was the tranny adapter input area. i think all should be well after rinsing and blowing with compressed air, because i didnt pull the old bearing cups and seals yet (still need pulled and replace). any advice, besides alot of compressed air?
 
#6 ·
I would think it would take some SERIOUS amount of sandblasting to f up a Dana 20 case. That said, the parts inside the case are a different story. Regarding the bearing cups, are you talking about the bearing races?

I would replace all bearings, seals, etc., while you have it apart. I mean might as well...do it while it's all apart and (knock on wood) you shouldn't have to worry about it for a LONG time.
 
#7 ·
On 2008-05-13 20:07, ZacD wrote:
I would think it would take some SERIOUS amount of sandblasting to f up a Dana 20 case.



I've seen it done...I actually saw a guy blast through the frame on a 1-ton pickup, the frame only had light surface rust.

All it would take would be blasting the race surfaces out-of-spec so the races would not seat snugly and it would be trash...you're only talking a few thousandths of an inch clearance.
 
#8 ·
On 2008-05-13 20:07, ZacD wrote:
Regarding the bearing cups, are you talking about the bearing races?

I would replace all bearings, seals, etc., while you have it apart. I mean might as well...do it while it's all apart and (knock on wood) you shouldn't have to worry about it for a LONG time.

referring to bearing cups, its the circular part that is pressed into the case that the cone bearings sit into. (i left these in place) yes, i bought a master bebuild kit for the t-case. includes all gaskets, seals, bearings, cups, intermediate shaft, and misc small parts.