Well i was cleaning off the mud from my 4Runner after going out and playing in a mud pit.

I noticed that on the passenger side of the transfer case is this little thing that hangs down. It doesn't hang down 100% straight and kinda curves.

First of all i don't really remmeber that being there, and number two if it was there i don't remember it being curved. I am kinda afraid that it was bent backward (toward the rear). Is it suppsed to hang straight down or curve backward. I can get some pics tomorrow if someone needs to see what im talking about or how bent it is.

 

pics may be helpful

 

CIA tracking device. Have you been chatting online with your buddies in the middle east recently?

Just kiddin, there have been posts on here before about that thing, mine has one too. I've seen other 3rd gens and tacos that don't. I think its there to balance or keep the TCASE from vibrating.

 

This question pops up from time to time, and the above is the generally assumed correct answer. Note I say generally assumed, not verified as fact.

I've got the hanger-on too.

 

so if i did bend it, it isn't so important something will break? Or does it bend from the factory kind of?

 

bend it back or leave it or take it off, I don't think it really matters as long as you aren't noticing any vibrations while driving fast.

 

Need pics, no clue what part you're talking about here.

 

that is part of my problem... i don't know if its even bent to begin with... that is what im trying to find it... it it just tilts from the factory or if i hit something.

Pics later tonight

 

here is mine, it is NOT bent

 

I still can't believe it is a weight,
I was under mine today and say it, it feels like rubber...

Also anyone make a beefier skid for are t-case...
that little thing is to dinky in my standards....

 

i says it a balancer of some sort

 

it's a magnet, for attracting hot chicks!

 

Here is a skid, scroll down. http://www.budbuilt.com/new/ I'm thinking of making my own simple "slider skid" out of aluminim sheet. It won't take realy hard hits but it should deflect stuff. I have the weight on mine too.

 

Its a vibration damper

 

i llike spaughs theory... cia tracking device

 

Like he said.

I have removed the dampener on my rig, and noticed no difference in how much the trans gear shift wiggles/flops around at highway speed.

To me it's just another headbanger under the rig.

 

Thanks for the link
I am still debating makin my own just for there or gettin that entire plan
When i went to paragon a stick got caught between the front drive shaft and the t-case and made a noise that sorta sounded like the drive shaft had dropped out...
I don't want to hear that sound again...

 

It's a vibration dampener, most likely installed because the drivetrain created a frequency that the factory deemed excessive. I took mine off, figuring it wasn't needed since I changed my harmonics by adding a crawl box.

 

That is called a Mass Dampener, as it's been described Milo and Ring-it sucks up the harmonic vibrations associated with things that move or spin fast. Basically it changes the sine wave so they are not noticiable and/or do not grow in intensity.

Doug