1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Alignment

(4) Assemble shift shaft shift lever and bushing
(Fig. 102). Verify slot in bushing is facing up and roll
pin hole for lever is aligned with hole in shaft.
(5) Install assembled lever and bushing on shift
shaft (Fig. 103).(6) Slide shift shaft through 1-2 and fifth-reverse
fork and into shift lever opening in rear housing (Fig.
104).
(7) Align shift socket with shaft and slide shaft
through socket and into shift shaft bearing in rear
housing (Fig. 105).
(8) Rotate shift shaft so detent notches in shaft are
facing the TOP of the transmission housing.
CAUTION: Both shaft roll pins can be installed
when the shaft is 180É off. If this occurs, the trans-
mission will have to be disassembled again to cor-
rect shaft alignment.
Fig. 102 SHIFT SHAFT LEVER AND BUSHING
1 - SHAFT LEVER
2 - LEVER BUSHING
3 - BUSHING LOCK PIN SLOT
Fig. 103 SHIFT SHAFT LEVER AND BUSHING
1 - SHIFT SHAFT
2 - SHAFT LEVER AND BUSHING
3 - 3-4 FORK
Fig. 104 SHAFT LEVER OPENING
1 - SHIFT SHAFT
Fig. 105 SHIFT SOCKET
1 - SHIFT SOCKET
2 - SHIFT SHAFT
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 21 - 33
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

(2) Apply liberal quantity of petroleum jelly to
countershaft front bearing. Then insert bearing in
front housing race (Fig. 113). Large diameter side of
bearing cage goes toward countershaft (Fig. 114).
Small diameter side goes toward bearing race in
housing.
(3) Reach into countershaft front bearing with fin-
ger and push each bearing roller outward against
race. Then apply extra petroleum jelly to hold rollers
in place during housing installation.
(4) Apply small amount of petroleum jelly to shift
shaft bushing in front housing.
(5) Apply 1/8 in. wide bead of Mopar Gasket
Maker or equivalent to mating surfaces of front and
rear housings (Fig. 115).
(6) Have helper hold rear housing and geartrain in
upright position. Then install front housing on rear
housing and geartrain.
(7) Work front housing downward onto geartrain
until seated on rear housing.
CAUTION: Front housings will not seat if shift com-
ponents are not in Neutral or one or more compo-
nents are misaligned. Do not force the front
housing into place.
(8) Tap rear housing alignment dowels back into
place with hammer and pin punch. Both dowels
should be flush fit in each housing. Have helper hold
transmission upright while dowels are tapped back
into place.(9) Place transmission in horizontal position.
(10) Apply Mopar Gasket Maker or equivalent to
housing attaching bolts. Apply sealer material sealer
to underside of bolt heads and to bolt shanks and
threads (Fig. 116).
(11) Install and start housing attaching bolts by
hand (Fig. 116). Then tighten bolts to 34 N´m (25 ft.
lbs.).
Fig. 114 COUNTERSHAFT FRONT BEARING
1 - BEARING RACE
2 - PETROLEUM JELLY
3 - COUNTERSHAFT FRONT BEARING
Fig. 115 SEAL HOUSINGS
1 - HOUSING FLANGE SURFACE
2 -GASKET MAKER
Fig. 116 HOUSING BOLTS
1 - HOUSING BOLTS
21 - 36 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500DR
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

REMOVER/INSTALLER 6858
FIXTURE 6747
ADAPTER 6747-1A
ADAPTER 6747-2A
CUP 8115
BEARING SPLITTER 1130
TUBE 6310-1
INSTALLER 8118
REMOVER/INSTALLER 8119
ALIGNMENT STUD 8120
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 21 - 41
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

