Looking for input on G56 vs. Aisin

[Dieselnut59]

I have been a manual transmission fan since I was a young child and nearly everything i have owned has been manual transmission equipped. I drove a 1979 Suburban in high school with a 4 speed granny gear, then had a 1986 F150 4x4 with 4 speed granny gear, two 5.0 Mustangs with 5 speeds, a 1993 Dodge Ram 250 4x4 with 5 speed, my 1996 that I still have with 5 speed, two 1998 12 valve 3500s with 5 speed, my 2003 that I still have with 6 speed. I also had a 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD, which really reinforced my hatred for automatic transmissions. I loved that little engine and the vehicle overall but HATED that transmission! It would always hunt in and out of gears and seemed very poorly matched to the engine. It offered very limited manual control with the range selector. After reading many reviews from members here and on other forums, I ordered a new 4500 4x4 with the Aisin (and manual shift transfer case). My biggest fear is the strength of the aluminum G56 compared to the NV5600 or even the NV4500 that I have been used to. The dual mass flywheel also worried me. Those factors and the added strength and power ratings with the Aisin encouraged me to order the truck with the automatic. It is supposed to be delivered in mid August, then fitted with a Norstar flatbed. Hopefully I will not regret the transmission choice because I truly do love changing my own gears and have never "gotten tired of it" as so many folks have said I would as I age. Regardless, I will still have my 1996 and 2003 for my third pedal thrills when I want to.

 

[Newsa]

I have been a manual transmission fan since I was a young child and nearly everything i have owned has been manual transmission equipped. I drove a 1979 Suburban in high school with a 4 speed granny gear, then had a 1986 F150 4x4 with 4 speed granny gear, two 5.0 Mustangs with 5 speeds, a 1993 Dodge Ram 250 4x4 with 5 speed, my 1996 that I still have with 5 speed, two 1998 12 valve 3500s with 5 speed, my 2003 that I still have with 6 speed. I also had a 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD, which really reinforced my hatred for automatic transmissions. I loved that little engine and the vehicle overall but HATED that transmission! It would always hunt in and out of gears and seemed very poorly matched to the engine. It offered very limited manual control with the range selector. After reading many reviews from members here and on other forums, I ordered a new 4500 4x4 with the Aisin (and manual shift transfer case). My biggest fear is the strength of the aluminum G56 compared to the NV5600 or even the NV4500 that I have been used to. The dual mass flywheel also worried me. Those factors and the added strength and power ratings with the Aisin encouraged me to order the truck with the automatic. It is supposed to be delivered in mid August, then fitted with a Norstar flatbed. Hopefully I will not regret the transmission choice because I truly do love changing my own gears and have never "gotten tired of it" as so many folks have said I would as I age. Regardless, I will still have my 1996 and 2003 for my third pedal thrills when I want to.

Enjoy the drive. You picked the best one for you.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Will cruise control and exhaust brake work in 1st? Will cruise work with your foot on the brake?

Nick

NOPE!

 

[NIsaacs]

I control 33-35k combined with the AISIN easily on down hill grades from 5-14% running proper gear and cruise control.

Not to pick little black specks out of pepper, but...the above statement is a little misleading, especially for a non 4th gen owner, that don't know. That the "Aisin" and cruise is all that is required, for 5-14% grades. I am thinking for anything 7% or over, cruise is worthless and service brakes will be used.

Nick

 

[jhenderson]

Not to pick little black specks out of pepper, but...the above statement is a little misleading, especially for a non 4th gen owner, that don't know. That the "Aisin" and cruise is all that is required, for 5-14% grades. I am thinking for anything 7% or over, cruise is worthless and service brakes will be used.

Nick

And you would be correct. Just as they would be with a manual. The hype around this topic far outweighs the actual pros and cons.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I locked 2nd Set cruise to 27 or so as I would raise it up or down. It held 30-35 mph over several miles of 14% grade with the combined load 33k.

Hope that explains how it works.

 

[Newsa]

I locked 2nd Set cruise to 27 or so as I would raise it up or down. It held 30-35 mph over several miles of 14% grade with the combined load 33k.

Hope that explains how it works.

Interesting. Any idea what the RPM's maxed out at?

Let's see. Let me guess you have the 4.10???

