Another 5th gear bits the dust

[Oliver88]

Last night a friend of mine called upset about his losing 5th gear. A 96' 4X4 with only 40K miles on it. He does some towing but hasn't in the last year. It seems I read about these things going out too frequently. Has anyone ever checked into a recall? I know that is grasping for straws but we did finally get the throttle cable recall. He's going with the Dodge 5th gear nut fix. Hope it holds for him. Now I'm really worried about my 5th gear with 93K on my truck. I think I would have taken the Standard Transmission route but to each his own.

Greg

 

[pwknapp]

Hope all goes well. I've been in mine about 7 times all related to losing 5th. Don't let the dealer down here fix it(ALL STAR Denham Springs) they really took me to the cleaners. Put in new clutch and didn"t change pilot, eventually vibrated transmission to much, lost fifth, said I needed new main shaft($1850), put that in and still could'nt keep 5th on, said I needed to bring it back in for warranty and I decided no more getting taken. Zimmer gears rebuilt unit completely for $1200, still going strong. This is the second transmission, first one had fifth replaced 4 times with all of the new and improved nuts.

 

[Oliver88]

Seven times for 5th gear

Seven times. Wow, I'm really worried about mine now. All this talk is making me nervous.

Greg

 

[pwknapp]

Somebody else probably needs to jump in now. Supposedly there is a full spline shaft available to eliminate this problem. I haul alot of big loads on a 40 ft trailer and gross anywhere up to 35k. Trying to save up for that gear vendor splitter so I can tow in 4th high when loaded.

 

[Oliver88]

Standard Transmission

Standard Transmission has the fully splined shaft and the gear for around $450. 00. Check them out at: www.standardtransmission.com

Greg

 

[Alaskaskiff]

I got a reman unit from std trans for 1650 + shipping 1way. Did install myself. They are good to deal with. If you know a good shop to do full spline mainshaft replacement you can go that way with their parts as well. When you have it apart evaluate your clutch needs versus future bombing. If you are going up in power an option is South Bend Clutch. Definitely replace pilot bearing whle in there. If you go to the kevlar bearing, the flywheel will have to be machined. Some members have also gotten results from using the second nut fix from dodge and then punching it to hold it on. Do a search on member tdrmbramr for a blow by blow on this. Several options out there.

 

[Dbonzi]

I know this isn't the proper procedure but it was cheaper than a remaned transmission. I welded the nut in place. Its been 20000 miles now and tows fine in 5th.

Dennis

 

[moparguy]

Welded?

Dennis, everything I know and have heard tells me that welding is a "no,no". How did you weld the nut, just a quick hard tack or two, or did you do something special to treat the welded area to avoid a stress crack/break at the weld?



Understand I haven't been inside this trans, so don't know if this is possible, but I've wondered about using 2 or three good hard tacks, then heating the area to a nice red color to stress realive it in a effort to avoid a break.



I'm not planning to do this, just courious how you got yours to work.



Thanks, RJR

 

[Dbonzi]

We tightned the nut as tight as possible, then used a wire feed welder and put a half inch weld on each side of the shaft behind the nut. If I need to take the nut back off I would be able to use a small die grinder and get it off. The little bit of heat we put to the shaft should not hurt it. And as far as the nut goes we did direct most of the weld to the shaft so the nut didn't get red hot.

If it was going to crack I think it would have by now.

I just had to try it, the price was right and all i'm really out is the labor of droping the transmission again.

 

[rhoads]

weld's

Don't want to depress you but 1000's before you and 100's before me have tried this to the same results..... Save up for new main shaft or ask santa!!

The main shaft is very +++ hard ,when you apply heat you remove what in that area?? I have seen many shafts that have had weld's tryed,if the heat wasnd cranked up the weld stuck to the nut only, but the ones that didnt back off the shaft will shear in two like some cut it with a laser. DO NOT WELD...

posted may times ,simple fix, low budget, What ever you want to spend.

And knowing what i know now and did then (oem ) parts can be reused . Also to the other post that split will fail,my test of it aprox 50k loaded 70 % ,also i i will add i drop into 5th level roads around 45 mph empty some time under.

When i talked to mfg some had the thinking that fully spline'd shaft was the cure but my results have but that to bed .

If you cant do the repair your self or don't have a person that will do the work and you can trust By all means order a STD rebuilt. They are good people,I don't agree with the impact use to tighten the nut down with thow... Speed/labor thing.

You don't have to get a new 5 th gear if you don't wish , if it is the first time it came loose. now some out there might not agree But "if" the nut is torqued down and held tight it won't strip.

Parts you will need ,can of starting fluid or break cleen (the good stuf) to clean lube from shaft threads an used/new nut threads. small bottle Red of loc tite. If you have a split nut throw it out.

call std and get the thicker tapered nose nut used by NV "before" the split. . call miller tool and order the adaptor to tighten the nut down with ,3/4 torque wrench fits it the sq--book tells the dealer's they could use blows with hammer and guesstamate 300 lb's Note . if you go with a new 5 th gear you will, even using the eom. main shaft , will have to get/borrow the press or rig one up to install . it is a press fit. and i mean tight. found that out at two in the morning. to rig a press you need a long Gr. 8 threaded rod,long thin wall'd 2" pipe ,1/4 " steel for cap and i used a flange nut. (all were in one corner dust covered ) 2-1/2 - 3 lb hammer

and 3/16 center punch.

! spray down parts to remove lube

2 install 5 th gear

3 apply red loc tite to nut and shaft threads

4 install washer and nut torque to 3--310 Ft Lb's

5 This is what keep's it intact.

I took the cntr punch went up what i thought was t threads tap to dimple then strake a keeper blow --move up a thread repeat--rotate drop down to just on to the nut strike.

Did about ten times----- You have just made a lock nut after instalation... ... ..... Mine has held thru over 4oo k -32k + lbs over the 3 sisters and i only drop out of 5th when the eng call's for 4th.

If you got the transmission on the bench remove the cover and engage 2 gears to hold the shaft..... You will have to tie it down to the bench.

If doing in the truck and you dont want to remove the cover put the shifter in 4th. If you use 1st the eng will roll over .

Note!!! If you have this transmission out and you don't call South Bend Clutch and get there ploit bushing and machine the fly wheel and install Remember i said SHAME on you!!!!