G56 owners

[jandr]

Ok now, I've been reading every post I can find on the new(est) 6 speed because I'm considering a new truck and I really don't want another auto. I had an opportunity to drive a friends NV5600 for several days and liked it except the pattern seemed a little stiff and notchy. Basically what I remembered about true truck trannys. I did not know they changed to a new one until I got back on here. I have not found any actual failures listed here, only some concerns about some potential design problems.

I also have read how everyone who has them seems to really like them. And many tow heavy loads.



The G56 has been out for just under a year so I would like to hear from members about how many miles they have on them now and any new problems to report. Also what kind of power do you think they will handle ... ... like just an edge juice box? Thanks

 

[RJOL]

I've had mine since the end of March and have about 8. 5K on the clock. I use it for everyday driving and tow my 11K fifth wheel several times a year. I have had absolutely no problems with the G56 or any part of the truck. It runs and tows great.



That being said the reliability of the G56 can only be proved by the test of time. Any transmission will be tested by adding boxes, etc. Minor power increases should be fine, but if you're going to be adding lots of power, the drivetrain may need beefing up... JMHO...

 

[dhill]

I've had mine since 4/1/05, 9500 miles, no problems of any kind. I've only heard of one failure, someone on this forum but I don't remember who, far fewer than many thought there would be. I love the shift pattern, much easier to shift from reverse to second IN MY OPINION. I guess whatever you get used to.



Dave

 

[JayWm]

I've had mine since March '05. In fact I got it before the factory hold went into effect. Nor was mine subject to the TSB regarding fluid needing to be added. I have 15,000 miles on the truck. 80-90% of it is towing. I tow a 9k box trailer. I took a trip to Kansas and back in september towing the trailer. We ran a consistent 75 mph (speed police need not chime in) Speed limits allow for it and 80K class trucks are running those speeds. I love the way it shifts, very smooth, not a hint of an issue. My dad drove the truck with me and had no issues driving the truck. He has lots of experience towing, but had never driven my truck prior to the Kansas trip. I am told that the tear down that SBC and Blumenthal's is done and there is supposed to be an article in the next issue of TDR. My only wish would be for a 3. 55 rear end and a taller overdrive. That said, this thing has so much pulling power stock. I was able to pull every grade between California and Kansas in 5th and 6th gears. By the way we went hwy 50 and interstate 70 thru Colorado.

I find it very easy to go between reverse and first when needed.

So unless you are gonna try to retrofit a NV5600, the G56 is gonna be your new friend.



Jay

 

[Mark.Smith]

I only have 4100 miles on mine and so far, so good. I have never driven another CTD so I can't compare it with another. It shifts fine to me. I'm about to tow an empty 24' car trailer from west to east coast and bring it back with close to 10k in it so I will have a good comparison. The only beef I have with it is trying to check the fluid level. I have been reading this site so I was careful when I took the plug out. Good thing too, as I lost about 3oz of fluid before I got the plug back in. I would just like to know how the hell you are supposed to check the fluid level when the correct level is past the fill hole?

 

[Rob_r]

My G56 failed very early. At about 300 miles the symptoms were:



1) Very difficult to get into 1st or 2nd gear from a standstill - sometimes real hard!

2) A growling noise when the clutch was released in neutral - was getting progressively louder

3) If in 1st or 2nd gear and the clutch was pushed in, the truck would not coast smoothly. The truck would lurch as if the clutch was not disengaging completely.



By the time I got the truck back to the dealer it had a bit more than 400 miles on it. The dealer never did tell me what was wrong with the trans. They replaced the trans with a new unit.



I have about 1100 miles on the new trans and everything seems fine except for the faint clicking (almost a buzz) in 5th gear.



Robert

 

[Rob_r]

Jay,

Can you tell me the number of the TSB you are referring to on the fluid level? I have looked at the some of the sites where the TSBs are listed. I missed the one about fluid level on a G56.



Thanks,

Robert

 

[TSterner]

seems to work good with a dual disk.



ted

 

[JCleary]

seems to work good with a dual disk.



ted

It would seem you're giving it a heck of a test! That's the trans behind your P-pumped 3rd gen?



