I am transmission dumb and need a bit of help. I have read enough on the forum to be somewhat informed but have questions.
I have a 48re transmission (80,000 miles) on a 2005 Ram 3500 and need to have it rebuilt because the local shop says I have coffee colored fluid, metal filings on the magnet and beginnings of shift issues. The truck is my daily driver and will stay stock but will tow a 12000 lb fifthwheel trailer on an extended trip around the US.

In speaking with the local transmission tech I mentioned I knew the thrust washers were an issue in the 48re especially if I decide to install a pacbrake. He said no problem, the thrust washers are located in the torque converter and are replaced with heavy duty needle bearing or something like that when we buy a new TC. Are there no thrust washers present in the transmission itself?

I am looking at a rebuild using heavy duty bands, a transgo shift kit (does this use the standard VB or is that replaced?) a low stall single disk TC, billet input shaft and ...(?).
How am I doing?

 

Run away from them. FAST!!!!! Don't let them touch it. Change the fluid and put a new filter on it and see what happens.

Yes, the thrust washers that have issues is inside the tranny. They have no clue what they are talking about. The fix for it is to weld up the holes on the gear and force the fluid past the thrust washer. Dave sent me one pre-modified when I had all his goodies put in. I must have send the thrust washer back to him with all the other parts. I can tell you mine was warn big time with only 38,000 miles on the truck.

 

Forgot to add, the shifting issue is probably due to all the crap in the Pressure solenoid and transducer from not changing the fluid like you are supposed to do every 30,000 miles. Metal filings on the magnet is normal. I would short change it if the tranny acts fine. Do it again in 10K miles.

 

Thanks Spooler. I bought the truck with 25000 miles ago and was told the tranny fluid was changed at 50000 miles. The previous owner towed a fifthwheel but had no gauges. I installed a pyrometer and an Edge Insight to monitor temps in tranny, EGT and boost pressure. I took the truck in to have the fluid changed and got a phone call that the tech felt the tranny was failing based on fluid color, filter condition and the magnet filings. I had not noticed any bad shifting. The whole thing has me bugged but I checked and the shop has an excellent reputation. I will go get second opinion. As I a looking at an extended trip around the US, I do not want a breakdown.