This is for a 96 automatic Ram 1500 4x4 with a rebuilt motor (so says the PO) and rebuilt xfer case verified by the AAMCO guys with 177k miles on it.

I don't have the time to troll through a thousand threads on transmissions right now so I am just gunna go ahead and make a new one.

For the past month or so I have been having shifting issues. Been shifting hard on the down shift around 45 to 50 when slowing down and late shift going out of 2nd every once and a while.

Fast forward to last weekend, I took the truck to the local AAMCO, and after have them drive it and run codes they called and told me that I needed a possible rebuild, and that there was metal in my trans pan. I asked them to wait until I got there to put eh pan back up so i could see it. There was metal in the pan but they wee small shavings and not hadly as big as they made out to be.

I don't want to shell out 2500 for a rebuild on a 3200 dollar truck, but if I do they will install the HD torque converter and gears. I want to be sure if this is the best course on action as I have heard that there is other things I could change before I shell out the dough I had been saving for my JEEP.

 

I've heard bad things about AAMCO. If you do the rebuild, I wouldn't have them do it.

Just my two cents.

 

Are metal shavings normal in these tranny's? I don't mean big ones but some fine shavings. This is the first automatic I have ever owned.

 

with 177K and if thats the original tranny...well i got to say it might be time to get her rebuilt. but 2500 for a rebuild? thats way to expensive, i was quoted 800 for my rebuild parts and everything, (Mechanic is a family friend though)

 

2500 is HD parts and labour. With out the HD parts it will only be 1800, if I drop it myself I will save myself about 400 but lose out on the 1 year warranty, and only have a 30 or 60 day one.

Also, I live in California, everything is expensive out here, when I was a my parents house a month ago, my dad a motor rebuilt for my moms car, an 03 hyundai XJ350, for less than a grand pulled and installed.

I think that if I do this, it will be the last repair I make to it before just getting rid of it and finding the 2500 diesel I want.

 

Don't do it with AAMCO!!!
Go to another transmission specialist. It might just need a cable adjustments.

 

I wouldn't go with the conclusion of 1 outfit - "Need a possible rebuild" doesn't sound all that conclusive anyhow.
Guy could have easily dropped some shavings in there.
Like already stated, its high mileage and just might be due for one, but I'd look into other opinions, and check into the possibility that it might just need trans cable/band adjustments to make the shifts better.

 

its normal for the magnet to have fine metal shavings on it....thats why the magnets there....mine had them too