Going from the cushy nature of a dual mass flywheel to a direct drive pulling clutch, that must be the ultimate torture for those plastic gears :-laf

 

[RJOL]

Jay,

Can you tell me the number of the TSB you are referring to on the fluid level? I have looked at the some of the sites where the TSBs are listed. I missed the one about fluid level on a G56. Thanks,

Robert

Robert... There isn't a TSB about this... Dodge held up delivery of a series of trucks to check a potential problem with suspected "underfilled" G56 trannys.



Here is a current list of all TSB for the 2005 DR Rams (all engines).



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2005-index.htm

 

[JayWm]

I apologize for the TSB confusion. I thought DC issued one for the G56 with all the hubbub about it being held up for delivery, etc. Once I confirmed my truck was not subject to it, I kind of filed the issue away in the back of my mind.



From what you describe I would believe that your failure would be directly related to the underfill issue. Like I said in my first post I got my truck before the delivery hold went into effect, then DC clammed up and wouldn't talk to me or anyone else. I raised a major stink with my dealer that they finally got a DC area tech rep to call me. His first question was "how many miles do you have on the truck?" By then I had 2000-3000 miles on it from towing my race trailer. He says "you're truck is fine" I asked how does he know this and he stated that if it was gonna fail it does it in the first 500 miles. He would not elaborate as they still had not come out with the whole add more fluid thing, but I felt a little better at the time. I had told my dealer that if I was told to park it that I was coming in and leaving them my truck until it was fixed and that I expected to be given the use of another cummins powered dodge. So it's all good now, so far. I really do like the transmission, just wish it had slightly longer legs...



So, would someone please build a 3. 55 ring for the 11. 5 AAM????? PLEASE!!!!

You'll sell lots of em, guaranteed.



Jay

 

[jandr]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I was actually hoping to find more people with higher milage. I know they're out there. Someone who is a transporter or something. I put about 30k on a year and know friends who drive their truck alot for work and easily put on 60k to 80k a year.

By the way, I was wondering about the . 79 ratio in 6th with the 3. 73 rear end. What kind of rpms are you turning at 70mph?

 

[RJOL]

... I was wondering about the . 79 ratio in 6th with the 3. 73 rear end. What kind of rpms are you turning at 70mph?

2200RPM...



Here is a handy chart made up by klenger, one of our members...



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/general-reference/gear-speed-calculator.xls

 

[ilovetrains]

20 K so far

I have 20K on my G56. I had the option of driving both the NV5600 and a G56 back to back. The refinement of the G56 is huge, it just is much easier to drive. The final drive ratio sucks, unless you always about 10K in tow, then it seems about right.

 

[steved]

I read on other boards about two different guys twisting the input shafts off in the new G56, but those were the very early versions... maybe a batch of bad parts?? I would have assumed if it was an issue that there would be a lot of people here complaining.



After reading the thread about SBC tearing the G56 apart... I'll keep my 5600... IIRC, they stated that the bearings indicated signs of wear... they should show almost no wear on a transmission this new (I am assuming it had low miles because it was "newer"). Bearing wear (and ultimate failure) was the problem in the Getrag of the 1st gens IIRC.



I will agree that nearly everyone I have heard talking about the G56 indicated that it was a much nicer overall transmission than the 5600 in both noise and shifting. Now to get SEVERAL long term (high mileage) G56 reports that would show they are durable for the long haul would be better.



steved

 

[sawmillman]

Filler plug on my G56

I have 5500 miles on my G56 with no problems. After reading a lot of posts on this transmission, I tried to check the fluid level in it. I am not able to get the plug loose on the side. I hope I am trying to take out the right plug. It is a large alien wrench plug on the pass side about half way up. I used a 3/8 bolt and double nutted it with no luck. I noticed a smaller plug on the drivers side a little further back but have not messed with it. Can anyone tell me if I am on the right track. Thanks, gene

 

[jandr]

After reading the thread about SBC tearing the G56 apart... I'll keep my 5600... IIRC, they stated that the bearings indicated signs of wear... they should show almost no wear on a transmission this new (I am assuming it had low miles because it was "newer"). Bearing wear (and ultimate failure) was the problem in the Getrag of the 1st gens IIRC.



steved

Where did you read the results of the SBC/Blumenthal project? I haven't been able to find anything new about it.