DISASSEMBLY
SHIFT MECHANISM
(1) Remove bolts holding shift tower to shift mech-
anism cover and remove tower.
(2) Remove bolts holding shift mechanism cover to
transmission.
(3) Pry up shift mechanism cover at slot (Fig. 5) in
cover.
(4) Raise mechanism up enough to disengage it
from the dowl pins (Fig. 6).
(5) Raise front of the mechanism and lift up and
off the transmission.EXTENSION/ADAPTER HOUSING
(1) Remove bolts attaching extension/adapter hous-
ing to gear case (Fig. 7).
(2) Remove extension/adapter housing (Fig. 8).
There is one alignment dowel in the gear case and
one in the extension/adapter housing.
Fig. 5 LOOSEN SHIFT MECHANISM
1 - SHIFT MECHANISM COVER SLOT
2-PRYTOOL
Fig. 6 SHIFT MECHANISM COVER
1 - SHIFT MECHANISM COVER
2 - ALIGNMENT DOWELS
Fig. 7 EXTENSION/ADAPTER HOUSING BOLTS
1 - EXTENSION HOUSING
2 - BOLTS (8)
Fig. 8 EXTENSION/ADAPTER HOUSING
1 - GEAR CASE
2 - EXTENSION HOUSING
21 - 46 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500DR
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 (Continued)

the alignment dowels in the case top surface and in
the housing/adapter are tight and in good condition.
Replace the gear case or housing/adapter if cracked
or broken.
ASSEMBLY
NOTE: Gaskets are not used in the transmission.
Use Mopar Silicone Sealer or equivalent on all gear
case and extension housing sealing surfaces.
COUNTERSHAFT AND REVERSE IDLER GEAR
(1) Install countershaft front bearing cup in case
with Handle C-4171 and Installer 6061-1.
(2) Install front bearing on countershaft with
Installer C-4340 (Fig. 65).
(3) Lubricate countershaft front bearing cup and
cone with petroleum jelly.
(4) Position gear case on end with rear of case fac-
ing up (Fig. 66).
(5) Install countershaft in gear case (Fig. 66).
NOTE: Do not install rear countershaft bearing on
countershaft at this time.(6) Lubricate reverse idler gear bearings with
petroleum jelly and install first bearing and second
bearing (Fig. 67).
(7) Install idler gear front thrust washer on boss
in gear case (Fig. 67). Coat thrust washer with lib-
eral quantity of petroleum jelly to hold it in place.
Fig. 65 COUNTERSHAFT FRONT BEARING
1 - FRONT BEARING
2 - INSTALLER
3 - COUNTERSHAFT
Fig. 66 COUNTERSHAFT IN GEAR CASE
1 - GEAR CASE
2 - COUNTERSHAFT
Fig. 67 IDLER GEAR FRONT THRUST WASHER
1 - IDLER GEAR FRONT THRUST WASHER ON BOSS
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 21 - 63
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 (Continued)

(39) Roll gear case onto its left side.
(40) Grip mainshaft at pilot bearing hub and just
behind reverse gear. Then lift assembly and guide
rear of shaft through bearing bore at rear of case.
(41) Continue holding front of shaft but switch
grip at rear to shaft output splines. Lift mainshaft
assembly slightly, align gears and seat assembly in
case.
(42) Set transmission case upright (Fig. 108).
(43) Install drive gear thrust bearing on mainshaft
(Fig. 109). Use plenty of petroleum jelly to hold bear-
ing in place.
(44) Check alignment and mesh of mainshaft
gears. If gears are not aligned, roll case on side and
realign shaft and gears in case.DRIVE GEAR AND RETAINER
(1) Install bearing on drive gear with Installer
6448 (Fig. 110).
(2) Lubricate pilot bearing with petroleum jelly
and install it in drive gear bore.
(3) Install drive gear on mainshaft. Work gear
rearward until mainshaft hub is seated in pilot bear-
ing.
(4) Install bearing cup in front retainer with Han-
dle C-4171 and Installer C-4308 (Fig. 111).
Fig. 108 MAINSHAFT AND GEARTRAIN IN CASE
1 - MAINSHAFT AND GEARTRAIN
2 - FOURTH SPEED CLUTCH GEAR
Fig. 109 DRIVE GEAR THRUST BEARING
1 - MAINSHAFT
2 - DRIVE GEAR THRUST BEARING
Fig. 110 FRONT BEARING ON DRIVE GEAR
1 - INSTALLER
2 - BEARING
3 - DRIVE GEAR
Fig. 111 FRONT BEARING CUP IN RETAINER
1 - INSTALLER
2 - HANDLE
3 - WOOD BLOCKS
4 - RETAINER
21 - 74 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500DR
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 (Continued)

