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From: Rader[SMTP:rlr@bbt.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 1997 3:34 PM
To: Dakota Mailing List
Subject: Re: Transmissions
> (1st:rebuild,2nd:replace shift fork,3rd:replace front bearing,4th:replace
> shift tower)
What were the detailed symptoms? (And what year?)
My '95 has the NV-3500, and I want to avoid any pitfalls...
I know a bunch of list members have the same tranny, so you've
got an audience.
Ron
Well at about 20,000 miles the thing was making excessive noise, I took it
in and they basically rebuilt it . At about 25,000 I went to shift into
second and the shifter spring broke, nearly fell into the passenger side
floor, no big deal, but when I took it in they found the shift fork bent.
It may have been that way all along and I probably would'nt have known if
the spring had'nt broke. At about 40,000 it started squealing pretty bad,
turned out to be the front bearing. Latley I have noticed the 1-2 shift
has not been quite right. Seems the sincros are not linning up quite right
under hard shifts, and then oil started leaking. They told me that one of
the bolts in the shift tower had broken off and the whole thing would have
to be replaced.
Hopefully this will take care of the 1-2 shift problem I have been having?
Now about pitfalls. Let me give you a little background. The transmission
oil has been changed every 20,000. The only mods I had on it up until
about 55,000 were the flowmaster and the MP computer. Since then I have
added SureGrip, MSD and underdrive pulleys. I pull a boat (3500lbs) about
twice a month and I keep it in 4th at 2600rpm (60mph). I have made about 8
runs at our local drag strip in the last 4 months, and of course the usual
launch from stop lights when opportunity knocks. Now I will admit that I
do push my equipment from time to time, but I have always done this even
before my Dakota, and never had I had these kinds of problems. Clutches
yes, transmissions no.
Ron, I hope mine is just a dud, and not the rule, at least for the rest of
you guys sake. Either that or everyone that has worked on mine has created
the next problem. Its just very frustrating spending money on the same
thing over and over again.
Hope this helps, Goodluck.
Alan...94,SLT
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