Next week when I get home from school I am going to make sure that my 5th gear nut is not about to fall off. It sounds like it's on the edge. But anyways, it says something about a "Special" socket. Do I need that or where can I get one, or can I get by with out it?

 

I don't recall a special socket, you do need a 12 point 10mm though. Make sure you have the upgraded metal nut not the plastic one. Brake clean it well and purple lock tite it on. Don't coast in 5th gear and you should have no more problems

 

Ok thank you.

 

Did I miss a FAQ on coasting in 5th gear? Reckon it's not wise to do so?

James

 

Where would be a good place to get that nut?

 

You might want to tack it on the shaft while you are at it. Then it will never come off again. I did that on mine.

 

Remember he has a NV4500 not the 1st gen getrag. Acclerating and coasting causes the gear to rock back and forth once the splines have worn a bit and eventually causes the nut to back off. You can't avoid accelleration in 5th but coasting can be avoided.

Dealerships and most parts stores, tranny shops, its a very common problem. I should have mentioned earlier that the nut,loctite, welding, set screws etc are all band aids. The best way to fix it is a new full spline main shaft and thrust washer.

Some guys like you have had good luck doing that, I've seen and heard of others that weaken their shafts at the weld and cause a breakage

 

I tried tacking mine to the shaft, it broke the nut and wiped out the drive and driven gear for 5th, the only way to fix it is a main shaft.

 

X2. If something goes drastically wrong, the mainshaft has to be replaced anyhow.

 

Try Quad 4X4 in Roberts 4X4.

Phone #406-446-2427

I don't know if this link will work;

http://www.torqueking.com/

 

This could be a good article to scan through...

Why Stock and Full Spline NV4500 Mainshafts Fail

 

How long ago did you fix your nut?

 

Theres a website called http://fifthgearrepair.com/nv4500repair.html. They have a system to fix the nut pretty well. They want $140 for the kit. Sposed to be a pretty good fix.

 

Plastic Nut, never heard or seen that. Purple locktite is low strength, maybe you meant Red, that is what comes with the updated nut kit from dodge. You do need a special tool to tighten the fifth gear nut, it is a spanner kind of.
I took the top cover off and got the truck in two different gears at the same time, I made a socket to tighten the nut.
Dealer is about as good as any

Looks interesting

 

dont' quote me on this...but i'm pretty sure that a spindle nut socket for a D44 will work on there, you might have to grind on the "teeth" of the socket a little bit to make them small enough to fit in to the nut itself and i know it won't work on a 2wd mainshaft as it's too long, but shoud work on a 4wd and you can always extend it out w/ pipe and a welder.