Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) lost 5th gear question

[RAndrae]

My 96 3500 with 136,000 mi just lost 5th Just as the big work season is starting. I would suspect that the nut backed off it was like it just went into nuetral. I drove it for a couple hundred miles.

Anyway does the transmission have to be out to get at the shaft and nut. Is the shaft usually trashed with metal floating around. Or should I pull it and install the upgrade shaft and nut with a rebuild kit? I would guess the later. I am mechanically inclined Is this rebuild easy?? Any help would be apreciated

 

[gitchesum]

I've done a couple of 5th gear repairs on my truck. The first time the 5th syncro gear snapring busted and the inside of the gear was chewed off, the second time I repaired the 5th gear nut.



These repairs can be done with the transmission in the truck. I didn't even have to remove the crossmember completely. In the picture link, the 5th gear nut is on the upper shaft, just before the green speedo gear. You can see two of the notches used to tighten the nut.



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Here is a pretty good procedure to repair the problem.

http://www.dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/21-10-98a_r.htm





I got my parts from Blumenthal Mfg. (www.blumenthalmfg.com)



Good luck