whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa... $2400 for a tranny? Is it bulletproof? Wtf? Get yourself a summit racing catalog and you can find a B&M Tranny for around $1000 brand new, rebuilt or whatever... Those are good up to like 450 HP and will be way better than some crap that's built to original factory specifications. Personally though, I would save up an extra few bucks and spring for the DTT (Diesel Transmission Technology) Tranny built to sit behind a Cummins. From what I've seen, their trannies that they build are top notch and are hard to beat.

On to the next note, you need not spend $850 for new bearings. Go buy yourself a slide hammer, get yourself aquainted with a haynes repair manual and spend an afternoon with your front end to replace those worn bearings, and while your at it, check the axel shafts to see if they need to be replaced. They cost around $250 if they need to be replaced due to excessive wear normally found where they ride on the bearings but if they aren't too bad, just get some new silicone sealant, differential fluid, and bearings & seals for around $75 and you'll be fine. That's more than $400 worth of savings right there. But don't be cheap. If they are worn, replace them. Then you'll have another 10 years of worry free wheeling.

As for your alignment, pshhh... No problem, only question is are you willing to spend the time?

 

Do you have to look in the catalog for these? I did a search for trannies online, and the only one it listed for the Dodge was a Hughes for $2,095.95

 

I had a 1989 Dakota. It was not powerful by any means, but only got 20-22 mpg hwy-2wd. If you got up speed going downhill it could make 93mph (3.9). Are they getting better mileage now?

 

[quote]ORIGINAL: 98DodgeRam1500

You need to think again. I have my 2000 Ram Sport with 143000 orginal miles on the motor and tranny, and the tranny still acts like new. And I have been mud bogging, rock crawling, and everything else in this truck. So. I am sure not everyone on this entire forum has had to rebuild the tranny yet.

 

this not directed at anybody who posted a reply here. if somebody or anybody for that matter is selling or trading a truck that is his or her's choice to make. why try and change his/her mind? i was a member of a trailblazer SS forum and we sold the truck about 5 months ago, we had our reasons why. and hey i got bagged over a choice i made to part with a truck. who needs the extra headaches?

i hope you enjoy your new truck ( i love my ram ), weather you get a dodge, ford, Gm whatever. gOOd luck and enjoy it.....

 

I'm not sure if it's news to people or not, but things break on high mileage vehicles. Replacing them with better than stock parts is still cheaper than going out and buying a new stock vehicle.

But by all means do whatever you want. Just don't think my trucks a piece of **** because your truck is a piece of **** and we're cool

 

Hey - I got a 2001 f150 screw with the 5.4 in it. The truck is comfortable as anything with 4 adults in it, plenty of room in the back seat. The bed of the truck is a bit small, especially with my toolbox, but my dad has an f250 with the 8foot bed so i dont mind. Gas milage isnt bad.. winter time bout 13, summer bout 15 (Off highway). Its got 125k on it, and it had a trans put in at 100k. Other than that it runs beautifully and havn't had to do anything to it. Drives nice, smooth, quiet, and if it wasn't for the gas milage, id love taking it on roadtrips. Good luck with your decision!

 

And the truth shall set you free! It's not just the Dodges![sm=happybounce.gif]

 

Automatic transmissions go out in alot of cars. Especially with high mileage. Especially when people either don't know how to take care of them, or don't know that they're suppose to take care of them (the majority), or if they beat on them.

 

Hey bro-I'm gonna "enlighten" you and make you feel better.
I bought my 2000 Ram 4x4 on Sept 8 2006. It had 147K on it. I am the 3rd owner. It has the original tranny in it. The steering is a little sloppy, it gets 13.8 mpg, it's my daily driver 52 miles round trip 5 days a week, right now the right side exhaust manifold is leaking and it sounds like an asthmatic farm tractor hauling a 100' hay wagon thru the mud. Know what? I LOVE IT!! This homeschool Dad is gonna use this as an excuse to take his boys ( and little girl) out to the garage and get dirty!! A new steering stabilizer, ball joints and track bar will fix the slop, and if the tranny goes? I know a place that will rebuild her to bulletproof for about $2K-$2500. BTW a complete Fel-Pro exhaust, TB, EGR gasket kit was $14 @ O-Reilly's.

That was the make you feel better ( with a little redneck humor, lol). Now for the enlightening.

After Daimler and Chrysler merged, several issues arose with Dodge vehicles. Most notably and publicly were the tranny issues in the "Ram Tough" trucks. A very good friend of mine bought a brand new '98 Sport 4x4 QC. This truck was BABIED! At 58K the tranny went plooey. At 65K, the rear end went plooey, and at 66K, the entire A/C system went plooey. Now, that being said, he had an extended warranty and everything got fixed, but he sold it as quick as he could for the reasons you mentioned. He now has a brand new 2007 Ram Sport 2WD QC, and he loves it. Almost without fail, you'll see on here that major powertrain issues are in the 97-99 model years. After that you don't see as much of these glaring problems. What changed? Daimler gave up control of the truck side of Chrysler after the 99 model year-with the exception of input in the refinement and developement of clean diesel technology in 2500/3500 trucks. I'm here to tell you, you have a great truck. The motor is darn near bulletproof-I'm leaking a little oil at the rear seal when I run hard. Know what? It's still a 2 piece seal-I'm gonna drop my oil pan get my Haynes manual and change it once the weather clears up, I'll go ahead and change my oil pump too and do a little PM. Ford and Chevy went to one piece seals years ago and now the whole bottom end has to come undone to change a $10 part! It's easy to spend someone else's coin, but I'm gonna say it anyway spend the money and fix your truck, dude. $3K-$5K is way less than $25K or more for even a newer "used truck." You know what you have now. Don't be scared of some repairs. God knows I was, but 3 kids (homeschooled), a mortgage and soft economy don't make me a fan of jumping into debt.

I don't mean to tell you your biz, I'm trying to help. This is a great place to get advice and vent. I don't mean to rant either, I'm trying to encourage you. Don't get me wrong, if it ain't safe-don't put your family in it. But-if she needs some TLC-talk sweet, give her some lovin', and she won't let you down. Could be your truck, could be your old lady-either way, I know that advice is solid!!

Peace, and God Bless, Bro. We're here for you.