Transfer case

A transfer case is a part of the drivetrain of four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and other multiple powered axle vehicles. Typically a transfer case is used to engage (and disengage) the four-wheel drive function.^[1] When disengaged, most four-wheel drive systems operate in two wheel drive (engaging just the rear axle and wheels). For that reason two-wheel drive vehicles do not need a transfer case.

The transfer case transfers the power from the transmission to the front and rear axles by means of drive shafts.^[2] The transfer case synchronizes the rotation of the front and rear wheels so they turn at exactly the same speed. It usually contains two or more sets of gears. It has a 1:1 ratio drive (usually called high range) for normal city and highway use. Then it contains a low range gear for off-road use. A common low range gear ratios is 2.72:1. That means for every 2.72 rotations of the transmission output shaft, the transfer case will turn both driveshafts 1 rotation. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon model uses a 4:1 low range gearing.

1. ↑ Drew Hardin (1 March 2002). "How Transfer Cases Work". Fourwheeler Network. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
2. ↑ Dan Rich. ""Simply Put" 4×4 Transfer Case". Bill Burke's 4-Wheeling America. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.