Hi, I talked my buddy into a 96 3500 and getting rid of a 95 6.5L GMC. He pulls RV's and I have to go and trailer him home. He says the truck silently went into neutral without any noise, he thought that if fell out of gear and it didn't. While coasting the speedo was at 0 mph. It has no hint of trying to move and no noises while not trying to move? The 5th gear nut was suppose to be "fixed" by the PO. Looking for some input on this problem.... Any thoughts? I have a 6 hour recovery drive to think about it! Thanks, Artie

 

Rear end went out, maybe?

 

Broken input shaft on nv4500 ?????? About the only thing that would fit the symptoms other than the loss of speedo. Anything else would make some noise i would think.
If this truck is a 4x4 it could be a t-case issue.

 

Sorry, it os a 2WD, I guess we will find out!!! Thanks, Artie

 

If the truck is a 96 and a 4X4, the speed sensor is on the transfer case. If the speedo did in fact drop to 0 while the engine was still running, it should eliminate the transmission as a problem. (even if the engine was no longer connected to the t/case, the speed sensor should still read road speed transmitted through the driveshaft.) The failure would have to be in the rearmost part of the t/case, rear driveshaft, or rear axle.

 

Put it in gear and let it idle while someone looks underneath the truck. If the driveshaft is spinning, you'd be looking at a broken axle/spider or wrecked ring/pinion. Or it might have lost the bolts that bolt the axle to the hub.

 

Thanks for the ideas! The driver reported that in gear, that the output shaft "wiggled" but no rotation. I'm thinking that the output shaft has somehow sheared between the yoke and speedo gear. We should have the dead Dodge back for the autopsy this weekend, and I'll report the findings...

 

input shaft/cluster gear, caused from wrong type or not enough oil in tranny been there done that Check and see if has any movement in 4th gear or reverse.

 

I know what it is!!! PO superwelded the 5th gear nut..... the mainshaft broke there. The nut didn't back-off. Who makes the best way to go on the shaft and hold the gear on as well? I have seen many ways to do this, what has worked? And who has them? Thanks, Artie

 

if the mains id broken. replace with after market fully splined shaft. that is the actual fix for 5th gear nut. theres a couple places that make and offer the main shaft kit. the company names escape me right now though

 

Hi, I'm looking for a upgraded mainshaft that has proven reliability, we would appreciate some ideas on what and where? Thanks, Artie

 

Torque King article

Sunday afternoon reading for ya . . .

 

He looked at the toque king and hasn't that kind of money, any options other than EOM and tack weld the nut? He trying to get this truck back going and not lose his house in a foreclosure, Thanks, Artie

 

Tack weld it and risk another broken shaft? If he is hurting for money, but needs the truck just install the cheesey upgraded nut that Dodge has. Then if it backs off he just loses 5th gear, but the truck is still driveable.

 

I remember seeing someone having two nuts made up, tightening them both up, then welding the two nuts together. Sounded pretty smart, no heat applied to the shaft.