1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Transmission shaft

(14) Seat roll pin in shift socket with pin punch.
Roll pin must be flush with socket after installation
(Fig. 110).
(15) Verify that notches in shift fork arms are
aligned (Fig. 111). Realign arms if necessary.
(16) Rotate shift lever and bushing downward to
expose detent bore in the lever.(17) Install detent spring then the ball into the
detent bore (Fig. 112) and hold the ball in the lever.
Then rotate the lever upward into the fork arm
notches.
NOTE: Verify detent ball is seated in the fork arms
before proceeding.
FRONT HOUSING AND INPUT SHAFT BEARING
RETAINER
(1) If previously removed, install input shaft bear-
ing in front housing bore (Fig. 113). Install snap ring
and use plastic mallet to seat bearing. Bearing goes
in from front side of housing only.
Fig. 110 SEAT SHIFT SOCKET
1 - PIN PUNCH
2 - SHIFT SOCKET
3 - SEAT ROLL PIN FLUSH
4 - SHIFT SOCKET
Fig. 111 SHIFT LEVER POSITION
1 - SHIFT FORK ARMS
2 - DETENT BORE
Fig. 112 DETENT SPRING AND BALL
1 - SHAFT LEVER
2 - SPRING AND BALL
3 - MAGNET
Fig. 113 INPUT SHAFT & COUNTERSHAFT
BEARING
1 - INPUT SHAFT BEARING
2 - COUNTERSHAFT FRONT BEARING
3 - SHIFT SHAFT BUSHING
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 21 - 35
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)

(12) Install shift shaft bushing lock bolt (Fig. 117).
Apply Mopar Gasket Maker or equivalent to bolt
threads, shank and underside of bolt head before
installation.
CAUTION: If lock bolt cannot be fully installed the
shift shaft is not in Neutral, or the shaft bushing (or
lever) is misaligned.
(13) Lubricate then install shift shaft detent
plunger in housing bore. Lubricate plunger with
semi-synthetic/synthetic grease. Verify plunger is
fully seated in detent notch in shift shaft.
(14) Install detent spring inside plunger.
(15) Install detent plug in end of Installer 8123.
Position plug on detent spring and compress spring
until detent plug pilots in detent plunger bore. Drive
detent plug into transmission case until plug seats.
(16) Install backup light switch (Fig. 118).
(17) Install input shaft snap ring (Fig. 119).
(18) Installnewoil seal in front bearing retainer
with Installer 6448 (Fig. 120).(19) Apply bead of Mopar silicone sealer or equiv-
alent to flange surface of front bearing retainer (Fig.
121).
Fig. 117 SHAFT LOCK BOLT
1 - SHIFT SHAFT LOCK BOLT
2 - SHAFT SOCKET
Fig. 118 BACKUP LIGHT SWITCH
1 - BACKUP LIGHT SWITCH
Fig. 119 SHAFT SNAP RING - TYPICAL
1 - INPUT SHAFT SNAP RING
Fig. 120 BEARING RETAINER OIL SEAL
1 - INSTALLER
2 - FRONT BEARING RETAINER
Fig. 121 SEAL BEARING RETAINER - TYPICAL
1 - APPLY SEALER BEAD
2 - INPUT SHAFT BEARING RETAINER
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 21 - 37
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

(20) Align and install front bearing retainer over
input shaft and onto housing mounting surface (Fig.
122). Verify bolt holes are aligned before seating
retainer.
CAUTION: Be sure sealer does not get into the oil
feed hole in the transmission case or bearing
retainer.
(21) Install and tighten bearing retainer bolts to
7-10 N´m (5-7 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 123).SHIFT TOWER AND LEVER
(1) Apply petroleum jelly to ball end of shift lever
and interior of shift socket.
(2) Shift the transmission into third gear.
(3) Align and install shift tower and lever assem-
bly (Fig. 124). Be sure shift ball is seated in socket
and the offset in the tower is toward the passenger
side of the vehicle before installing tower bolts.
(4) Install shift tower bolts (Fig. 125) and tighten
bolts to 8.5 N´m (75.2 in. lbs.).
(5) Fill transmission to bottom edge of fill plug
hole with lubricant.
(6) Install and tighten fill plug to 34 N´m (25 ft.
lbs.).
(7) Check transmission vent. Be sure vent is open
and not restricted.
Fig. 122 INPUT SHAFT BEARING RETAINER
1 - INPUT SHAFT
2 - OIL FEED
3 - BEARING RETAINER
Fig. 123 BEARING RETAINER BOLTS - TYPICAL
1 - RETAINER BOLTS
2 - RETAINER
Fig. 124 SHIFT TOWER
1 - SHIFT TOWER
2 - SHAFT SOCKET
3 - SHIFT BALL
Fig. 125 SHIFT TOWER BOLTS
1 - SHIFT TOWER AND LEVER ASSEMBLY
21 - 38 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500DR
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