Would the 3.73 rear end compromise would do an even better job?

 

[RVTRKN]

I went through the same process of thought, when I purchased my 07 C&C and chose the G56, and regret it every time I spend more money to upgrade my G56. $1000 for the cooler I developed. $5000 to upgrade Clutch with trans rebuild replacing browned bearing included in that price. The future $7000 I will spen to convert it to a NV5600. The little extra it costs to get the Aisin is pennies compared to what I have spent and will spend.

On edit, it didnt load the quote from Dieselnut.

 

[SnoKing]

Interesting. Any idea what the RPM's maxed out at?

Let's see. Let me guess you have the 4.10???

Would the 3.73 rear end compromise would do an even better job?

NO, the higher the gear ratio the less the hold back on the exhaust brake gear for gear.

 

[Newsa]

NO, the higher the gear ratio the less the hold back on the exhaust brake gear for gear.

Correct! 10 Trophy points for you!

 

[Cummins12V98]

"Interesting. Any idea what the RPM's maxed out at?"

About 3K.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Unfortunately the pic does not show rpm.

 

[Newsa]

"Interesting. Any idea what the RPM's maxed out at?"

About 3K.

View attachment 108228

I wonder if the ECM or PCM records a permanent code if/when the RPM's exceed redline which is about 3150-3200?.... I have come close using the e-brake and down shifting with the g56. But never exceeded 2700-2800

 

[Lynx0849]

NOPE!

I tried to test it the other day but the hill wasn’t steep enough I guess. I couldn’t hear the EB over the engine whine at ten mph in first.

Oh, and it up shifted in the supermarket parking lot at 5 mph.


Pro

 

[TX Diesel]

Thanks, a lot of good input from everyone.

One question about the Aisin.....I've heard a lot of folks are having issues with the dead pedal. When does it come into play? 1/2 throttle? 3/4 throttle? Only when you're on-off-on the pedal? I can sort of understand why the torque management occurs in the lower gears, but the discussions about hesitations while driving make me nervous. If it only shows up when you're at full throttle maybe I'd be ok with it since I hardly ever do that, but if it happens at 1/2 throttle or less I'm not sure I could get used to it.

 

[SnoKing]

Thanks, a lot of good input from everyone.

One question about the Aisin.....I've heard a lot of folks are having issues with the dead pedal. When does it come into play? 1/2 throttle? 3/4 throttle? Only when you're on-off-on the pedal? I can sort of understand why the torque management occurs in the lower gears, but the discussions about hesitations while driving make me nervous. If it only shows up when you're at full throttle maybe I'd be ok with it since I hardly ever do that, but if it happens at 1/2 throttle or less I'm not sure I could get used to it.

Only when you're on-off-on the pedal is when most people that have it tend to see it.

I tried to create it yesterday and only got a slight 1/2-1 second thingy.

 

[jhenderson]

I hardly ever notice it with mine. Maybe I’ve learned the way it likes to be driven. A smooth throttle application, whether full throttle or anything less gives predictable performance. Erratic throttle use, such as on,off, on, as if your unsure about merging gives me a predictable 3 count. So does mashing the throttle to any position. Tow/ Haul mode seems to help.

 

[Tuesdak]

I have driven a lot of manual transmission over the years, 4 speeds, 5 speeds, 13 speed Road Ranger, even my dad 5/4 in a 56 Diamond-T.

However every time a drove a 3rd gen manual I could not stand the slowness of rowing through the gears, and people complain about a little dead pedal on the autos.

SnoKing

Yes, absolutly slow to shift however the G56 is faster at shifting than a NV5600. The modern Allison I have owned isn't exactaly a speed shifter so one could ask how fast the Aisin is at shifting.

The dead pedal delay during a delayed passing attempt one has to consider the manual is already going to be in passing gear eliminating auto trans confusion and upshift then downshift delays. The turbo position change is the only wildcard for a delay.

I didn't see mentioned axel hop backing a trailer up. MT's are known to hop in some situations backing up. (4low if you got it.) Auto's can have torque launch shudder where the drive shaft jumps up and down in a soft center bearing.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have ZERO issues towing a combined 33-35K. I can start out on a steep grade with ZERO shudder, it simply takes off.