Truth about 06' 48 re transmission

[MegaRocks]

What is the truth about the new 48re? Now that it can handle the engine brake, how tough is it? Is the torque convertor still a p. o. s? What about the valve body?



I plan to tow a 13K fiver occasionally. Otherwise, I will eventually put an Edge Juice/Attitude or something like it on my truck. I know my 04. 5' truck didn't like the extra power from a box. It slipped and acted pretty lame once the horsepower was increased.



Is the 06' transmission what DC says it is in their brochure?

 

[lethal injection]

my 05 48re sucks! Its getting upgraded friday. I just hope there is not more damage then just the tc going out already at 17000. And I dont tow much and do not run my edge past level 1. Since I got the smarty the edge has been at 0 and smarty at 1 and the transmission is hurting bad. May not even make it to the garge friday so it can be upgraded.

 

[pwr2tow]

Love my new 06 48RE. It pulls just as good as the upgraded transmission I had in my 99. Will the 48RE handle more power over stock with 13,000 lbs in tow and not being upgraded. It all depends on how you drive, if your going to drive it like you stole it while towing I doubt it will.



I learned from my 99 that if you just leave things alone, alot of the time your better off.



The 06 48RE's is an improvement over the 05's.

 

[JohnCollins]

What changed?

Hard to believe the 48re was changed much over the past four years. I believe the typical experience is that it handles stock power well but all bets are off with power upgrades. The torque converter is likely the same and it is inefficient imo. I hated it so spent the money to upgrade to a Goerend TC and VB (due for install today). It was not slipping but it seemed to be better suited to a gas engine making torque at higher rpms than the Cummins. I have driven truck of many makes and all seem to have a loose tc and a less than firm shift. My buddy's 02 Powerstroke is probably the worst I have experienced. transmission shifts like mush.

 

[CPittman]

I think you'll find that the 48RE is, all-in-all, a pretty stout transmission in stock form. In my opinion, and others agree, the torque converter is a middle-of-the-road solution that DC has installed with a broad base of customers in mind. So, if you're towing, replace the stock TC with an aftermarket unit that suits your particular needs and get on down the road.



P. S. You'll get better fuel mileage too.

 

[Tony D]

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF):

"I learned from my 99 that if you just leave things alone, a lot of the time you're better off. "





pwr2tow,

I couldn't agree more!

The 48RE is a very good transmission and the TC is good. I hear as many Allison problems as I do the 48RE.



Please. . nothing personal and I am not trying to start a ******* contest but here's an example of why transmission's and TC's do not hold up:



2005 RAM 2500 SLT QUAD CAB 4x4 SWB 5. 9L CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL, GOEREND TRANSMISSION, ATS COPILOT, AEM BRUTE FORCE COLD AIR INTAKE, 6" STACKS, SMARTY CR, EDGE w/ATTITUDE, SCYTEK REMOTE START WITH TURBO COOL DOWN, RB1 NAV, LINE-X, AUTOMETER PHANTON II BOOST, FUEL PRESSURE, PYRO, AND TRANS.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I've got 42,000 on mine and she shows no sign of stress. TC is mushy... always was but I think that is one of the things that protects the trans.



Run TST 50% and over all the time. I'd say the trans is pretty reliable.

 

[BHolm]

I don't think there are too many changes since the 48re was introduced. They have upgraded the amount of computer power used to run it, and I think for '05 they added a thrust washer in anticipation of the exhaust brake loads. Other than that, the one in my '03 acts just like the one in my '06.



As far as being all Dodge claims it is... . what do they claim? My '03 pulled heavy loads with multiple drivers for 95k miles, many of those loads well over the rated capacity of the truck. No trans problems, but I left it stock. If I can get 100k out of it as a heavily loaded work truck, it must be pretty tough. I didn't do that well on Ford 4R100 or either Allison I owned.



If you start bombing the truck, all bets are off. I agree with the others though, if you are even a little sensible with the bombs the transmission will hold it, probably for a long time. If you want to go over 100 extra hp, you have a huge list of stuff that "should" be upgraded, transmission, turbo, intake, exhaust, fuel system... . the list goes on.



I think the 48re is pretty decent, perfect, not quite. I would like to see a better convertor, the shifts are firm enough for me though. I would also prefer not to have to manually downshift with the Jake on from 3-2. The computer does it automatically from 4-3, I would like that for the next step down too.



Don't want to preach but there are LOTs of guys with voided warranties lately. The power is tempting, just know that if you use it and something breaks DC has NO sense of humor about it anymore.

 

[KennethS]

You half to take care of a automatic

My buddy has a 92 Dodge diesel with a automatic transmission and has over 100,000 miles and it still runs fine. I ask him if he ever change the oil in the transmission and he said not yet but he was going to. He tows with it also. BUT he drives like one should. I drove the truck and it shifts super.

 

[CUMMINZ]

My 2006 48re is super

I have had no problems with my 48re while towing. I run an Edge EZ on highest setting. After adding the exhaust brake the transmission does lockup faster. I like it a lot. :-laf



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[scootergmc]

This thread is interesting. Here's my deal...



Last week, my father-in-law bought a brand new '06 w/ exhaust brake. Other than that, it's identical to my 04. 5 which has only 25k miles. I drove them back to back. His truck definitely accelerates quicker than mine and transmission shifts are much firmer. My transmission was a little more firm when new, but nothing like his '06. Plus, he's getting at least 1 mpg better than me. Yes, all my maintenance is current... . I love my truck. But his makes me really want that new mega cab.

 

[CPittman]

I would never try to dissuade a guy from getting a mega cab, but if you put an aftermarket torque converter and a massaged valve body in your truck you'll get the hit you're looking for and better mileage. The stock TC is just too much middle-of-the-road mush.



My 7,700 lb. truck chirped second gear on dry concrete today and I was just scooting away from a stop light - yeah, I was footin' it pretty good, 'bout half throttle. My transmission is full DTT and I've picked up about 3 mpg with the new unit. This DTT TC gets you moving at a lower RPM, the shifts are timed better, they're a LOT firmer, AND I get better lockup. I don't have the lockup controller, though.

 

[MegaRocks]

The comments I refer to from DC come straight out of the 06' brochure. They talk a lot about the improvements to the 06' 48re. Just wondering if they really add up to anything?



I have noticed my 06' shifts more firmly than the 04. 5' did. My main concern is around the tc and how it will hold up to Jake usage and 75-100 additional hp once I put a box on this truck!



Any thoughts?

 

[BHolm]

Sounds to me like typical marketing speak... bigger better badder :-laf



I can't see how the exhaust brake would tax the trans or TC much. The brake only generates about 60hp or someting of retarding force, nothing like the 600 lb/ft you run through it the other direction. I think it was more a matter of adding software to control it.

 

[JohnCollins]

Needs mods

Best thing you can do to the 48re is install a good tc and vb and associated complimentary components. I just got my Goerend stuff installed and I can't believe how much better the truck shifts and gets power to the ground. I grinned all the way home from the transmission installer. The stock tc might be a compromise, but it is just plain inefficient and mushy. I can't see how that could be a design to protect the transmission with all the heat it will generate and the huge rpm drop that it exposes the tc clutch to when it locks up under moderate to high throttle application. The 48re is great with these mods. It ain't cheap, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would do it to a brand new truck; mine has only 29k and was never used for towing.