using 5th gear.

[HRDROKN]

I'm not bothering to write anymore on this. 99% of the TDR guys are just like the know-it-all dodge owners who come into my shop after thier tranny's have bit the dust.

Hey... more power too ya! To think that one opinion is the only right answer to the subject is typical. To think that the Ford community is also more righteous than the Dodge community is also typical.

Having seen many things in the lubricant industry.... I take it all with a grain of salt.

Personally it doesn't appear that the ZF does any better than th NV behind the Cummins.... just trading one set of problems for another!

[customcrewcab]

to tell somone that who has been there done that then tell him he's wrong dudes just trying to help you and others out. just becasue you don't want his info doesn't mean others don't.

[HRDROKN]

[averagef250]

Not saying I'm always right by any means, just don't buy into the NV4500 being the golden tranny it's cracked up to be. I deal with customers daily that believe wholeheartedly that every word on TDR is gospel and the NV4500 walks on water.

[HRDROKN]

Not saying I'm always right by any means, just don't buy into the NV4500 being the golden tranny it's cracked up to be. I deal with customers daily that believe wholeheartedly that every word on TDR is gospel and the NV4500 walks on water.

Well certainly TDR is not gospel and the NV doesn't walk on water.... but, opinions aside they do have quite a network of problem solving from both professional and enthusiast backgrounds. Granted that their are some biased opinions, likewise you can go to any Powerstroke sight and find the same. ..

In my research to this point, this is not necessarily an apples to apples comparison of the two tranny's. And nowhere have I found issues with the bearings being a problem. I looked through some test files (I work for a major additive company) when we tested some lubricant packages in the NV, and their were no bearing failures noted, except when improper lubricant levels were used.

The only thing I can find... is the issue with the splines wearing from movement of the related parts... which never caused a bearing failure before the gear itself was trashed.

I believe that this conclusion of testing aided the whole Syntorque lubricant as the only recommended lubricant... which I can tell you all is BS!

[averagef250]

The bearings don't fail. I never said that. The bearing's inner race gets sloppy on the mainshaft and the bearings clearance gets excessive. This causes a whole miriad of problems from the pilot bearing to the t-case input bearing going out, the input seal leaking and ruining the clutch. New mainshaft clearance is .002". Most I get in with 5th gear troubles are atleast 40 thou, many are closer to 1/8".

5th gear isn't a simple problem. I feel I've done a fair job of describing the cause of 5th loosening, however the effects are varied and completely dependant on driving style. Extra mainshaft clearance is just plain bad no matter how you look at it.

I find the syntorque works great and it's easy for me to get. Redline works great as well, but it's more expensive for me. I've tried other synthetics and had synchro problems so I just stuck with the syntorque.

From my perspective as a tranny shop owner, I don't care what somebody puts in there tranny as long as it's gear oil where it needs to be and ATF respectively. If they use the wrong fluid it's not going to work right and everybody I've dealt with has seamed honest with me if they've used a different fluid and had a problem. NV4500's have sensitive kevlar synchros.

[briney]

the way it seems to me is if i gear the truck down to help it get moving, i will need an overdrive of some sort to keep a reasonable ( 65 ) cruising speed. i also looked at truck transmissions. they don't seem to mind working in o/d. your average isuzu or hino 5 or 6 speed. granny 1st, o/d top and hopefully reasonable spaces between gears.

[Jake11]

Truck drivers use 2 or more sticks all the time. A 100,000 miles and
it's like no big deal. If your empty you don't need to split.