One of the more prevalent complaints about Dodge Ram and Dakota pickups along with the older Durango SUVs is that the transmissions don’t always hold up to years of severe abuse. I know the problem all too well Ive dealt with a transmission failure in our 94 Ram 1500 Sport and I can tell you that the fix can be very expensive. Luckily, a DodgeForum.com member has put together a DIY on how to rebuild your 44RE automatic transmission and while this post resides in the 1st generation Durango section – this rebuild DIY complete with images and a video could help Ram, Dakota and Durango owners with a transmission problem when they are in a pinch.
Now, I should point out that out of all of the DIYs here on DodgeForum.com, a transmission rebuild is likely one of the more intricate so a novice mechanic might want to think twice before he or she rips the transmission out of their Ram, Dakota or Durango with the intention of rebuilding it themselves. However, for those skilled shade tree mechanics who want to solve their shifting problems in the comfort of their own garage – this thread will walk you through the ins and outs of transmission repair with images, diagrams and even a 28 minute video of a similar transmission being repaired.
Click here to take a look at the repair DIY for the 1st gen Durango that also applies to 1989-2001 Dodge Ram 1500s with rear wheel drive, the 1989-2003 Dodge Dakota and a variety of Jeep SUVs from 1993 through 2004.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
