Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) OK so who's the NV4500 expert here?

[JMauro]

i'm thinking the trans in my truck needs attention. i haven't put that many miles on it since buying it but it now feels kinda rough in 5th and i'm inclined to believe the gear is working loose. one of the things i liked about the truck when i brought it is how well it shifts. the truck (one owner) had a 5th hitch in it but i really don't think it was used that much and overall the truck doesn't show any real signs of abuse or heavy use as well as having "0" performance mods. if i have to go through the box so be it but i don't want to get it up on the lift and have it sit there. i was thinking about putting it up and pulling the back off to confirm that's the problem then buttoning it back up till i order the parts. can anyone give me a pretty solid idea of what (if any) other things i could expect this trans to need. i'm going to drain/strain the oil to check the condition of it first. it shifts fine and has no outward indication of a problem other than the 5th gear vibration. i've seen a number of different seal/gasket/bearing/syncro kits on the web but don't want to invest in parts it doesn't need. another concern is what kinda special tools it requires. i have a very well equipped shop (mill, press, lathe, welder ect. ) and can often fab makeshift tooling to get a one time job done.



thanks for your input



BTW i did the brake, pyro and exhaust stuff so it was really bare bones when i got it.

 

[GAmes]

When my 5th gear fell off there was no warning of any kind. I was driving down the freeway at 70, cc on, then I was coasting at idle. Every one I have talked to that lost 5th gear had a similar experience. I have noticed that if I let the gear oil (syntorque) go over 45k or so it starts to shift hard.

 

[mattymac]

When I did my mainshaft upgrade in my 98, I also did bearings, and syncros, the syncros made a HUGE diffrence in the smoothness of how it shifted.

 

[mattymac]

Also like GAmes said, when my 5th gear fell off there was absolutely no warning, it just fell off.

 

[SRadke]

I've heard of one occasion where there was some warning (a slight vibration) before the gear slid back but he said it only did it for a few minutes. Try Standard Transmission and Gear or Quad 4x4 for parts. Many happy customers from both aroud here.



-Scott

 

[bubba_zanetti]

Mine also just fell out of gear.



But prior to that (I think I noticed it that day) the stick would move back and forth as the throttle was applied/removed. I was probably watching the nut screw off.

 

[JMauro]

OK i snatched the back off it tonight and cursed the guy that used a gallon of Stud N Bearing mount on the 12 PT bolts. it has the upgraded clamp nut on it and it was staked as well so i can see the nut hasn't backed off at all. one thing that concerns me is the radial play in the rear bearing. i didn't like the way it felt and checked it with a indicator i think it was about 5-8 thou. measured just above the lower gear. i'm bumping this back up to see if i can get more input. probably gonna call standard or quad 4x4 and ask them. i figure at the least it probably needs bearings but other than that i think it shifts pretty nice.



thanks

 

[Extreme1]

My friend's '95 vibrated in 5th for a while before the gear fell off. I told him about this sight many times and told him to cough up the $ for a subscription but he has reservations about the info here. Then he bought a transmission rebuild because the gear was working on the shaft but the nut was still tight. By the time the gear came off there were a bunch of bad parts. A mainshaft and 5th gear replacement would have been much cheaper.



Take your trans apart and replace the mainshaft with a fully splined version and 5th gear now before it takes other parts with it.



My friend didn't listen to me when I warned him about the KDP either, the dealer replaced the timing case for him. That alone would have bought a lifetime of TDR!

 

[WDaniels]

Pull off the tail housing on the end of the transmission and check the output shaft bearing retaining plate bolts. There are 4 of them. On mine 2 broke off and fell inside and got chewed up by the gears and the other two were loose. That could be a problem also. Hope this helps.

WD

 

[rhoads]

Just to look remove drive line -# 10 metric socket 12 point and a couple ext's

Nut comming loose won't vib. It is eather there or not---

Before dtoping the drive shaft does it have greaseable joints--& if so are they all lineded up?? Or is one a greaseable type and the other not If so replace the one that is not. . This will cause a vib. .

check back in Sat