SweetLou wrote:
noteven wrote:
SweetLou wrote:
Some guys here have mentioned the G56 for Dodge. I had one in my 2005 and it was a POS. Look them up. Rebuilt the throw out bearing and dual mass fly wheel at 86K. That Mercedes trans not made for that Cummins. Previously I had a 1997 5 speed in my Dodge that the 5th gear nut would fall off. More $$ flowing out. Then that same trans left me in Ave of the Giants due to a pilot bearing failure. Once again that trans can't hold up to that engine and our weights. I towed a combined 15-16K with my dualies. Auto now with my 68RFE tows wonderfully
I changed the OEM dual mass clutch due to broken springs putting it out of balance at around 90k miles too. Installed a US made conventional clutch and flywheel which came at out at 120k miles due $10 pilot bearing failure. Installed a Bigger US made clutch. I'm into clutches for about half the cost of an auto trans rebuild and "upgrade" around here. The clutch is not the transmission. At 220,000 miles the G56 trans itself is doing fine. I tow a lot at 20-22000 lbs combined weight. I haul a bale gooseneck at around 36000 Imperial pounds but that work is mostly on gravel roads or in hilly fields so not really applicable to RV. The manual is fine for "country work". I would prefer an Allison with medium duty converter and programming for all purpose but I am too cheap to convert :)
With the work you had to do and your outcome, there is no way it would be half the cost of an auto trans here in the states;at the dealer for sure. BTW, after you went into a single flywheel and clutch, what happened to that quiet trans? It turned into a noisy clatter while waiting at a signal light right? My point was that we spend a lot of money for the truck and to have to endure two failures like yours by 120K is not good. Again, you had to replace with after market parts and sure, we can beef up any trans that way but why should you have to?
I'll agree autos are heads and tails above what they were even 10-15 years ago, but you're not too well read on what you're talking about above.
I can put 3 clutches in my G56 for the cost of one good auto trans rebuild. Knowing the factory clutch is junk, that is a "must fix" kind of thing. Not ideal but the only option. After that, it's stone cold relaible and the clutch upgrade doesn't cost as much as the auto trans up charge on the window sticker.
Apples to apples, they're not more costly and they don't rattle unless you want them to...