(10) Tighten fifth gear nut with Nut Wrench 6743
and high capacity torque wrench. Tighten nut to 366-
380 N´m (270-280 ft. lbs.). Have helper hold trans-
mission steady if necessary.
(11) Torque the fifth gear clamp nut clamping bolt
to 13.5 N´m (10 ft. lbs.).
(12) Unlock the mainshaft gears by shifting all
synchro sleeves out of the engaged position.
EXTENSION/ADAPTER HOUSING
(1) Clean mating surfaces of extension/adapter
housing and gear case with a wax and grease
remover.
(2) Check alignment dowels in gear case and hous-
ing or adapter. Be sure dowels are in position and
seated.
(3) Apply Mopar Silicone Sealer or equivalent to
gear case and housing mating surfaces.
(4) Align and install extension/adapter housing on
gear case (Fig. 128).
(5) Apply Mopar Lock N' Seal or equivalent to
threads of extension/adapter housing bolts.
(6) Install and tighten housing bolts to 54 N´m (40
ft. lbs.).SHIFT MECHANISM
(1) Clean mating surfaces of shift cover and gear
case with wax and grease remover.
(2) Apply a small amount of Mopar silicone sealer
or equivalent to sealing surface of shift cover.
CAUTION: Do not over-apply an excesive amount
sealer. Excess can squeezed into gear case and
could block lubricant feed holes in time.
(3) Lubricate synchro sleeves with CastroltSyn-
torq gear lubricant or equivalent. Then apply light
coat of petroleum jelly to shift fork contact surfaces.
(4) Verify shift fork pads (Fig. 129) are secure.
(5) Verify 1-2 and 3-4 synchro sleeves and forks in
shift cover are in neutral position.
(6) Align and seat shift cover on transmission.
NOTE: If cover will not seat, it may not be aligned
on gear case dowels or shift forks are not aligned
with sleeves and shift lug.
(7) Apply Mopar Lock N' Seal or equivalent to
threads of shift cover bolts.
(8) Install shift cover bolts and tighten to 27-31
N´m (216-276 in. lbs.).
(9) Apply sealer to backup lamp switch. Install
switch into cover and tighten to 22-34 N´m (193-265
in. lbs.).
(10) Install vent assembly if removed. Apply an
adhesive/sealer to vent tube to help secure it in cover.
Fig. 128 INSTALLING EXTENSION/ADAPTER
HOUSING
1 - GEAR CASE
2 - EXTENSION HOUSING
Fig. 129 SHIFT FORK PAD
1 - SHIFT FORK PADS
2 - FIFTH-REVERSE FORK
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 21 - 79
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 (Continued)

(2) Install housing seal with Handle C-4171 (Fig.
133) and Installer.
²Light Duty - Installer C-3972-A
²Heavy Duty - Installer 8154
(3) Install propeller shaft with reference marks
aligned.
(4) Check and fill transmission.
SHIFT MECHANISM
REMOVAL
(1) Remove transmission from vehicle.
(2) Remove shift mechanism cover bolts.
(3) Pry up shift mechanism cover at slots provided
in cover (Fig. 134).
(4) Raise cover enough to disengage it from align-
ment dowels in gear case (Fig. 135).
(5) Raise front of shift mechanism cover and lift
cover up and off gear case (Fig. 135).
FIFTH-REVERSE SHIFT FORK PADS
Three shift pads on the forks are held in place by
tension and a small locating tang (Fig. 136).
To remove the pads, grasp a pad with hand and tilt
it out and off the fork. If pad is difficult to remove by
hand, insert a screwdriver blade between the pad
and fork and pry the pad off.
EXPANSION PLUG
The expansion plugs at the rear of the shift rail
bores (Fig. 137) can be replaced if loose/leaking.
(1) Drill 6 mm (1/4 in.) diameter hole in center of
the plug to be removed.
(2) Pry plug out of cover with tapered punch.
Fig. 133 Pinion Seal
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
Fig. 134 LOOSEN SHIFT MECHANISM
1 - SHIFT MECHANISM COVER SLOT
2-PRYTOOL
Fig. 135 SHIFT MECHANISM COVER
1 - SHIFT MECHANISM COVER
2 - ALIGNMENT DOWELS
Fig. 136 SHIFT FORK PAD LOCATIONS
1 - SHIFT FORK PADS
2 - FIFTH-REVERSE FORK
21 - 86 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500DR
EXTENSION HOUSING SEAL (Continued)