 

[JayWm]

they stated that the bearings indicated signs of wear... they should show almost no wear on a transmission this new (I am assuming it had low miles because it was "newer").





steved

NOT true, go back to the SBD thread and reread SBC's post, they did not tear down Tim's transmission. They tore down a unit with over 70,000 miles, from what I hear, 70,000 VERY hard miles.



Let's not turn this thread into "who's transmission is better" contest. To those that own the NV5600 and like it, I am glad that you like it. But keep this in mind. The NV5600 is no longer available to us, so if you want a 6 speed you get the G56, so there is no point crying about the NV5600 being gone. I am very happy with my G56, and it sounds like most others are too. Only time will tell if it holds up as good as the NV5600. I have no dispute that its a great transmission, but no one has PROOF that the G56 is not. So there is no need to make posts that you'll keep this, that or the other thing. If your post is not germain to the original thread starter's question, do not post.



Jay

 

[steved]

NOT true, go back to the SBD thread and reread SBC's post, they did not tear down Tim's transmission. They tore down a unit with over 70,000 miles, from what I hear, 70,000 VERY hard miles.



Let's not turn this thread into "who's transmission is better" contest. To those that own the NV5600 and like it, I am glad that you like it. But keep this in mind. The NV5600 is no longer available to us, so if you want a 6 speed you get the G56, so there is no point crying about the NV5600 being gone. I am very happy with my G56, and it sounds like most others are too. Only time will tell if it holds up as good as the NV5600. I have no dispute that its a great transmission, but no one has PROOF that the G56 is not. So there is no need to make posts that you'll keep this, that or the other thing. If your post is not germain to the original thread starter's question, do not post.



Jay

I know that they did not tear Tim's transmission down (I know Tim and have talked at length with him before), but if you think that 70k and worn bearings are "good" for a transmission that is put in a truck designed to be used... I want whatever you are smoking.



I understand that the G56 is the only transmission offered... I didn't go there, but I WAS POINTING OUT INFORMATION POSTED ELSEWHERE ON THIS BOARD. I know there are a lot of "initially" happy owners right now, I drove a G56 and it is much nicer than my 5600 (shift and less noise)... BUT, AND I MEAN BUT, what good is initial quality if the transmission is only going to last around 100k???????



I'm sure there will be a few G56 that last forever, but as this thread has indicated there have been a few failures right out of the box (just like the NV5600)... and 70k with worn bearings... how worn and how much longer before problems arise??



And the thread I got that info in was the one I believe it was titled "What happened to the SBC transmission?"... or something like that.



steved

 

[ilovetrains]

I know that they did not tear Tim's transmission down (I know Tim and have talked at length with him before), but if you think that 70k and worn bearings are "good" for a transmission that is put in a truck designed to be used... I want whatever you are smoking.



I understand that the G56 is the only transmission offered... I didn't go there, but I WAS POINTING OUT INFORMATION POSTED ELSEWHERE ON THIS BOARD. I know there are a lot of "initially" happy owners right now, I drove a G56 and it is much nicer than my 5600 (shift and less noise)... BUT, AND I MEAN BUT, what good is initial quality if the transmission is only going to last around 100k???????



I'm sure there will be a few G56 that last forever, but as this thread has indicated there have been a few failures right out of the box (just like the NV5600)... and 70k with worn bearings... how worn and how much longer before problems arise??



And the thread I got that info in was the one I believe it was titled "What happened to the SBC transmission?"... or something like that.



steved

I posted the post you are refferring to. I took SBC comments to be positive overall about the G56. I don't want a transmission war either, but if the transmission needs to rebuilt after 100K of hard miles, most guys on this board would go 250K without problem. I guess it depends on what your definition of hard miles is, but I took that to mean routinely pulling way over max gross rated.



I started another thread about what people have pulled with the G56. One guy posted he pulls a 40K sled. Personally, I think that should end this debate.