INSTALLATION
NOTE: If a new transmission is being installed, use
all components supplied with the new transmission.
For example, if a new shift tower is supplied, do not
re-use the original shift tower.
(1) Clean transmission front housing mounting
surface.
(2) Apply light coat of Mopar high temperature
bearing grease or equivalent to contact surfaces (Fig.
126) of following components:
²release fork ball stud.
²release bearing slide surface.
²input shaft splines.
²release bearing bore.
²propeller shaft slip yoke.
(3) Support and secure transmission to jack.
(4) Raise and align transmission input shaft with
clutch disc, then slide transmission into place.
(5) Verify front housing is fully seated. Install
transmission bolts without washers and tighten bolts
into the engine to 41 N´m (30 ft. lbs.). Tighten the
bolts with washers into the transmission to 68 N´m
(50 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 127).(6) Install rear crossmember and tighten nuts to
102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.).
(7) Install transmission rear mounting bolts and
tighten to 68 N´m (50 ft. lbs.).
(8) Install front dust shield tighten bolt to 4.5 N´m
(40 in. lbs.). If cover was removed, install onto the
transmission and engine(Refer to 9 - ENGINE/EN-
GINE BLOCK/STRUCTURAL COVER - INSTALLA-
TION).
(9) Install structural dust cover and tighten the
bolts to 54 N´m (40 ft. lbs.).
(10) Install starter motor.
(11) Install suspension crossmember and tighten
nuts to 102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.).
(12) Connect transmission harnesses to clips on
case and connect switches.
(13) Install slave cylinder and tighten cylinder
nuts to 23 N´m (200 in. lbs.).
(14) Install transfer case and transfer case linkage
if equipped.
(15) Remove transmission jack.
(16) Install propeller shaft/shafts with reference
marks aligned.
(17) Install exhaust on the exhaust manifolds.
(18) Fill transmission with lubricant. Correct fill
level is to bottom edge of fill plug hole.
Fig. 126 LUBRICATION POINTS
1 - RELEASE FORK
2 - FORK BALL STUD
3 - BEARING SLIDE SURFACE
4 - SPLINE
5 - RELEASE BEAING
Fig. 127 TRANSMISSION
1 - BOLT WITHOUT WASHER
2 - BOLT WITH WASHER
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 21 - 39
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION N´m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Crossmember Nuts 102 75 -
Transmission Mount Bolts 4WD 68 50 -
Transmission Mount Bolts 2WD 68 50 -
Structural Dust Cover Bolts 54 40 -
Drain/Fill Plug 9-27 14-20 -
Front To Rear Housing Bolts 30-35 22-26 -
Front Bearing Retainer Bolts 7-10 5-7 62-88
Idler Shaft Bolts 19-25 14-18 -
Rear Bearing Retainer Bolts 30-35 22-26 -
Shift Tower Bolts 7-10 5-7 62-88
Slave Cylinder Nuts 23 17 -
Transfer Case Nuts 47 35 -
SPECIAL TOOLS
REMOVER C-3985-B
INSTALLER C-3972-A
REMOVER 6957
INSTALLER 6951
HANDLE C-4171
21 - 40 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500DR
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page page
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500
DESCRIPTION.........................43
OPERATION...........................43
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING................44
REMOVAL.............................44
DISASSEMBLY.........................46
CLEANING............................62
INSPECTION..........................62
ASSEMBLY............................63
INSTALLATION.........................80
SPECIFICATIONS.......................81
SPECIAL TOOLS.......................81ADAPTER HOUSING SEAL
REMOVAL.............................85
INSTALLATION.........................85
EXTENSION HOUSING SEAL
REMOVAL.............................85
INSTALLATION.........................85
SHIFT MECHANISM
REMOVAL.............................86
INSTALLATION.........................87
SHIFT COVER
REMOVAL.............................87
INSTALLATION.........................87
MANUAL TRANSMISSION -
NV4500
DESCRIPTION
The NV4500 is a five speed constant mesh manual
transmission. All gear ranges including reverse are
synchronized. Fifth gear is an overdrive range. The
transmission has a cast iron gear case and aluminum
shift cover.
Two versions are used, a standard duty for 5.7L
applications and a heavy duty for V10 and Cummins
diesel applications. Main difference is a larger diam-
eter input shaft, for the heavy duty model.
Tapered roller bearings support the drive gear,
mainshaft and countershaft in the gear case. Roller
bearings in the drive gear support the forward end of
the mainshaft. The mainshaft gears are all supported
on caged type roller bearings. Drive gear thrust reac-
tion is controlled by a needle type thrust bearing.
The bearing is located at the forward end of the
mainshaft.
The transmission is a top loader style. The shift
lever is located in a shifter tower which is bolted to
the shift cover and operates the shift forks and rails
directly. The shift forks and rails are all located
within the aluminum cover which is bolted to the top
of the gear case.
IDENTIFICATION
The transmission identification tag is attached to
the driver side PTO cover (Fig. 1).
The tag provides the transmission model number,
build date and part number. Be sure to reinstall the
I.D. tag if removed during service. The information
on the tag is essential to correct parts ordering.
OPERATION
The manual transmission receives power through
the clutch assembly from the engine. The clutch disc
is splined to the transmission input shaft and is
turned at engine speed at all times that the clutch is
engaged. The input shaft is connected to the trans-
mission countershaft through the mesh of fourth
speed gear on the input shaft and the fourth counter-
shaft gear. At this point all the transmission gears
are spinning.
Fig. 1 IDENTIFICATION TAG LOCATION
1 - PTO COVER
2 - I.D. TAG
DRMANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 21 - 43

