ChrisM55

I know this is not the best way to fix it, but I need it quick and don't have the cash to do a total rebuild. Can someone tell me how to get at the 5th gear nut to replace the gear and get it back up??

It sounds from the reading that I have done I need to drop the Xfer case. Is it similar to the tranny?? I have done clutches, but never pulled the case off before.

Is there anything I should order before I start? Parts? Tools? I am pretty sure that I can get it without the socket, but if I need it I will get it.


Please give me an idea, we were planning on towing our trailer for spring break in a week and I really don't want to spend all my vacation wrenching.

Thanks guys!!

Chris

jaconst

the transfer case is not bad comes off pretty easy it is on the tail shaft. you can do the 5th gear nut with tranny still installed. you can get the nut fix at the dealer it is a nut with set screws on in. A word of caution the bolts on the tail shaft case are 12 point and be careful nut to strip them like I did then I had to remove the tranny. I believe there is a bulletin that explains it on here I printed it out and it helped alot it had a diagrahm and part number. also a torque wrench that is capable of 300 ft lbs is reccommended. good luck

jaconst

here is the bulletin for your info
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/21-10-98a.htm
hope it helps
Good luck
and this
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/21-10-98a_r.htm

jaconst

I also forgot about the special tool as described in the bulletin I put a deposit on the tools and the dealer let me use theres

ChrisM55

Thanks!! That is just what I needed!!

There is no way in hell that my dealer is gonna let me use there tools so is there a chance I can do this without the special wrench??


Thanks again, for the VERY quick response


Chris

jaconst

you can order the tools I believe they are around $100 OR SO if you want from the dealer you sure they won't let you rent them they only use them for the tranny if I remember right otherwise I think tst sells the shaft fixed with gear on the shaft and no future worries for around $200-$300 look at merchants on here if I remember right the nut kit fix is about $50-$60 might be able to renttorque wrench somewhere like parts store or rental store don't need it if you buy the shaft though already installed

LucasLobo

the torque wrench would not be hard to get but the spanner nut wrench for the nut which holds 5th gear on really cant be substituted. there is a company that sells kits and parts and special tools for dodge trans and other stuff just do a search for dodge special tools. i also borrowed the socket from my dealer.

LucasLobo

here is the address for the special tools............http://quad4x4.com/Dodge%20Tools.htm

ChrisM55

Thanks a ton!! I am gonna give them a call as soon as they are up and order the new nut and tools. 260.00 sure seems steep for a big nut and a spanner wrench!!

Oh well, gotta have my truck back

Chris

Barry Smith

The hardest part is removing the cross member. If you don't have a porta-power think about getting one. Get a big tube of high temp RTV. I fixed mine in about 6 hrs. by myself.

jaconst

i would just buy the fixed shaft with the gear on it for around $300 don't need the spanner wrench ect. then I believe

R C Cola

If you tow a lot it will come off again just matter of when. I tow 100K/yr and on the 2nd time decided not to go thru that again. You will hear guys that have
not done this flame it bad but here is a permanant fix. Pull everything apart, tail cone off etc. clean everything thoroughly. same nut back on or new one dosent matter. This part is critical Have a " Good Welder " place a tack on two sides of the nut only" large is not good and more is not better. Ground must be attached to shaft not the case. Problem solved. I have 120k on this tranny with this modification in place all heavy hauling. I know of dozens of these in use with high miles. Best of luck. R C

ChrisM55

Well, I got the parts on Thursday and started the teardown. Got all the way to the tail shaft housing last bolt and the darn head stripped! Ended up welding a bolt on the old bolt on Friday morning and getting it off. So I called back Dan a quad4x4 and he is sending me out a set of bolts to replace the old ones. Should be here tuesday. Can you believ that no one in a city the size of Reno Nv carries these bolts?? Oh well, just resigned the fact that we are not going on vacation this week.

The other thing is that no one has a 250# torque wrench unless I buy one! I figured that someone would rent it but I guess I was wrong.

Thanks again,

Chris