It was a very un dramatic event, but I lost 5th gear today. Just driving along and the truck started losing speed and when I pushed the pedal the RPM's went up but the speed didn't. All other gears work just fine. Is there any directions for dummies out there anywhere. Can't afford to have a shop do it right now. I still haven't gotten the ball joint fixed from a few weeks ago.

 

Try these from the related TSB posted on www.dodgeram.org: http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/21-10-98a_r.htm

They are made for dealer service guys, which means that anyone that can pick up a wrench can do the job.

 

I don't like what I see, looks like alot of steps there, but that is what I was looking for. Thanks

 

We share the same delima, mine went thursday. The potential buyer and me have contacted a few shops for repairs. we were told the Dodge nut was a waste of money and there was another nut type that was better? Also one shop said they doublenut it and tack weld it. Ive heard of tacking it but? Kinda curious as to the number of these that fail and when mileage wise. Mine saw no hard towing, 2 horse trailer is not hard in IMO. every shop we called chuckled and said "another one!!"

 

Every thing I have seen about this says that it is a result of not running it hard enough, not keeping the RPM's high enough in 5th gear. But I do tend to use my truck hard, I have a lead foot and pull trailers probably 50% of the miles driven in this truck. In the thread that RCW inserted it has a listing for a new bolt and nut setup.

 

If I remember right the nut kit from Dodge is $45 or so. You need a big socket like 30mm I think it was and drop the driveshaft and T case. They say lugging the truck causes this. If you'll notice that you never here of the GM's with this transmission having this problem. They didn't have a motor you felt like you could lug!

 

You might check with Piers. They list both the nut and the shaft if you need it.

 

What is the general consensus of lugging? I keep it floored up a 4 mile grade going 70 or so at 2k rpms, thats all she`ll do. Is this considered lugging? If I go to 4th I feel like im pushin it to much at 2400 rpms.

 

My definition of lugging is operating at over 10lbs of boost under 2k rpm in 5th. Using that rule of thumb, the 5th gear nut and gear on my 95 was still like new at 150k.

 

If you have to keep it floored to get up a hill downshift and leave yourself a little pedal it'll keep egt's own and it is easier on the motor.

 

Thats pretty much how I drive, If it wont accelerate with full pedal I drop a gear. I dont understand how my neighbor can run 150k of ALL towing miles pulling no less than 10K and never have a 5 gear problem. Although the trans did go the other week from a bad pilot bg and mainshaft bg failure.

 

Thats pretty much how I drive, If it wont accelerate with full pedal I drop a gear. I dont understand how my neighbor can run 150k of ALL towing miles pulling no less than 10K and never have a 5 gear problem. Although the trans did go the other week from a bad pilot bg and mainshaft bg failure.

He probably never halls in 5th though. I know many people that don't even use 5th when towing.

 

The way I've learned to define lugging is if you push down on the pedal and can't go any faster then you're lugging it.

These guys offer a permanent fix for 5th gear. The Dodge kit and tack welding are usually short term.
http://www.standardtransmission.com/

 

Mine came loose on a trip to Florida in September of this year, on a trip to rescue our daughter from a bad relationship and the numerous hurricanes. I was towing an 18 ft car hauler with no load when it happened. I've hauled a few loads with the truck before, probably getting close to 6-7K on the trailer, plus the trailer weight, which is right at 2K. I built side, front and back panels to make an enclosed trailer for hauling moving our household stuff when we moved to OK and had these panels, knocked down and laying flat on the trailer, when it decided to come loose.

I was able to limp into Chattanooga where my nephew lives and get it to a local shop he recommended for the repair. They used a new high strength Lok-Tite that come in a tube kind of like Chap-Stick to lock the nut once it was back in place.

No one knows why, but this repair only lasted less than 1000 miles - I made it from Chattanooga to West Palm Beach and about half way back to Atlanta (my sister's house) when it came loose again, this time with the trailer loaded. I once again limped back to get it repaired again. The shop mgr was shocked to see it back and personally attended the repairs, assuring me it was done right. So far, since then it has stayed fixed, but I have this nagging thought that it might happen again when I least expect it.

From what I've read about this, the main reason it happens is lugging the engine below 1500 RPMs in 5th gear, especially with a load. I've always tried to not do this, but I don't know whether or not the previous owner paid as much attention to this as I do. He used the truck to haul several car hauler trailers stacked on top of each other, from Oklahoma City to Colorado Springs several times during his ownership, so I think it's possible he may have "primed" the tranny for this to happen.

Steve

 

So now I gotta ask this. Whats the point of the 5 speed in these when the stock motor wont pull a 7-10k load in 5th. Downshift to 4 and try to hold 65 mph and if feels like its gonna blow and I end up with 10-12 mpg, thank god I dont have 4.10s. Bomb it and now you can tow in 5th at 90mph but how long will the trans last? two rebuilds and clutches in 123K is BS. Right about now im kickin myself in the azz for selling my Chevy 4x4. Ive about had it with these things. Pretty sad when a 30 year old beat to **** truck with 250K on it will out perform and outlast one of Dodges finest, Horse pucky. yeah Im ******. lost the sale on it also cause of the trans/ clutch issues and repair $$$.