The driver selects a particular gear by moving the
shift lever to the desired gear position. This move-
ment moves the internal transmission shift compo-
nents to begin the shift sequence. As the shift lever
moves the selected shift rail, the shift fork attached
to that rail begins to move. The fork is positioned in
a groove in the outer circumference of the synchro-
nizer sleeve. As the shift fork moves the synchronizer
sleeve, the synchronizer begins to speed-up or slow
down the selected gear (depending on whether the
driver is up-shifting or down-shifting). The synchro-
nizer does this by having the synchronizer hub
splined to the mainshaft, or the countershaft in some
cases, and moving the blocker ring into contact with
the gear's friction cone. As the blocker ring and fric-
tion cone come together, the gear speed is brought up
or down to the speed of the synchronizer. As the two
speeds match, the splines on the inside of the syn-
chronizer sleeve become aligned with the teeth on
the blocker ring and the friction cone and eventually
will slide over the teeth, locking the gear to the
mainshaft, or countershaft, through the synchronizer.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
LOW LUBRICANT LEVEL
A low transmission lubricant level is generally the
result of a leak, inadequate lubricant fill or an incor-
rect lubricant level check. A correct lubricant level
check can only be made when the vehicle is level.
Also allow the lubricant to settle for a minute or so
before checking. These recommendations will ensure
an accurate check and avoid an underfill or overfill
condition. Always check the lubricant level after any
addition of fluid to avoid an incorrect lubricant level
condition.
Leaks can occur at the mating surfaces of the gear
case, adaptor or extension housing, or from the front/
rear seals. A suspected leak could also be the result
of an overfill condition. Leaks at the rear of the
extension or adapter housing will be from the hous-
ing oil seals. Leaks at component mating surfaces
will probably be the result of inadequate sealer, gaps
in the sealer, incorrect bolt tightening or use of a
non-recommended sealer. A leak at the front of the
transmission will be from either the front bearing
retainer or retainer seal. Lubricant may be seen drip-
ping from the clutch housing after extended opera-
tion. If the leak is severe, it may also contaminate
the clutch disc causing the disc to slip, grab and or
chatter.
HARD SHIFTING
Hard shifting is usually caused by a low lubricant
level, improper or contaminated lubricants. The con-
sequence of using non-recommended lubricants isnoise, excessive wear, internal bind and hard shift-
ing. Substantial lubricant leaks can result in gear,
shift rail, synchro, and bearing damage. If a leak
goes undetected for an extended period, the first indi-
cations of component damage are usually hard shift-
ing and noise.
Component damage, incorrect clutch adjustment or
damaged clutch pressure plate or disc are additional
probable causes of increased shift effort. Incorrect
adjustment or a worn/damaged pressure plate or disc
can cause incorrect release. If clutch problem is
advanced, gear clash during shifts can result. Worn
or damaged synchro rings can cause gear clash when
shifting into any forward gear. In some new or
rebuilt transmissions, new synchro rings may tend to
stick slightly causing hard or noisy shifts. In most
cases this condition will decline as the rings wear-in.
TRANSMISSION NOISE
Most manual transmissions make some noise dur-
ing normal operation. Rotating gears generate a mild
whine that is audible, but generally only at extreme
speeds. Severe highly audible transmission noise is
generally the initial indicator of a lubricant problem.
Insufficient, improper or contaminated lubricant
will promote rapid wear of gears, synchros, shift
rails, forks and bearings. The overheating caused by
a lubricant problem, can also lead to gear breakage.
REMOVAL
(1) Shift transmission into Neutral.
(2) Remove shift boot screws from floorpan and
slide boot upward on the shift lever.
(3) Remove shift lever extension from shift tower
and lever assembly.
(4) Remove shift tower bolts (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 SHIFT TOWER
1 - SHIFT TOWER
2 - SHIFTER
3 - BOLTS
21 - 44 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500DR
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV4500 (Continued)