Hi guys,
Hope you can help me get my ride back on the pay roll. At 191k, the truck is having trans/clutch problems for the 3rd time. Went through the 5th gear stuff at 90k, fixed with fully splined main shaft. Somewhere around 120k, while out of state, truck hung up in 4th... backyard shop put a rebuilt in. At about 140k, poor dodge was parked at my regular mechanics to check oil leak and was the victim of a failed theft...wanna be theives buried it in about 3' of mud and left it for dead. It was slipping out of 5th gear immediatly after and thank goodness the shop owner paid for a new rebuild. A year and a half ago, had major trouble once again with clutch plate while out of town and another local shop took care of that. This past weekend (out of town again) truck starts whirring in 2nd gear after a red light, then after driving to my destination in 3rd, couldn't find any gear after trying to down shift. A friend of mine manually slammed it into 2nd to pull it off the main drag and park it. Currently it is being towed to a shop in Macon Ga (Chapmans Trans.) and they have already quoted me $4k for a Dodge transmission or $2600 for a local rebuild. I pull a 5 horse trailer on a regular basis, and haul out of state at least twice a month. My question to you guys is how can I fix the transmission problems I'm having so they last more than a year at a time? I'd like to get at least another 50k out of this truck before trading, as honestly, it's the strongest truck I've ever driven. Already sunk tons of $$$ in it last year with Cummins after KDP did its damage, so I might as well try to get the other stuff fixed so it will last. If any of you have any suggestions on a more permanant fix that will keep me rolling, I'd appreciate it. I have read a lot on the Goerend trans. and I'm wondering if that would be the way to go. If anyone knows of a reliable shop who knows these trucks near Macon Ga, (or in Columbia SC for when it makes it home) I'd really appreciate the contact. Thanks in advance!!!

 

are the clutch hyd. working properly?

 

also have you been getting complete rebuilds or have they been using some old parts like the top cover.

 

Are these shops putting the super duper, correct fluid in the tranny, and not gear oil or motor oil?? The NV's require somekind of special lube. In my opinion, I would be apt to ditch the whole transmision thats in it, and find another unit. Some trannys just dont hold a rebuild, I have seen it time n time again. Rebuild after rebuild, it always manages to be something different each time.

 

I would get a quality rebuild from a respectable shop like bluemanthauls (just dont expect them to be fast) make sure to use the correct oil. It takes Castrol "Syntorq" best price I can find is www.quad4x4.com And get a quality clutch from south bend clutch. I dont know what kind of power your running but if its stock any basic single disk from SBC will be great and there resonably priced. If you do all that you may want the hydrolic upgrade from SBC not because you need an upgrade but just to make sure that your slave clyinder isnt leaking fluid past the seal and slipping back when you clutch and causing premature wear. Fill out your signature with info about your truck so we can help you out more. a 4500 should last a while. im selling my 5600 and going back to the 4500, I think its just that much better.

 

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I am not very mechanically inclined, so I am trying to dig through all the paperwork to see exactly what has been done each time. Being of the female gender and single, I am pretty much at the mercy of the shops who end up doing the work on the truck. As far as the truck itself, I do know it was turned up when I bought it (had 26k on it then). To this day, I have not driven another truck of any brand that can touch it, even when loaded. But as far as specifics, I have no clue just what all was done. (The guy who turned it up before I got it was from St Louis and I guess does a lot of trucks there) I got an update from the shop that has it now and after they towed it in, said it ran fine...just my luck...I'm sure they are saying "stupid girl, she doesn't know anything!". He was going to drain the fluid and look for any metal. I do know that in two weeks I have to take a load of horses from SC to Ft. Worth, and I danged sure don't want it to leave me on the side of the road on that long of a trip. I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I'm hoping they will replace SOMETHING, even if it's just a heavier duty clutch. Everytime it has left me stranded, it has done something a little bit different. First time it got hung up (somehow?) between 4th & 5th (not loaded, 5th gear problem already had been fixed). Second problem was it falling out of 5th into neutral when I let up on the fuel. (2nd rebuild) Third problem (empty) was not being able to get in any gear and I think that's when the guy said it was the clutch plate. Seems like they blamed it on that twice, but I'll try to check my paper work to be sure. Thanks again, and I'll try to keep you posted so maybe I can get another 100k out of it!!

 

Just found the paper work from the first problem and the last problem. First problem was worked on at High Tech Transmission in Columbus GA. Findings read: 5th gear and reverse slider hub had excessive wear causing trans. to get caught in between gears. Total cost was 1874.00 including "recondition trans. 1054.00, clutch assy. 298.oo, gear oil 104.00" Also on the notes it says something about shift rail, rail assmbly, replaced bearings, sink rods, 5th gear slider hub assy, reverse-new. Hope that makes sense to someone.
When it acted up a year 1/2 ago and I couldn't get it into gear, a guy in Lugoff SC put a clutch kit in it at $504. Nothing on the reciept as to what model, no other info. I'm pretty sure he said clutch plate.
I don't have the paper work from the time in the middle when the shop paid for a rebuild after it was stuck in the mud and falling out of gear. I guess that would tell me what transmission is currently in there. Hope some of this helps. I promise I am a good driver and have never torn up clutches in the past. The only reason they put a clutch in it the first time is because it had 120k on the original one and I told them they might as well replace it while they were in there. I do haul a 5 horse trailer quite a bit, but I'm always careful about not letting it lug, or pushing it hard on the big hills (even tho it seems to want to go faster than me!!)
Your help is much appreciated!!