I also forgot the last but loudest part of it. When the shaking stops, there is a long loud groan, like a bearing that is un-greased until I reach normal speed then it sounds normal again. I will check the fluid level in N soon. When I got it, it was 2.5 quarts over on engine oil, so the tranny being overfilled would not surprise me. The previous owner had this truck for less than 3k miles & was as hard on it as possible and the previous owner was a tire shop. I have not even began to discus the body damage.

 

Okay guys, the final word is in. I have been to 3 different transmission shops local to me & they all say the same thing without coaching from me. The clutch pack is slipping and damaged & the loud long groan after the massive shaking stops is the 1st band compensating for the clutch pack. The real ironic thing is, all 3 tranny shops mechanics all drive Rams. I still say that if chrysler could just make a great transmission, they would have some of the very best vehicles made - period. I was going to try to rebuild it myself, but I am going with a shop that also does some mild mods for firmer shifts to make it last longer & they even remove the check ball valve in the radiator to facilitate better flow for cooling making it last longer also. Wish me luck in saving up the $1300 it will cost me. And of course, thanks for all the suggestions. I just wished they would have worked. On the bright side, it has a very complete tune up as of last night!

 

fluid is supposed to be checked after the engine and trans are warmed. Also, one should go through all gear selections so that transmission fluid fills every possible orifice. After warmed and fluid travels throughout transmission orifices, fluid should be checked when truck is in neutral and when the truck is parked on a level surface. If there is foamy fluid, the transmission is over filled. Foamy fluid doesn't allow the transmission to operate properly because the automatic is a hydraulic operated system. Air in the form of foam negatively affects the operation of hydraulic systems. Recommendation is drain excess fluids from tranny, and where ever else it may exist and make sure that you bring everything to its proper level yourself.

Best of luck to ya.

 

1st band? If you're talking about the band applied for first gear then you must actually be talking about something other then the low/reverse band altogether. Low/reverse band isn't even applied in first gear unless you physically put the truck not into drive ( D ) but into the manual low position ( 1 ) by dropping the shift lever all the way down.

A simple test to see if this low/reverse band is working is to test your reverse gear. If, reverse works, the band functions properly. If you notice that the reverse gear is slipping, then the band may need an adjustment to compensate or may need to be replaced if too worn out. Adjusting this band requires that you drain and drop the fluid pan for the transmission as well as a wrench and inch pounds torque wrench to make the adjustment.

If the tranny shops were talking about when the truck is being shifted from first into second gear, then what band they may be talking about is your intermediate band which is only used when second gear is being applied. This band, if not adjusted properly, will make it seem as if a clutch pack is slipping when really all that is happening is that the intermediate band is not able to hold a clutch pack drum stationary as one set of clutches is being released to allow for another to be applied to achieve second gear.

Adjusting this band might yield some good results for you. The adjustment can be made without having to spill a drop of fluid. Wrench and inch pounds torque wrench to make the adjustment are all the tools required.

If when you get into third gear the truck doesn't slip, this could mean that third gear clutches are intact and functioning properly. Clutches involved for third gear would be rear, and front clutches. For sake of clarity, the clutches involved would be the same clutches used for first gear, rear clutch, and the clutches used for second gear, front clutch. Both the sets of clutches from first and second work together to create the third gear. If any of these clutch sets were slipping, your truck would be slipping in third gear as well as first, second, or reverse.

I'm not certain where the groaning noise is coming from that you mentioned earlier but it would be very nice for you, not the tranny shop to detail exactly which gears your truck is slipping in or when your vehicle begins to slip since a transmission slipping between first and second gear could be from not clutches at all but instead a mis-adjusted or worn out intermediate band.

For detailed instructions on how to make the band adjustment, get a Dodge Ram Repair Manual for 20 dollars from any autoparts store or visit your local library. A Library that holds a repair manual for any 1/2, 3/4, 1 Ton Dodge Ram Truck should be adequate for detailing the instructions of the adjustment so long as you match the weight rating capacity of your truck with the same from the book.

Long story short for making the adjustment;

1. Loosen the Band Adjustment Locknut.
2. Torque the Band Adjustment Screw to appropriate number of inch pounds.
3. Back off the Band Adjustment Screw, in other words; loosen the screw, the specified number of turns detailed in the repair manual you are using as a reference.
4. While firmly holding the Band Adjustment Screw in place, re-tighten the Band Adjustment Locknut around the Band Adjustment Screw.

( If you do not firmly keep the Band Adjustment Screw in place while tightening the Locknut, your Band adjustment will not be done properly thus the Band may still be out of Adjustment after you finish. Take Your Time! )

5. Finish cleaning up after yourself and your done.